2nd Western European Super Marathon 2013  |
| 9th Western European Super Marathon 2012 |
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"Earth" wins the 263rd against 2.575 pigeons, 326.84 miles from Hope Town District in the final race
Sun City Million Dollar Pigeon Race in South Africa 22/01/2011.
Played by RG Spaans.
Heavy flight with head wind, the first day 47 pigeons in the loft.
Sun City Million Dollar Pigeon Race |
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COMB. P. & S. VERBEEK, NAALDWIJK (NL) |
SUNDAY DECEMBER 27th 2009 – DORDRECHT (NL) |
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| "The Magic Two on the long distance flights" will put their total small loft (this includes breeders
and flyers, excludes the pigeons born between 2008 and 2009) in a Sensational Sale.
In this Sale; 60 pigeons of extremely high class.
The Most Value Player is the 04-895 known as the “Midnight”, 1st NL. OLYMPIC PIGEON MARATHON DORTMUND 2009 including
the 2nd National Bordeaux (12,423 pigeons), 10th National St. Vincent (5,201 pigeons),
45th National Bergerac (10,903 pigeons) etc.
In this unique Sale also big flyers as the “Delgado” 431-02 , “Amigo” 339-05 and “Hopefuls” 092-06. |
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7th National Marathon Champion 2009 |
9th European Marathon 2009 |
6th National Ace Pigeon Perpignan 2007 - 2008 - 2009 "Regalo" |
13th National Ace Pigeon Dax / Tarbes 3-year ranking 2009 "Amigo" |
19th Western European Super Marathon 2009 |
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NL.04-1959837 "Regalo" 18th Ace Pigeon Perpignan International 3 years 2007 - 2008 - 2009 |
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Combination P.& S. Verbeek wins the ZLU flight from Tarbes
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Around 06:45 the pigeons in Tarbes were released with a north-western wind, in the middle of France there was a more
unpredictable wind mainly from the north, which later changed into a west to northwestern wind. This type of weather
was not very suited for allowing the pigeons in the region where the Verbeek loft is, to arrive on the day of release.
When the evening fell, the first Dutch pigeons arrived on their lofts. On the ZLU website that showed the first
39 arrivals, the fact that the western and eastern arrival numbers were very close was something that stood out.
In Naaldwijk, the first pigeon arrived just before dark on 22:42. It was the widower 06-2141396 from combination
Peet and Sebastiaan Verbeek and also the only pigeon in the region that arrived on the same day as the release.
On a distance of 1024 km, this is a stunning result. 1st in fondclub 'De Glazenstad', 1st in CC Rijnmond, 2nd in
category 5 and 20th National ZLU. Arrival times: 22:42, 06:26, 06:58, 07:43, etc.
It's a dark cock with white feather tips, it has a beautiful eye with a very small pupil, a strong build with a
matching wing. Through his veins, Sprenkels blood flows (through C. Hulscher) with a bit of Theelen through
J.C. v.d. Krogt. In his pedigree we can find many top pigeons like "La Primera", "Chris", "Shakira" and "Dreamliner".
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Peter and Sebastiaan Verbeek, Naaldwijk.
