|
|
|
PETER
COLIJN &
MIKE
GANUS
talking
to Les J. Parkinson
For
quite a few years I have heard Peter Fox talk about this partnership that
race their pigeons in Holland. The partnership has been very successful
and therefore we set them a few questions to answer. Peter is also the
partner of Mike Ganus in some of the biggest one-loft races in the world.
To try and keep the continental flavour we have left as much as possible
in the way that they have answered the questions. Also as you will see
in the results these fanciers are not afraid to enter into any competition.
The one-loft races around the world are their yardsticks to measure to
see just how good their birds are. This is the partnership that we are
now going to talk to. Comb. Colijn Ganus, Rijksweg 244, 4255 GS Niewendijk,
Netherlands. Also a point worth remembering is that Mike Ganus lives in
the states and not Holland, this is a transatlantic partnership that works
very well indeed. I know that there are quite a few results added but
they are worth looking at because when you take into account the win’s
and the competition you can appreciate just how good these pigeons are.
Colijn - Ganus
Q.
Give the readers some details of your partnership.
A. In 1996 comb Colijn & Son had met Mike Ganus and we held contact
in the next years. Also after the transfer to Mike of “Mr Vita King”
that won 1st National Ace Middle Distance Vredesduif competition that
my father and me raced, we kept in touch.
Q. What families of pigeons do you keep and when bringing in a new family
what do you look for?
A little later after meeting Mike Ganus,
we had an agreement; off all the National Ace pigeons Mike Ganus bought,
youngsters moved from America to Holland! Out off “Rocket”,
The Godfather, Ikon, Pinnacle, Topo, and Mr Universe and from “Super
Champ”, in short of all the Top breeders of Mike Ganus’ loft.
“Topo” was 1st National Ace WHZB All Holland- Middle distance
1995. “Topo” is, no doubt, one of the best breeders in the
world! In ’98 Mike Ganus mated “Topo” during a short
time to blue ‘Picanol VIII’, this hen is bred out of Gaby
Vandenabeele’ famous Picanol B82-3258240. (‘Picanol became
1st provincial Champion as a yearling) Out of this couple a son moved
to Nieuwendijk in the Netherlands. He’s named ‘Pure Gold’.
I think a correct name for this beautiful blue cock. We mated him to ‘Perfection’
GFL-322; she is a direct daughter of “Godfather”- NL91-1393719
who was then mated to his own daughter. The world famous pigeon named
“Godfather” who became 1st National Ace pigeon middle-distance
NPO of all Holland. This Couple “Pure Gold and “Perfection”
in the first year of the 21st Century already gave us our “Queen
of “Etampes” winner of 1st National Etampes, against 16335
birds. We also breed from many other real top birds and particularly “Special
One” is a cock we shall not easy forget. What a champ! Bred in 1998
in Granger Indiana, he got the number GFL 449-98. He is a direct son of
“Topo” that was at that time mated to ‘Blauwe 53’.
The last one is a full sister to the father of “Ikon” who
1st National Ace pigeon Middle-distance NPO 1996 of all Holland. “Special
One” by now is father to four 1st prizewinners in the combine. “Special
One” has rich signed breeding eyes and a perfect body with good
feeling muscles. He is an excellent successor of his father “Topo”.
We also have in our lofts the blood of the Golden breeding hen “Sissi”
of Schaerlaekens together with other real toppers of Gaby Vandenabeele.
We won 1st National Tours 1999 against 11,866 birds also 4th National
Orleans with 14,037 birds with some of this blood.
We
like the birds of the Dutch stuntman Ludo Claessens and we have his birds
in our loft of course. They are real tough birds “Wind Fighters”
Descendants of many other famous birds sit in our breeding loft. “President”,”Millenium”,”Hercules”,”Rocket”,
“Super Champion”,”Ikon”,”Godfather”,
and many more of the absolute best. New birds are brought in every year,
but they must be the very best of the World. We are now breeding from
over 30 National Ace winners of the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.
Also we include Olympiad Champions these birds are highly prized. We only
look for results with the pigeons and they are not only played in our
loft in Niewendijk, but also in other countries. Mike is also a partner
with Peter Fox of Syndicate Lofts in the United Kingdom, and the birds
are not only raced here in the Netherlands but they play in the biggest
one-loft races in the World with the same birds, winning over $150,000
U.S. in 2002 alone, and around half a million Dollars in the last few
seasons!! It is an unusual arrangement that we have breeders in America,
United Kingdom and Holland. So you can see that we test the birds in every
race we can to see if we can play good results. This is the only way for
sure to see if we have good birds.
Q.
Give the readers the basic results that you have achieved and what are
the real highlights?
A. We made a fantastic season in 2002,with the old birds as with the youngsters.
In many championships we ended at the 1st place. In our club we kept almost
all the 1st championships. But I shall give you some results and championships.
Than it will be clearer.
Houdeng- 766 b. 1-6-8-11-18-19…
3645 b. 1-14-20-25…
12491 b. 1-16-23-28
Creil 470 b. 1-2-4-11-12-13-15-16-18-19-20….
