P. BRUINEBERG

OF STEENWIJK, THE NETHERLANDS

by John Clements

The Story of NL4219365.01 - an 800 mile pigeon

A few weeks ago I wrote about some remarkable Dutch pigeons from the International Barcelona in 2004 flying over 1300 kms or over 800 miles. Because I too am one of the longer flying lofts from Dax where the UK have excelled over the past two years, I immediately took an interest. I hastily add of course that I have yet to even get a pigeon in the result from Barcelona, from Dax just but from Barcelona, the pinnacle - No, nor has anyone else in my area - This is so  difficult I don't think anyone has ever tried, or even contemplated it. So the Dutch experience rather got to me for it proved that distance is not necessarily a complete bar to eventual achievement. In anyone's book these are unusual pigeons. Flying over 800 miles can never be easy no matter what the conditions.

I propose to start off with the details of a hen that was in 239th place from 24,913 pigeons. This hen belongs to P. Bruineberg of Steenwijk in the North of the Netherlands way past Amsterdam. If you are looking for Steenwijk on the map it is a small town on the A28 motorway past Zwolle and Meppel.

Just to clock pigeons in this area is difficult never mind getting a pigeon high in the result. By the time the pigeons even get to this distance the flocks have long since disappeared and what pigeons are left are flying on their own. The pedigree of this particular pigeon is interesting. All the ancestry is derived from extreme Long Distance Blood.

Those familiar with this kind of racing will recognise some of them - Brugeman Bros of Assendelft  - they fly 1253 km (783 miles).  Nico Volkens is another well known long distance man, his distance from Barcelona is 1277 km (798 miles). Others in the pedigree are similar Vertelman (1281 km) - Cas de Graff (1139 km) but for the purposes of this series I have restricted myself to those pigeons that flew over the magic distance of over 1300 km.

The distance of 1300 km from Barcelona has a kind of magic ring to it and because these stalwart fanciers try every year to fly it I have decided that this year because they did so well they deserve some recognition worldwide. Some years of course they fail for at this distance we are at the cutting edge of what is possible but achievement is the motivating force - to get in the top one per cent of the International result is something extra extra special. This hen had five preparation races from 140km - 180km - 240km - 280km - and another also at 280km.

She was sent sitting on the nest on 12 day old eggs and for three weeks prior to this she had three tosses from 40 km by herself. Also at this time the loft was completely open (open hole) so obviously the owner felt the need for as much a happy environment as possible. Sitting eggs is important for some fanciers have tried to fly long races with widowhood hens but have failed because widowhood hens tend to pair up in the Basket and then they are lost or come back very late. For the last three days this hen had full widowhood mixture but was built up on half diet and half full mixture.
There is of course no substitute for good breeding of the right type of pigeon. At this distance the pedigree rules. This hen confirms that principle. If they are to fly 800 miles they have to have at least good 750 milers in the pedigree and the loft has to concentrate all its efforts in this direction. This is achievement pigeon flying rather than the triumph speed stuff. This is why the International Barcelona is such a great race. It can and does find great pigeons at either end of its range.

The value of the long flying pigeons is that they are in demand from other fanciers flying much shorter distances. Others buy them in order to put strength into their existing strains for these shorter flying lofts also fail occasionally sucked in by the inducement of speed that depletes strength and reliability. This shows when a long flying loft actually beats them on speed. In cases like this we all have to sit up and take notice for after all these pigeons flew over their lofts in the first place.

It is this kind of pigeon that gives strength and a measure of certainty. This hen, liberated at 09.30 on the 2nd of July was timed at 12.34 on the 3rd of July flying 1305.146 km. You have a right to be proud when this kind of thing happens.