National Champions Long Distance 2007,
National Marathon Champion 2008,
1st Olympiad pigeon Sports Class Marathon Cat. E (NL.) 2009
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Naaldwijk is located in the western part of South-Holland province. This part of the countryside,
consisting of several villages, is better known as the Westland. In this area we find millions of square
meters of greenhouses. 33 million square feet of glass roof, under which many types of vegetables and flowers
are grown throughout the year. Nowhere else in the world there is such a density of greenhouses in an area the
size of Westland. Another name it has is 'The glass city'. On this location, in the garden of Europe,
the National Champions Long Distance 2007 can be found. |
Peter and Sebastiaan Verbeek |
| For those who do not know them, the combination consists of the 48-year old Peter and his 26-year old son
Sebastiaan. Peter works as maintenance mechanic of fire-ventilation-hoods, while son Sebastiaan is assistant
foreman in the same branch, with the firm Ro. Pa. Tec. The character of Peter can best be described as stubborn
(in a good way), perfectionist, active in sports, supportive and with a drive for accomplishments. Son Sebastiaan
can be described as eager to learn, active in sports, straightforward, with a powerful drive to win but, like his
father, a very social-minded person. |
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| Sebastiaan with the "Midnight" and Peter |
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The start |
| After having started his own company but being forced to stop working because of a bad back,
Peter was looking for something to invest his time in. He had been a friend to animals for his whole life,
and according to himself, had always been interested in pigeons. He just never got around to it while working on
his own company and raising a family. Once he returned home after the necessary surgeries, the choice for how to
spend the day was quickly made and soon pigeons entered the life of the Verbeek family. In late 1994 a small loft
with late youngsters was built in the garden. Currently this has expanded into a 6-meter loft from the Punt
firm and a small extension that has been self built.
The first several years the entire program has been raced and this didn't change until 1999. I can clearly recall
Peter telling me about the true first steps towards overnight long distance races, during my first visit in 2001.
There were a few long distance pigeons by that time, but things really took off after a phone call around 23:30 in
early spring regarding picking up about 10 Sprenkels couples owned by Chris Hulscher from Naaldwijk.
These were mostly heavily inbred pigeons. They returned home, but seemed to miss the powerful drive to fly early,
as I had been told. The choice was made to look for quality crossbreeding-material and this was found with D. Bakker
and son from Poortugaal. This father and son combination had, especially for that time, impressive results with
mainly a basis of Antoon and Lucie van de Wegen pigeons. This second new acquisition paid off very well.
Both crossed and purebred these pigeons achieved victories in many ways. Pigeons from Saya brothers and from
combination Bogaert-Hataney have been added during later years, specifically for breeding purposes, and these too
brought father and son the successes they were looking for. |
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National Champions Long Distance 2007 |
| When I call Peter during the evening in the second week of October and ask him if he still remembers the
lyrics to the Wilhelmus (the Dutch national anthem), a silence settles over the other side of the phoneline.
I do not keep him in the dark any longer and congratulate him on winning the national championship.
He knew his pigeons would score rather high, especially during the Bergerac race, but after this race father and son
really did not count on winning this championship. That both father and son Verbeek were very pleased with this
victory goes without saying. |
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| National Champions Long Distance 2007 |
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Multiple championships of 2007 were scored with:
1st + 2nd Acepigeon National Long Distance NPO Sector 2
12th + 14th National Acepigeon Long Distance
1st National Acepigeon Perpignan 2004 - 2007
5th International Pigeon Competition Extra Long Distance '07 |
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The achieved results for the championship
St. Vincent, 4 flying, 5232 pigeons - 9th (3rd nominated) and 116th (1st nom.)
Tarbes, 10 flying, 5210 pigeons - 56th, 158th (1st nom.), 268th (2nd nom.) 408th and 593rd.
Bergerac, 12 flying, 10903 pigeons - 45th (2nd nom.), 405th (1st nom.), 1137th, 1724th, 2259th, 2429th and 2702nd.
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Some more great results. Besides the results that won them the National title,
the combination also did the following:
Perpignan, 7 flying, 5294 pigeons - 25th, 247th, 309th and 1192nd.
Bordeaux j.l., 13 flying, 4220 pigeons. 50th, 214th, 221st, 279th, 353rd and 546th.
St. Vincent, 6 flying, 6330 pigeons - 47th, 127th and 473rd.