2036 b. 1-4-9…
Etampes 405 b. 1-2-3-5-6-7-11-13-14…
1791 b. 1-6-9-15-17-21…
5720 b. 1-16-20…
National N.P.O.22795 b. 16
Orléans 237 b 1-2-6-7-11-12-13-15…
852 b 3-4-12-13…
National NPO 12032 b. 25-43-130-137…
Orléans 124 b. 1-2-3-5-7-10-11-12-14-15…
529 b. 1-2-3-8-13…
1775 b. 2-5-7…
National N.P.O.8072 b. 13-25-35…
St.Ghislain 220b 1-2-3-8-9-10-11-12….
2233b 3-11-12….
Peronne 394b 1-3-4-6-7-8-10…
2613b 14-19-23-24…
Etampes 200b 1-3-4-5-6-7-13…
1489b 1-17-22-23….
4792b 2-24-32…
Orleans 204b 1-3-6-7-14…
1319b 7-9-19…
15087b 40…
Chantilly 150b 1-2-3-6-7-11-12-13-15….
759b 3-7-10-13-14-19…
2522b 21-30-35…
Peronne 352b 1-2-3-7-8…
1979b 1-6-12…
5374b 3-10-2…
Hensies 247b 1-2-5-6-10.
1736b 1-2-9-10…
4181b 12-15…
Championships 2002.
Combine: 260 members.
2nd champion overall. 2nd champion short distance. 1st young birds and
young birds long distance.
1st Ace pigeon short distance young birds. 1st Ace Pigeon overall. 1st
Ace Pigeon nalijn.
Union de Baronie: 1000 members.
3rd champion overall. 4th champion short distance. 3rd champion nalijn.
1st Ace Pigeon nalijn. 1st Ace Pigeon overall. All these championships
are flown over 38 races!
We have many highlights including our “ Queen of Etampes”Winner
National NPO race Etampes against 16.335 b. In the year 2001, this Lady
Queen won, under difficult weather conditions, the middle distance National
race from Etampes. This nice blue hen defeated all her competitors. We
also played the 2nd prize with “King of Etampes”. “Queen
of Etampes” is a real queen! Soft feathered, a clever head and a
perfect body with very flexible muscles. After her victory we put her
to the breeding loft. A half sister of her is also a special one! Bred
out of the same mother, ‘Perfection’, is “586”.
This talented female became 1st Ace pigeon over eight races at the end
of the season. She’s a very good bird! The day of National Etampes
2001 was a very special day for us, we also won from Peronne in the morning
race 1-2-3-4-5-6-7. from 3365 birds. In 2001 we bred from “Special
One” who is a son of “Topo”, a wonderful blue female.
In 2002 we mated her to a direct child of “Super Champion”.
The last one became 1st Olympic Champion of the entire world in 2001.
In 1999 this superb race bird became 1st National Ace pigeon one day long
distance- Vredesduif- all Holland. He raced for the famous Co and Piet
Verbree, in Putten before Mike bought him. Before “Super Champ”
was shipped to America, we mated him to “Perfection”- GFL
322-98,the mother of “Queen of Etampes”. A direct son of this
couple became father to the “Houdeng” winner against 12.491
b.!!!!! So the Houdeng winner is a half brother to the national NPO winner
“Queen of Etampes”. A family, which only consists of top racers!
Your readers may also find some of the One- loft race performances interesting.
One of the most famous races in America is the Snowbird that is flown
in California. There are two races, the Snowbird Classic and the Snowbird
Futurity. Both of these races were won in 2000! The super Blue cock that
was 1st place in the classic won also $50,000 U.S. He is bred from a daughter
of the famous “President”. This hen called “Perfect
Lady” is also dam to 1st place Suburban Motor City Classic also
in the year 2000 from 500 miles. The winner of 1st place Snowbird Futurity
winning over $10,000 is a daughter of our “Millennium”. A
son of “Topo” bred the equal 1st place in the Vegas Race.com
in 2001 winning $74,000 and in the same race Amadeus Tao of Germany won
4th place and £33,583 with a granddaughter of “President”
and Christina and Ed Cancilla won 8th place and $56,154 with a granddaughter
of “Ikon”. Another daughter of “Topo” placed 2nd
prize in the 300 mile Americas Kings Cup race, Florida, 2001. This little
blue hen flew the three race series of over 1000 miles in total in ten
days and won $27,000 in prize money, and she is now sitting in the breeding
loft of Gaby Vandenabeele, and he gave her the name “Debbie”.
This hen was from “Topo” when he was paired to a daughter
of Gaby’s World famous “Picanol”. In the Vegas Classic
2002 from 300 miles we had two very early birds. The first one a grandson
of “Ikon” won $26,000 and the second one a granddaughter of
“Hercules” won over $40,000. There are many other good performances
in America, Puerto Rico, China, and South Africa. We were also very pleased
for our good friend Don Barker from Texas who won the Vegas race .com
2002 with his grandson of “Hercules”. His bird won almost
$200,000 with prize and pools and we think that this is a record for one
bird to win in one race in America. I am sure that Don’s good luck
started in the Netherlands as he visited us in August for the Orleans
race and won many Euros in the Casino!!.
