When you invest in top class pigeons you will reap the benefits for many years to come. Koen Minderhoud is well aware of that. Back in the 1980s he purchased a whole lot of direct Vandenabeele pigeons and they had a great influence on his team. Later on Koen moved his loft from Westkapelle to Koudekerke but that was not a problem for his pigeon family. He further improved his breed with new bloodlines from Leo Broeckx, Jos & Jules Engels and more recently Verbree & Albert Derwa, which added a finishing touch to his breeding team.
The Minderhoud pigeons seem to breed outstanding pigeons effortlessly. The highlights for the 2012 season were five first prizes won in big races, which eventually resulted in an impressive provincial list of achievements in District 1 Zeeland:
1st prov. Champion Middle Distance District Zeeland 2012
2nd prov. Ace Pigeon Young Birds District Zeeland 2012
5th prov. Champion One Day Long Dist. District Zeeland 2012
6th prov. Ace Pigeon District Zeeland 2012
8th prov. General Champion District Zeeland 2012
8th prov. Ace Pigeon General District Zeeland 2012
In addition to the outstanding results in the championships they have also had some excellent results in the most demanding one day long distance races: since 2008 Koen has won no less than 32 teletext notations, eight of which were won in 2012:
1st Teletext District Zeeland Pithiviers – 5,015 p.
1st NPO District Zeeland Chateauroux – 3,238 p.
4th NPO District Zeeland Chateauroux – 3,238 p.
5th NPO District Zeeland Bourges – 4,847 p.
6th NPO District Zeeland Orleans – 3,822 p.
8th Teletext District Zeeland Pithiviers – 4,631 p.
8th Teletext District Zeeland Pithiviers – 4,631 p.
10th Teletext District Zeeland Pithiviers – 5,015 p.
One of the pigeons that is responsible for many of the successes in this loft – 2012 was no exception – is the amazing Blauwe 522 NL04-0421522. He was an outstanding racing pigeon and he has won for instance:
1st NPO Tours – 6,144 p.
1st Chantilly – 1,474 p.
2nd Peronne – 10,041 p.
2nd Pommeroeul – 1,478 p.
6th Peronne – 10,681 p.
12th Pommeroeul – 10,225 p.
One of the best breeders here is the daughter of Blauwe 522, the NL05-0508670. She bred the best young birds of 2012. The 670 is the dam of for instance the second NPO Chateauroux 5,223 pigeons, the fourth NPO Chateauroux 3,238 pigeons, the sixth NPO Argenton 2,991 pigeons and the 23rd NPO La Souterraine 3,539 pigeons. She is also the dam of the young and talented NL12-3210037 Gouden Crack 037, a name to remember! In 2012 she has won:
1st Gouden Crack Young birds Fondclub Zuid-Nederland
2nd Prov. Ace Pigeon Young Birds District Zeeland 2012
1st Orleans – 490 p.
5th Breuil le Vert – 956 p.
13th Orleans – 740 p.
The pigeon NL09-3912393 Blauw Roodoogje played a significant role this season as well, both as a racer and as a breeder. This amazing hen won a first prize in 2012:
1st Pithiviers – 5,015 p. (and a teletext notation)
A direct son of hers, the NL10-3011221 Mister Bradley, illustrates the breeding qualities of this bloodline. He has won a first prize as well:
1st NPO Chateauroux – 3,238 p.
Some of the other highly successful descendants of 'Blauwe 522' include:
059/08 (A daughter of Blauwe 522)
6th NPO La Souterraine – 2,889 p.
15th NPO La Souterraine – 3,539 p.
De 624 Doffer (A son of Blauwe 522)
1st Ace Pigeon Middle Distance Young Birds Entente 2011
599/11 (A son of Blauwe 522)
1st Sens – 1,412 p.
16th NPO Orleans – 3,569 p.
600/11 (A daughter of Blauwe 522)
16th NPO Bourges – 4,847 p.
De Kanje’ (A son of Blauwe 522)
1st Quievrain – 639 p.
8th NPO Pithiviers – 5,142 p.
Broer Pareltj’ (Grandson of Blauwe 522)
8th NPO Chateauroux – 3,677 p.
Cock of Orleans (Grandson of Blauwe 522)
1st Orleans – 889 p.
1st Orleans – 560 p.
4th NPO Orleans – 4,515 p.
Nestzus Orleans (Granddaughter of Blauwe 522)
5th NPO Bourges – 4,847 p.
13th NPO Tours – 5,334 p.
176/10 (Grandchild of Blauwe 522)
1st Orleans – 736 p.
2nd NPO Orleans – 4,911 p.
Het 45je (Greatgrandchild of Blauwe 522)
1st prov. asduif generaal 2009
1st Peronne – 11,724 p.
1st Breuil le Vert – 7,228 p.
6th NPO Chateauroux – 3,777 p.
7th NPO Argenton – 4,441 p.