Mont de Marsan, 4 flying, 3902 pigeons - 6th and 86th. |
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Earlier won championships from 2001 onwards;
2nd Super Champion Union North and South-Holland
5th National Champion Long Distance
5th West-Holland Marathon
5th S.N.Z.H. Championship
8th National Marathon ZLU
9th National Marathon ZLU
11th West-Holland Marathon
16th International Pigeon Competition Extra Long Distance '01
36th West European Super Marathon '01
36th West European Super Marathon '03 |
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Care and feed |
| When talking about the subject of care, both gentlemen tell me that their care for the pigeons
in the months of may, june and july is very strict. But, they point out, this season has been more difficult
for that, as work in the club and the for employed people hard to manage basketing time of 18:30 both made
this hard to do strictly. But after trying out the non cleaning method last year, which turned out to be a
disappointment, they have brought out the scrubber again this year. The lofts are scraped clean both in the
morning as in the evening, except with the young pigeons, they would sit on their own droppings until the
period where moulting started.
The feed is bought from the Patagoon and they gave this their own spin. They use 5 cans for 4 seasons,
during the long distance season 2 cans are replaced with 2 cans of 4 seasons grains. 3 cans of barley is normally,
during long distance season 2 cans are changed to paddy. Furthermore one can of candy-seed and one can of P40 pellets
and added to this mix is about 150 peanuts 3 times a week, 4 types of Herbots oil (which includes lecithine) are
used on the feed and this sometimes is dried again using Multi-Mix from the Patagoon. A whole bowl of this mixture
is given, with the knowledge that some barley will always be left over. Fresh litter is available daily as is a jar
of seasalt which the pigeons are pecking from regularly. Sprouted seeds are also on the menu daily.
These vitamin-rich seeds, Katjang Idjoe, are being sprouted in the kitchen and fed to the pigeons every day.
When I was there, I noticed how much the pigeons enjoyed these. The water is refreshed in such a way that the
drinking-pan is refilled whenever it is needed. If it becomes too dirty because of dust, feathers and flakes,
a brush is used to clean it again. No other substances are added to the water, apart from a finely sliced onion or
some garlic. |
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Care after the season |
| The strict focus can't be maintained all year. The racing pigeons haven't been outside since Perpignan.
This is mainly because the late pigeons for own use are bred in that time every year. Hens that don't fly out are
coupled with the better racing cocks. The bred late younglings are of course let out of the loft every day,
despite the weather-conditions. The feed in this period is a full bowl of the type described earlier and this until
some barley is left over again. They also prepare tea from time to time, but they aren't sure if this has really
made a difference.
In this period, a drop of Endo Ecto is used for treatment against lice, just like the mandatory shots,
when the season is nearing. Sebastiaan notes that the bred late pigeons are trained by themselves.
The weather does not matter to them, they are brought along when they have to go somewhere during the long winter.
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Medical |
| As a writer, this is always a good subject to talk about. The readers are interested to know what is
available to pigeon fanciers. But with the Verbeek family I came away empty handed. Just like many other
champion-lofts, medication is used very carefully. This year, the combination-mix of doctor Sluis was used,
which has been handed out a full week before the flightseason started, and during the season itself when it was
deemed necessary. This isn't something you can easily predict, however. It is a matter of seeing it, but more of
feeling it. Following the advice of Theo de Kruijk, a treatment against Salmonella is handed out.
If something in the colony looks wrong, they will respond according to the advice that Theo will give. If only
one pigeon seems affected, it will be placed away from the rest. If there are no signs of improvement after two or
three days, this pigeon will be removed, no matter the heritage. |
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The lofts |
| The racingloft faces the southeast and is a regular product from the Punt firm.
It is 5.80 meters long and 1.80 meters deep. It contains two sections, one of 3.60 meters for the widowers and
one of 2.20 meters for the yearlings. Apart from this basic loft, a second one has been built from the ground up,
being 2.30 meters and housing the youngsters. The windows in both lofts are open day and night, unless rain falls
into the lofts. Roof-coverings are roofing-tiles and a ventilation-shaft has been placed. The ventilation was
needed as they used the dry manure method last year, but it has become useless because the method has been changed.
One thing that stood out was that there was no ceiling placed in the sections of the pointed roof.
