From left to right: Klaas, Sten and Rik van Dorp
Three generations
This official name of this combination from the province of South Holland is K. Van Dorp & Son, and it consists of the now 76 year old Klaas and his son Rik. Klaas’s grandson Stef has shown particular interest in pigeon racing recently as well: he likes to give a helping hand in the loft, and he is always there when the pigeons return home on Saturday. He has no real obligations in the loft yet but he is already part of a third generation of pigeon fanciers in the Van Dorp family, following in the footsteps of Klaas and Rik..
The hens
In an attempt to make the caretaking less labour intensive, the fanciers started the season for the first time with only a group of racing hens. Each hen has her own male partner. They are kept in a loft with sloped boards. The floor is covered with pvc pipes to prevent the pigeons from pairing. The racing team consists of 70 hens, 50 of which are yearlings.
Pont St.Maxence
The combination started the season with some excellent results in the Entente of Central Holland East, but their best result of 2016 so far came from Pont St. Maxence: they won several top 10 prizes in Rayon Central Province 5 against a large group of pigeons. They had 9 pigeons with a prize of 1:00 and no less than 33 pigeons with a prize 1:10, combined with an excellent prize percentage (67% of 1:4). They can look forward to the remaining program races with great confidence. This is their overall result:
15-05 Pt.St.Maxence 321 km. 9580 p. 3-4-9-24-27-29-33-37-82-etc. (47/70)
NL04-2082680 Kleine Jan, a magnificent breeding cock
Kleine Jan plays an important role
This loft has made some big steps forward in recent years, and that is partly thanks to NL04-2082680 Kleine Jan. He originates from a daughter of the H8 breeding pair of Jan Ouwerkerk (Lekkerkerk, NL). This pair bred Jan’s famous 83 and 84, with which he almost dominated the one day long distance in 2005. He ended up winning the National Loft Championship one day long distance that season as well. Many other youngsters of Kleine Jan have won important races as well. His descendants have been successfully crossed with pigeons of L-B-J Geerinckx (Wommelgem, BE), which have been introduced in the loft of Klaas & Rik since 2006. The prize winners of Pont St. Maxence clearly illustrate the breeding value of Kleine Jan and the Geerinckx pigeons.
NL14-1031042 Indy, 3rd Pont St. Maxence 9580 p.
Indy
The two year old hen NL14-1031042 Indy was the fastest of a total of 70 hens that Klaas & Rik had basketed for Pont St. Maxence. She eventually finished in third place against 9580 pigeons. She had been trained in the natour races when she was a young bird, and she won a first prize from Asse-Zellik (3621 p.) in Entente Groot Rotterdam as a yearling. Indy is a daughter of Kleine Jan, who was paired to NL05-1359740 Jane. This pair has in fact raised several first prize winners. Click here for the pedigree of Indy.
Little Jane
NL14-1031156 Little Jane, winner of a 4th Pont St. Maxence 9580 p., is a granddaughter of the Kleine Jan x Jane breeding pair. Click here for the pedigree of Little Jane.
NL15-1680093
The last hen that finished in the top 10 (for now) is the one year old NL15-1680093. Her sire, BE10-6342755 Dark Willy, is a grandson of the Geerinckx pair BE02-6354241 Wittekop Sylvester x BE98-6185637 Willyke. Click here for the pedigree of 15/093.
NL11-1711394 Miss Mantes, the dam of Briget
Briget
The pigeon that has been basketed first throughout the season is NL14-1031218 Briget. The first nominated of the Van Dorp family has been winning top results on a weekly basis this season:
09-04 Duffel 32-4727 p. 16-04 Asse-Zellik 688-4489 p. 23-04 Quiévrain 103-4566 p. 30-04 Quiévrain 122-4021 p. 07-05 Laon 116-4626 p. 15-05 Pont St. Maxence 18-3945 p.
Briget won a 1st prize from Asse-Zellik against 953 pigeons in the Union as a one year old, as well as a 3rd against 5000 pigeons in the Entente of Groot-Rotterdam. Her sire NL09-1158909 Benny has a proven reputation both in the breeding and the racing loft, and he is a son of Kleine Jan x Jane. The dam of Briget is NL11-1711394 Miss Mantes, winner of a 1st Peronne 9730 p. and a 1st Mantes La Jolie 2050 p. Miss Mantes is a granddaughter of BE96-6618311 Blauwe Yzeren, a top breeder for L-B-J Geerinckx. Click here for the pedigree of Briget.
The one day long distance
Klaas and Rik will first of all be targeting the one day long distance races NPO: 40 hens of their racing team have been prepared for their favourite competition. They have high ambitions, especially after their excellent performance in the race from Pont St. Maxence.