Rutten Theo en Raymond, "Since years at the top with their unique collection of Janssen Bros. A.-pigeons"

Theo (67) has owned pigeons for over sixty years. As a little boy he was fortunate to have a mother who fancied pigeons very much. His father was interested too, but his mother outdid his father on the subject by far. Theo started racing pigeons with an uncle. He became general champion of his club P.V. De Reisduif at Groesbeek at the age of thirteen, racing his pigeons independently. This club still has about 65 members, of whome 38 are taking part in races. Theo is taking care of the old racing pigeons and his wife Tilly is making sure the youngsters want for nothing and going to the races well prepared, together with his son Raymond (32). They race under the name Theo Rutten and Son, but mother Tilly has an equal part in the successes of the young pigeons.

The lofts
The Rutten family has disposal of a 10,5 meter loft, that is devided in three compartments for the widowers and one for the hen pigeons. Beside that there is a 9 meter loft for the breeding couples and the youngsters. The front of the racing loft is facing south east.

The build-up of the stock
Theo Rutten and son Since 1958 Theo visited the world famous Janssen Brothers at the Schoolstraat in Arendonk on a regular base. From that time on Theo yearly bought a few pigeons from the "little men". He also took pigeons from Jules Wouters at Keerbergen (B.).

This Jules Wouters used to have stock from the best pigeons of the Janssen Brothers. Of the best pigeons from Jules' stock offspring moved to Groesbeek. In this way the following birds are in stock at Theo and Raymonds': " first generation offspring of de Prins (B-82-6729585); " first generation offspring of de Raket (B-79-6264440 Jonge Raketman X Goedlicht); " first generation offspring of the super breeding couple De Louis x de Irma; " second generation offspring of de 019 (B-73-6736019); " second generation offspring of de Oude Geeloger B-67-62282027 (the father of the 1rst National); " second generation offspring of de Oude Merckx (B-67-6282031); " second generation offspring of de Oude Vos (B-73-6780622); " second generation of Dochter 019; " second generation offspring of de Witoger.

Raymond bought a number of old breeding couples from Henri van Venrooij in Deurne, all pigeons coming straight from the Janssen Bros. The pigeons mentioned above are in fact the foundation stock of Theo Rutten and son. It's safe to state that Theo and Raymond are the proud owners of the best of the old, but also the best of the new breeding lines of the Janssen Bros. Whenever these two men want to strengthen their loft, they prefer to buy an old proven pigeon. Theo and Raymond only have pigeons that originated from Janssen Bros. in their loft. They prefer the one day long distance flights and the NPO-flights with the youngsters.

Breeding
They have fifteen breeding couples. The main cock is the "Jonge Geeloger" (97-NL-1098716). Years ago Theo got a "breeding system" from Hector de Smet. In this system one starts with for example three founding breeding couples (good pigeons of course!).

The offspring of a founding breeding couple are mated to each other: brother x sister. The offspring of the latter mating are mated to the old pigeons of the other two breeding couples. Usually breeding pigeons are coupled on December 20th. They breed around 70 young pigeons for their own use. They are also breeding the flying pigeons, but only the absolute best of them.

Racing system young pigeons
The youngsters are dimmed in their birth year, but -unlike it is done in many places- they don't get extra hours of artificial light after the longest day of the year. The young pigeons are trained at least about 10 times. Distances will vary from 1 to 55 kilometers. During the last training session they will be set loose one by one. Theo will drive to Jan van de Pasch in Grubbenvorst every Wednesday and sets the pigeons loose there.

Between races the pigeons will get set loose in Grubbenvorst every Wednesday. From the third flight the pigeons will be raced/trained on widowhood.

Flying system old pigeons
The race pigeons are put together in couples by Candlemas (February 2nd). This past season Theo and Raymond started out with 27 pigeon couples. They keep the old pigeons in complete widowhood. The hen pigeons are always shown for about 5 minutes before the race pigeons are put in their baskets. After the flight the pigeons are allowed together for about an hour, depending on the strain of the flight. After a one day long distance flight, the pigeons will be seperated in the evening.

The pigeons will not be dimmed with the exception of the old hen pigeons, who will stay in a semi dark loft from the moment they are put in widowhood until 16:00 hours (start of the training). Pointing out the nominated pigeons is not easy for Theo either. He says you can feel it: pigeons in tip top shape are tense at the touch. Theo has enough top pigeons and therefor usually nominates a fixed number. The pigeons are bathed every week and most of the times this happens on Monday.

Tilly uses a bucket with luke warm water and a bucket with cold water, to which some salt and vinegar are added, as it controls the lice and other vermin in her opinion.

Feeding system
After the race the pigeons get purification mixture until Tuesday. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays they get zoontjes-mixture (a typical Dutch kind of pigeon food).
The last few feedings consist of Turbo mixture and candy seed. Theo mixes this candy seed him self and it contains among other things Milkthistleseed and flaxseed. From Tuesday on the cocks get a tea spoon of candy seed in their food container at night. The hen pigeons get candy seed only two days before being put in their baskets, otherwise they go into heat and start mating amongst each other. The old pigeons eat the mixtures of Beyers and the youngsters eat Mariman 50 - 50.

Training the pigeons
The cocks train daily from 16.00 to 17.30 hours and the hens from 18.00 to 19.30 hours. Before the season the old pigeons will be transported to Grubbenvorst (55 kilometers) and set loose at Jan van de Pasch for about ten times. Until the one day races the old pigeons will also be set loose in Grubbenvorst every week.