Both in the yearling loft as in the widowers loft, pigeons were moving or sitting on the beams where the ceiling
is normally attached to. The breeders have been housed with Sebastiaan himself. |
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Loft occupation |
| The widowersloft holds about 25 nesting-spots but 30 pigeons minimum. This is done purely to keep the
atmosphere and fierceness. Therefore, yearlings or outflying breeders are put in during the season to stimulate
this if needed. So if a spot on the old racing loft opens up for any reason, a prizewinning yearling is put in
immediately. |
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Numbers |
| About 20 widowers, 12 widows and about 55 yearlings (including late younglings) stay on the racing lofts.
Everything shows that the Verbeek family is breeding pigeons all year through. But the last two seasons they race
with a small number of younglings on the flights meant for them. As an addition to the young pigeons there are more
than a dozen breeding couples available. They note that, with the inbred-pigeons who have grown and seem to be doing
allright, they can make use of more pigeons for breeding a round of youngsters if needed. |
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Playing method |
| Previous years, the Verbeek family only raced the natural system. This year, for the first time and
relatively late in may, it was decided to also race the widowhood system. As the racing pigeons were never separated
before, from that moment on the hens had to be relocated to Sebastiaan's house. They were kept here for the biggest
part of the week and would fly one race every week. This did not go successfully. The yearling cocks have been along
on all races from Meer up until National Blois, fourteen days before the release of a two days race. The older cocks
have been basketed from Harchies and onwards, at the end of April, and haven't flown further than Ablis 420 km.
Taken together, they will have flown about 1200 km before the first real test of strength. After the winter period,
end of march, the pigeons are released daily. This isn't done regularly, but whenever there is time that day.
From the start of may the training takes place on set times in the evening as much as possible. The yearlings are
trained from 18:00 to 19:00 and the widowers from 20:00 for one hour, with a closed window. When they return, the
feeding bowls are filled and the first pigeon will have the most peanuts. Near the end of may the morning-training
is added to the program. The widowers are released at 05:30 for one hour, followed by the yearlings. The widowers
that don't want to return will have to enter the loft when the yearlings do, because after 07:00 the time has come
to go to work again. |
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Personal training |
| The older pigeons have not been trained for the races. They've been placed on Harchies / Menen for more
than 150 km. In between the two day races they've received three trainings from Steenbergen and nothing further.
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Preparations before the races |
| There is no tight schedule regarding preparations before a race. The hens aren't shown before a race.
Notably, the hen paired to "Amigo", 1st Aspigeon Sector 2 National competition had been lost during the races.
But it is still a given that between pigeon fancier and pigeon there is a very good connection. They often get
personal attention in having them struggle with the fancier's hand that is holding a desired peanut.
When the widowers arrive in their loft after a race, they are locked in, and are given electro-forte from Herbots
(a mixture of vitamins, salts, glycine and dextrose) in their water, with a bowl of feed including peanuts and a
handful of grit. |
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Coupling and separating |
| The racing pigeons are never coupled. Since this year was the first one that featured racing the
widowhood system, the hens have been removed from the loft and became widowers. After Perpignan they are reunited
until the season is about to start again. The breeding pigeons are coupled normally. This year it happened around
the middle of February. |
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Some great pigeons from the Verbeek loft |
| If you play like father and son Verbeek and manage to score that many championships, you know that
their lofts are filled with a lot of quality pigeons. |
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| "Delgado" 1st National Acepigeon Perpignan 4 years classification 2004 / 2007 |
