24-V59472 BLUE HEN Equinox × Willems Gold direct — the two pigeons behind the best of Willow Lofts W D Bruijne

24-V59472 BLUE HEN Equinox × Willems Gold direct — the two pigeons behind the best of Willow Lofts

A 2024 blue hen bred "Equinox" × "Willems Gold" — the two pigeons behind the best of the Willow Lofts stock loft — and, in the breeder's words, "one of my top breeding hens, but sadly have to part!!". Both parents came from the Syndicate Lofts' William de Bruijne family, and her dam's parents were bred from a 1st and a 2nd Dutch National winner.

A stock hen: the card records her as one of the loft's top breeding hens.

The Sire — 22-V51607 "Equinox"

Blue Spider × Murphy's Diamond · bought from the syndicate for a large sum

Equinox was bought from the syndicate for a large sum, bred top birds at Willow Lofts, and was then sold on for a large sum. Another Willow Lofts card credits him with a 2nd Open 2-Bird and "many more through this cock".

His sire "Blue Spider" (BELG-19-3007763) is the syndicate's top breeder, by "Spidey" out of "Tina", who won "a lot of national prizes" including 23rd National La Souterraine against 11,236 birds. His dam is "Murphy's Diamond" (NL-19-1788881), by "Murphy's Law" out of "Dochter Hurricane".

The Dam — 22-V51476 "Willems Gold"

Top breeder · Yuri × Maggy Murphy · from a family breeding to national level

The card calls Willems Gold a top breeder and notes that her full sisters are also breeding up to national level. At Willow Lofts she is also the dam of 23-D92857, who has bred winners for Richardson & Son of Horden, including a 2nd Open 2-Bird for Jimmy Richardson.

She is a daughter of "Yuri" (NL-20-1775679) and "Maggy Murphy" (NL-20-1775681) — a pair that, per the card, "bred numerous wins". Yuri is by "Uranus", 2nd Dutch National, out of "Olga", 1st Dutch National; Maggy Murphy is by Murphy's Law out of "Tatjana".

Foot note from Howard himself

In 2024 I was told I had stage 4 prostrate cancer which had gone to my bones, so I sold nearly all my race bird’s including stock. My last sale was due for Dec 2024 with 20 late breds and 4 stock birds. On my visit too Hull Hospital in Nov 2024 to see my consultant Doctor Patu, he informed me that he though my treatment was working because my P.S.I. was dropping from 940, and it is now undetectable, so I decided too give it another try racing, racing only 5 race bird in 2025 old birds on rubbers. They won or were first 4 in every old bird race, ending with 2nd GYA, 1200 odd bird’s.

I was invited to join a very strong club for young birds, and they flew really well winning a few races, in many arriving in bunches.

In 2026 old bird I was 2nd Fed ECT despite me going on a cruise for 2 wks. In young bird season: first Grantham 88ml 1st 2nd 3rd 4th, 1st Ebor Fed; Grantham (2) 1st club 1st Fed; Huntingdon 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th, first 4 in Fed; and in last race of season 1st club 1st Fed, Decoy Lakes.

Winning 3rd breeder buyer in GYA £400,
In the club 1st and 2nd breeder buyer and £1,000.

So thats all bragging done, now onto birds.

Mostly ‘William De Bruije’ from syndicate loft, with a few Luc Vavort’s, all very nr the tree: Lawman, Blue Spider, Erin, Little China Girl, All the Aces, Yurri, Murphys Diamond, Red Rum, Sweet Caroline, Maggy Murphy, and many more. I still have ‘Golden Jade’ – her young this yr alone have won me £1400 in B and B. These will be my last ever sales as I am 86 now.