Parkinson L.J.
I cannot believe the number of times I have been asked when I am starting racing pigeons again, I must admit that I have only missed one season so far and don’t I know it. The latest comment is “Have you put a trap on that shed yet?” not likely. It is not so bad at this time of the year because the one thing I do not like about pigeons is the breeding season.
No doubt when they start racing I shall be looking to the skies. I never looked at the breeding at the time but after I was talking to Chris Knowles about the articles going on the site and then he was telling me about the SAMPDR winner for Mike Ganus in America I decided to take a look. Chris was saying how many top winning pigeons are in the breeding of this pigeon, I hadn’t looked myself but it is a fact there are a more than average number in the breeding of this winner. When it comes to the pigeons of Mike Ganus the man to ask is his very good friend Peter Fox who has sent me the following. A couple of years ago while they were driving around Holland and Belgium searching for new bloodlines, Mike Ganus concluded that as his main ambition was to win the South Africa Million Dollar Race then there was only one way to go about it and that was to introduce Million Dollar Race winning bloodlines. So a new plan was formulated that involved visits to Germany and buying the main birds at the auctions after the final races. After many thousands of Dollars and much stress with shipping and quarantine restrictions the very top prize winners and their parents (if available) were introduced into Mikes breeding program in Indiana. The plan came to a spectacular conclusion on February 6th 2016 when GFL15-267 ‘Laura is a Big Winner’ was clocked in the final after flying almost 9 hours into a headwind over a distance of 541km to win the most prestigious race in the World by over 15 minutes clear on a very tough day. Her Father is DV02656-10-85 and he is also father to ‘Rubbellos’ who won the SAMDPR 2012! So now he has bred two SAMDPR final winners!! Mother is ‘Margo’s Treasure’ a daughter of ‘Said In Spun Silver’ 2nd SAMDPR-winner 2013 when coupled with ‘Untamed Desert’ 1st SAMDPR winner 2013. As a matter of interest Mr Jan Hooymans selected GFL15-267 at the basketing for the race two days before with the help of one of the basketing helpers he kindly photographed the eventual winner and sent it over to Mike before the race. Great selecting!! Isn’t it great when a plan comes together?
I was then compiling a sales list for the birds of Bruce McAllister and saw other pedigree’s where the breeding is second to none. This is just a sample of the pigeons and because of space I shall only use the one. Pigeon 174949 sire “Champion Emperor” sire of 1st & 2nd International Tarbes in consecutive years and was paired to “The Poco Hen” from a brother to “Arnold” 1st International paired to “Poco” 1st International Barcelona 93 and then was 1st National 95 from the same race point. These pigeons are in the first two generations of 17949. Then if you look back within anther two generations you have a winner of 12 x 1sts and two separate 1st National winners. I accept that such pigeons are not in the reach of everybody but a generation further down the road is where you get many of the breeders from. But then I came across the great cock called “Emile” what a pigeon he has been, winner of 1st International but there are no end of National and International performances credited to his off spring. Some of the best in the UK up to International winners are down from this cock and there are so many of them.
The above images takes at the Fugare Show
The Fugare show is continuing to grow in stature on the continent and the latest show confirms its now in a leading position in international pigeon racing. While a lot of shows around the world are suffering in attendance the show last weekend at the Kortrijk Xpo welcomed little over 9,200 visitors. This was again an increase of no less than 15% in visitors in comparison to last year, I remember a couple of years ago they were happy when just over 7,000 went through the doors. A fancier from the UK said to me on our last visit that there appeared to be more than the numbers quoted. So I pointed out that unlike other shows the ladies and children go in free and there are always a lot of them to be seen. The numbers have increased year on year so I have to wonder why this show is improving so much, they must be doing something right. Pigeon fanciers from many countries including the UK where there are always familiar faces to see. Fanciers from other countries such as France, Portugal, America, Spain, China plus no doubt others all found their way to Hall 6 of Kortrijk Xpo. Products were bought, advice was given, young pigeons were involved and as always at these events plenty of Belgian beer was consumed. In short the Fugare show has definitely set its stamp on international pigeon racing scene.
During the fair, more than 30 exhibitors already confirmed their participation in the 2017 fair. The international visitors too showed a great interest in returning to Fugare as exhibitor. A Greek feed company that visited this edition with an eye to participating next year for example has already taken an option. Furthermore, the Portuguese pigeon association was very interested in cooperating with Fugare for the 7th edition next year. The organizers of the show consider this year’s success as a challenge to do even better during the fair in 2017, which is planned on 25 and 26 February 2017.
Les J Parkinson. 11 Rushton Drive, Middlewich, Cheshire, CW10 0NJ.
Tel 01606836036 Mobile 07871701585.
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