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NL 02-1533431 "Delgado" |
This is a late youngling from 2002 that has become a well-trained yearling after several harsh winter
trainings. In his first year he hadn't been played the overnight long distance races, but regarding his short period
as racing pigeon he has achieved impressive results. His flight career ended with a victory on Perpignan, bringing
his total achievements to:
1st National Acepigeon Perpignan 4 year ranking 2004 / 2007
2nd National Acepigeon Perpignan 3 year ranking 2005 / 2007
5th National Acepigeon Perpignan 5 year ranking 2003 / 2007
6th National Acepigeon Perpignan 5 year ranking 2004 / 2008
31st National Perpignan 7.645 pigeons and 87th International 17.570 pigeons in 2004
63rd National Perpignan 6.300 pigeons and 212th International 17.653 pigeons in 2005
885th National Barcelona 6.777 pigeons and 1934th International 22.887 pigeons in 2006
344th National Perpignan 4.719 pigeons and 993rd International 14.812 pigeons in 2006
25th National Perpignan 5.294 pigeons and 420th International 15.087 pigeons in 2007
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After these achievements and being grandfather of the 1st Acepigeon Sector 2, ("Amigo") it was decided to give him
a regular place in the breeding loft. |
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| "Amigo" 12th Acepigeon National Long Distance 2007 |
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NL 05-1305339 "Amigo" |
9th - 5.232 p. National St. Vincent
85th - 6.052 p. National St. Vincent
87th - 3.599 p. National Tarbes ZLU
123rd - 4.011 p. National Tarbes ZLU
158th - 5.210 p. National Tarbes
254th - 3.552 p. National Bordeaux yearlings
405th - 10.903 p. National Bergerac
629th - 6.507 p. National Perpignan
631th - 5.622 p. National Perpignan
437th - 2.038 p. Orleans
472th - 1.965 p. Tours
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1st Acepigeon National Sector 2 and 12th Acepigeon National Long Distance 2007.
Co-winner National Championship Long Distance 2007. |
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"Midnight" 14th Acepigeon National Long Distance 2007.
1st Olympiad pigeon Sports Class Marathon Cat. E (NL) 2009. |
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NL 04-1959895 "Midnight" |
2nd - 12.270 p. National Bordeaux
10th - 5.201 p. National St.Vincent
45th - 10.903 p. National Bergerac
116th - 5.232 p. National St. Vincent
268th - 5.210 p. National Tarbes
311th - 7.440 p. National Montauban
690th - 6.198 p. Creil
653rd - 3.499 p. Ablis
3882th - 15.848 p. Le Mans |
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This pure Saya pigeon was clocked at midnight from Bergerac.
Became 2nd Acepigeon Sector 2 2007 and 14th Acepigeon National Long Distance.
Co-winner National Championship Long Distance 2007.
Co-winner National Marathon 2008. |
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| "Hopefuls" co-winner National Championship Long Distance 2007. |
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NL 06-2142092 "Hopefuls" |
22th - 3.814 p. National Mont de Marsan
56th - 5.210 p. National Tarbes
63rd - 3.816 p. National Narbonne
267th - 1.462 p. Haasdonk
312th - 1.533 p. Blois
1266th - 6.198 p. Creil
223rd - 1.047 p. Bourges
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Sprenkels remains as a basis |
| Once you get to know Peter and Sebastiaan you'll realize that everything they do is quite focused and
planned. After reading books, articles and helpful internet reports they decided to expand on their Sprenkels-colony,
especially considering the excellent blood and results of the pigeons. Therefore they ended up with father and son
Cor and Nico Beijer from South-Beijerland. They had the same pigeon base as father and son Verbeek. In 2004, several
young pigeons were acquired who could immediately prove themselves as yearlings on Bordeaux Z.L.U. Against 4.220
pigeons, the five flying scored 214th, 221st, 279th and 353rd National. On the subsequent Montauban, a late youngling
from Cor and Nico played 18th against the high number of 7.440 pigeons. These great results led to the purchasing of
all breeding pigeons from Cor Beijer when he quit the pigeonsport, knowing that the Beijers pigeons were bred from
the Sprenkels strains of "Barcelona 17" - "204-tje" x A & L v.d. Wegen. |
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"'t 04-tje" and the "Barcelona 17" from the late Janus Sprenkels |
| Looking at the extensive amount of data that I have been given during my visit, it is clear that the
colony of the National champions is built on a very solid foundation. I'd like to talk a bit more in-depth about this.