Q. Please give the readers some details of your lofts, methods and areas
of responsibility?
A. The races start in April. In the care of the old birds is my father
Hans Colijn. He retired a couple of years ago. He was director of a great
company in road and water constructions. During his whole life he has
had race pigeons and he always has played very well. He is a very calm
friendly man and good loft manager. He can put things in perspective as
no one else can! He takes care of the 35 widowhood cocks and 15 widowhood
hens. The race loft, which is 6metres by 2 metres, is at his address,
so that he constantly can keep an eye on it. He thinks it’s very
important to watch how the widow cocks behave on the loft and especially
during their training around the house. The racers are coupled for the
first time at Christmas and when the young reach 16 days old, one goes
to the youngsters loft with the hen and one stays with the cock. The racers
are coupled for the second time in the first week in March and must not
sit the eggs for more than 5 days. Our old racers must fly to 750 km.
But we also find that some birds play good prizes at a shorter distance
so we send them no further. All birds are individuals and we must find
what they like. I am very busy with the youngsters and breeders. For the
youngsters also at my fathers address, we made special loft 5 metres by
2 metres that is split in two parts so that we have the possibility to
separate the males and females. We have an aviary 2 metres wide running
the full length of this loft, and the birds can must sit in this every
day. If they are in good shape we extra stimulate the jealousy with semi
widowhood and racing to the nest. Making magnificent series with the youngsters
is a great challenge. We like to play with around 75 young. We play in
10 races with the young and also have 6 extra “Natour” races.
We race all of the Young to our nicest race Orleans .We must fly 400 km.
from this race we like to select 10 cocks after this flight for our yearling
team. The 18 pairs of breeders sit at my address. We made a good loft
5metres by 2 metres also with an aviary for them to sit. We couple the
breeders at end of November. We breed from all of our breeders but maybe
only 5 pairs of fliers.
Q. Do you attach any importance to grits and minerals or can they get
what they want when they are out of the loft? Also young bird sickness
is a problem, have you had this in your loft and if so what have you treated
them with?
A. Besides good pigeons Mike also gives advices about the care of the
birds. And I can say that the Vita King products help us a lot in that.
We use the system “Easy as 1,2,3” which was developed in America.
This takes care of our vitamin, mineral and supplement needs through the
season. Before the breeding and flying season our vet, to test the birds,
visits us. We only give our birds medication if he decides the birds need
anything. We must also add, our birds are vaccinated against P.M.V. and
Pox every year also we feel it is very important to protect against Paratyphus.
This is very important for us, as Paratyphus is the scourge of the pigeon
sport and the fancier’s biggest enemy. We vaccinate our breeders
after the moult and the youngsters at 9 weeks old. It is important to
treat all birds with a general antibiotic before vaccinating for Paratyphus
as it greatly reduces the chance of a reaction. We treat with Altabactine
for 10 days in a row then vaccinate on day 11. Baytril is far too strong
for the birds and should only be used in an emergency. We have found excellent
results with this method and sickness with the young pigeons never visits
our loft.
Q. How do you feed the cocks and do you feed them on a branded mix or
do you buy separate corns and mix your own?
A. We feed the old fliers individually in their boxes. We use the Zoontjens
Mix by the firm Beyers. We also feed depurative at the beginning of the
week. Our young are fed the same with more depurative than the old birds
after they are 10 weeks old. As the flights get longer we make the mix
heavier and feed Peanuts and “Snoop Zeed” also.
Q. If random drugs tests were carried out on your pigeons, would they
reveal any substance, illegal or otherwise?
A. Because of our results, we are tested by the N.P.O. on several occasions.
Results NEGATIVE.
Q.How many weeks do you think a pigeon can maintain it’s form on
the widowhood system for both cocks and hens?
A. 10 to 12 weeks for the cocks and maybe 6 till 7 weeks for the females.
Q. Who do you consider to be the best fancier in the Country and for what
reasons?
A. Cor de Heijde from the small town of Made. He has made a family of
long distance birds that race unbelievable well not only for him but for
many others also.
Q. Is there anything that you have not won in the sport that you would
like to achieve?
A. We think St.Vincent is a beautiful race; maybe we will try to win this.
Q. Do you read many magazines/articles, if so which type of article do
you find interesting and why?
A. We read “Duif”,”N.P.O.”,”Fondkrant”,”Spoor
de Kampionen”, and “American Racing Pigeon Digest”
Q. What do you think can be done to take the sport forward?
A. We think that the increase in popularity of One Loft Races in the sport
will be a big part of the future of the sport.
Q. Do you have any further comments about anything we may have missed
in any area of the sport?
A. For long time we already belong to the best pigeon fanciers in our
area. In the combine cc Altena and Raamsdonkveer. Also in the national
races we won a lot of early prizes. But in spite of our tremendous results
we want to do better. Then there is only one-way in our sport to make
that dream come true: searching for even better birds! We would never
have thought that these finally came from America. Top quality birds are
the most important things. This is Gold every other thing is Silver. The
year 1996 I will not easily forget, Mike helped us a big step forward!”
I must thank Peter Fox who has helped a great deal with the information.
|
|