Selection
In order to be allowed to winter at the end of the season the pigeons have to have won at least 60%, of which a few times amongst the best 10%. Theo and Raymond don't care about eye theory etc. They sure like to see a beautiful eye, but won't select for that. More important to them is good performance of their pigeons.

Medical issues
One month before the first race the pigeons are given Baytril with their food for five days. Fourteen days after that they are given one coffee spoon of Bisonforme mixed with one kilogram of food (against mucus). Before the season starts a course of Rinadozole 10% is given to prevent pigeon cancer. During the season the pigeons get Rinadozole 10% in their drinking water for one and a half day every three weeks. After a race the pigeons will find electrolytes in their drinking water. They are also provided with Colombine tea very often.

Achievements 2007
1rst National Chantilly (378 km) against 23.193 pigeons.
It was "Miss Tilly", who took credit for this big succes.
Her father is "De Super Geeloger", from fathers' side a descendant of a son of de Jonge Geeloger x Dochter Bourges-hen pigeon. From his mothers' side he is the descendant of De Goede Kweekduivin, who in her turn is the daughter of De Geeloger van '67 x a daughter of de 019.
The mother of Miss Tilly is "de laatste Topper 384", whose father descends from De Super Geeloger x Kleindochter 019 (Granddaughter 019).
In the pedigree of de 019 we find names like De Louis, De Irma, Bonte Merckx, Bange 67.
Miss Tilly is the product of inbreeding the best pigeons of the Janssen Brothers from Arendonk.
Before her national victory she had won more good prizes.

Some nice results of 2007:
Strombeek 148 km. 667 pigeons 1,2,3,4,7 etc. 11682 pigeons 2,3,13,15 etc.
Menen 220 km. 13998 pigeons 4,14,15,16,24 etc.
Orléans 517 km. 1521 pigeons 2,3,12,13, 16 etc.
Geel 91 km. 840 pigeons 1,2 etc.
Peronne 293 km. 598 pigeons 2,7,8, 9 etc.

In 2006 and 2007 a total of 20 pure first prizes were won against an average of 1679 pigeons! Just try and come up to that level!

The ensing-bearers of 2007 were:
" Rising Star 05-NL-1072072
Flight: Kilometers: Number of pigeons: Placing:
Offenburg 400 km. 158p 1st - 1118p 4th - 2532p 9th national - 3514p 10th
Strombeek 148 km. 667p 2nd - 4357p 3th - 11682p 3th
Orléans 517 km. 200p 2th - 1521p 6th - 3600p 15th
Blois 590 km. 145p 9th - 950p 56 - 2324p 133th
Duffel 125 km. 661 3th
Peronne 295 km. 586p 16th
Duffel 125 km. 239p 11th
Orléans 517 km. 248p 13th
Geel 95 km. 240p 18th
Blois 590 km. 835p 50th - 2313p 143th
Bourges 588 km. 171p 19th
Orléans 517 km. 215p 31th - 1641p 228th
Duffel 125 km. 7693p 228th
Peronne 295 km. 598p 44th

" Miss Turbo 04-NL-1720435
Flight : Kilometers: Number of pigeons: Placing
Breuil 365 km. 202p 1st - 1408p 2th - 4028p 11th
Peronne 295 km. 598p 1st 3974p 11th
Epehy 278 km. 293p 1st 1837p 11th
Strombeek 148 km. 667p 7th - 4357p 26th - 11682p 32th
Chantilly 378 km. 261p 4th - 1726p 27th
Peronne 295 km. 225p 4th - 1662p 30th
Geel 95 km. 598p 15th - 4274p 67th
Menen 220 km. 195p 5th
Strombeek 148 km. 321p 14th
Morlincourt 320 km. 360p 17th
Peronne 295 km. 258p 17th
Pommeroeul 213 km. 651p 61th

Championships
Theo en Raymond do not race for any championships with the exception of the championship one day long distance flights.
They won the following championships in the one day long distance races:
1rst One day long distance champion Vereniging de Reisduif (65 members)
2nd One day long distance champion Regio 4, Kring 4 (1250 members)
7th One day long distance champion GOU, Regio 4 (2500 members)

Worth mentioning is also that Theo has become general champion of his club P.V. De Reisduif Groesbeek for 43 (fourty three) times.

A couple of top results of the last few years
- 1rst National Chantilly (378 km) against 23.193 pigeons;
- 1rst National Orléans (517 km) against 17.000 pigeons;
- 1rst National Montlucon (651 km) against 7.789 pigeons;
- 1rst NPO Dpt 8 St. Vincent (1056 km) against 2.424 duiven (with a Janssen Bros. pigeon);
- 2nd National Pont St. Maxence (365 km) against 23.469 pigeons;
- 7th NPO National Peronne (293 km) against 12.718 pigeons;
- 8th National Chantilly 2006 (378 km) against appr. 15.000 pigeons;
- 9th NPO National Peronne (293 km) against 33.043 pigeons;
- 10th NPO National Offenburg 2007 with Rising Star against 3.514 pigeons.

Goals for the future
Theo and Raymond seek to win national/N.P.O.-victories in the one day long distance races and with the young pigeons.

Conclusion
This time I was a guest of people who pursue their hobby very passionately. They're racing at the top for years with their formidable stock of Janssen pigeons. Their success has not come of itself. They are working hard for it and they more then deserve their success.

Translated with explicit permission of the writer by Marijke Sliphorst.