It all started at the end of the 1950's when Janus and his wife Jopie Sprenkels began filling their loft with pigeons
from fanciers that kept many pure Aardens. The best ones they ever had came from Antoon Stoffelen. In those days the
Sprenkels had three sister hens, being "Oud Blauwtje", "58 tje" and "Oude Kweekmoedertje". Three excellent pigeons,
and "Oud Blauwtje" was mother of the famous "Barcelona 17" NL 75-8030017 while "58 tje" became mother of the
well-known "04-tje". If we observe the foundation of the Verbeek loft, we can trace it back to the "04-tje" and the
lineage of the wondrous "Barcelona 17". |
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Wondrous Spain-racers from the "Barcelona 17" lineage |
| It later turned out that this pigeon, who itself came from a brother of "De Dolle" mixed with the already
mentioned "Oud Blauwtje", has left a great mark of the entire Sprenkels loft. After his impressive list of
high-profile achievements like a 2nd National and 14th International Barcelona, he was discovered to be a great
breeder. Years later his blood still flows through many Barcelona flyers. For examples of superior race- as well
as breeding pigeons that feature him in the pedigree I only have to mention "De Klamper" from Cor van de Heijde
from Made. This powerhouse that needs no further introduction is himself a grandchild from mother's side
(NL 79-1491678) from the pairing of "Barcelona 17" x "04-tje". The "04-tje" was later sold to the Kuypers brothers
from Neer. With them she was paired for some time with "Barcelona 1" and "Barcelona 2" and various of their
champions carry the blood of this famous hen. If we observe the Verbeek pedigrees, we often find some of these
pigeons, even if there are some generations in between. |
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Also the following |
| Apart from the mentioned solid foundation of Sprenkels pigeons, they also have pigeons from the Saya
brothers and combination Bogaert-Hataney (100 % pigeons of the brothers). And of course I have to mention the
set-up strain of the "Delgado". This full-blooded powerhouse has been built up from the grandson "Marseillaisse"
line through Lupino from Maasdijk. ("Marseillaisse" 1st National Marseille 1991 Lardenoye-Vogten x "Barcelona 2"
brothers Kuypers) x "Dochter Fondman" Jac van Dijk, a pure inbred product after the "55" of Jan Ernest. |
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How and when have they passed the selection |
| When asked this question, father Peter starts explaining enthusiastically. A youngling whose growth
stays behind the rest is removed immediately. Furthermore, when they've been weaned and one isn't 100% fit they will
be removed. When the youngsters have gotten their wings they are all judged by hand, and the ones that do not
pass are taken out as well. After that, if there is time, they will be trained to be released one by one. Once
the races have begun, the returns are strictly followed. The ones that return last time and again are removed as well,
regardless of heritage. Those old enough, and having passed all these tests, are placed in the National flights to
learn to break free of the large group. This seems like a harsh way to make a selection, but if we look at the
results then it seems to be an effective procedure. |
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As yearling |
| As yearling the pigeons are raced from the first flight onwards, as we've read. The ones that score
the lowest are taken to the first and early Bordeaux with midday-release. The ones who score in this race are
allowed to continue, the others have one retry. For the yearlings that according to their age could not perform in
this race, National Blois is next. After the season, those who didn't win a prize are out. A tough, but I think
honest decision, as the pigeons are given a fair chance. The aspigeons are judged in a similar way.
But son Sebastiaan notes, sometimes one pigeon is spared from being taken out, because it is a favorite that
they still think can score nicely later on. |
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The two year olds |
| From the end of April, the pigeons are raced on Harchies / Menen (about 150 kilometers) without any
training beforehand. They keep on being trained for 14 days before an overnight long distance race. The ones that
score nicely on the midday-releases stay there, the others are used in the ZLU competitions. Here, getting results
is needed, else there is no place for them anymore. |
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Various |
| Father and son Verbeek think their successes are thanks to starting with good material, which means
the Sprenkels-pigeons. The stern way of making the selection also helps. But also having only prizewinners isn't
the way forward, they need top racers and these can stay. This method has been used on their breeders as well, the
pay-off must be decent because only one youngling in every 20 that performs is not what they need. The breeding
pigeons are therefore coupled up to three times with a different partner. But the strong point is their firm way
of training. They say that minding the weather too much isn't good, because the pigeons will experience different
types of weather during the overnight long distance races anyway.
From all these things it is clear that father and son Verbeek are focused on winning and are always looking for
ways to make their pigeons better. |
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Becoming big in the sport |
| When I mention this subject, both gentlemen are unsure of what to say. Both certainly don't want to
claim that they have become big in this sport. One race everything goes smoothly, and the other one has no good
results at all. They say that it is important to have a large selection of good flyers, especially for the
overnight long distance. You can only play them well for two times, sometimes three times a year. In those
two months everything has to be just right regarding stamina and health. If one small thing isn't right, the
top racers of today can be the regular prize-flyers of tomorrow. Immediately, the words of Piet de Vogel run
through my head; "The one year you're a doctor, the next you're a patient.". In these two months, but also the
months before the season, a good eye is needed. You have to be able to see and want to see things that might be
wrong. They also remark about he importance of listening and reading about how the other fanciers are doing.
If needed they go and visit other fanciers during the long winter season and see things they might or might not
use in their own system. |
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Why does it work with you? |
| Why so many others see less results might be, according to the Verbeek father and son, because these
groups don't go all the way or are not focused on scoring the best results. They are already happy if the
pigeons come home at all. Maybe they'd rather stay to drink a beer in the club instead of spending that time
with the pigeons. They rarely read, are still focused on the old system, are more interested in gossiping about
others than really asking a fancier a serious question and after a bad race are ready to give up easily. They
also feel every financial investment with a better fancier is one too many, not knowing or refusing to know what
energy and money it cost that fancier himself. And once a decent pigeon has been bought they instantly expect
results or feel cheated when this doesn't happen. If only it were that easy...But luckily everyone experiences
the sport in their own way, everyone is free to play how they like to, and manage their loft in the way they feel
is best.
These are seemingly firm but experienced words from the champions of 2007. Some might not like to hear it, but
it certainly has many truths. |
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New purchases |
| When making a new purchase, the men pay a lot of attention to the results that the family of the pigeon
has achieved, like father, grandfather and great-grandfather. This is a sign of good breeding qualities and the
kind that is also currently on the lofts is very welcome. The type of pigeon they like should not be too big and be
lightweight. Well built, strong back, thick front wing with a short back-wing, richly colored eyes, and soft plumes.
These are the preferences that father and son have when looking for new purchases. |
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Busy bees |
| It may be said that father and son are busy bees apart from their work with their pigeons. Their club
is a basketing centre on a national and international level. And like most centres, the work all comes down to a
few people. They don't mind this, but sometimes it can be a bit too much. Peter does the work behind the pc together
with Tony van Dijk, for instance. Reading the chip-rings, adding flights and making the final results,
from all races. He also manages the site of 'De Reisduif' and adds race results as soon as possible. Sebastiaan
is present on every basketing-evening to help where able. He also helps getting the baskets into the trucks. He
also assists with printing the clocking results. During a busy season this all comes down to four evenings of
basketing and two evenings of checking clocks. Quite a task. |
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All in all |
| All in all I can only conclude that the championship has landed with a father and son combination that
have a great amount of love for the sport in all assets. Completely driven and with a strong winners-mentality.
Despite what others might think, these kind of championships are hard to win. It deserves more respect to know
that changes in the rules gave them disadvantages on two of the three races, and that they managed to score the
title on one of the shortest distances of the entire Sector 2 game. For the entire Verbeek family I would like to
say; you've earned it. |
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| Johan Hamstra |
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