In the pitch dark three pigeons arrived at around midnight, with the 1.-2.-3. National against 15.490 pigeons, resulting in 6 pigeons in the top 10 … In the meantime, more than 3 years later, we can safely say that Arjan has retained this sensational level with verve, with, in 2010, National top 10 prizes by 5 from the 9 multi-day races. Arjan Beens, the conductor who manages to let his classy orchestra sing a note higher every year.
Building for seven years, reaping for seven years; this is what Arjan thinks of when he reminisces. “I actually hope to spread the reaping out over more than seven years,” laughs Arjan. “Since 2001 I have invested in a strong basis, with pigeons from Jelle Jellema, Gebr. Limburg, First Prize Pigeons, Brüggeman, Sam de Jong, Verweij-Castricum/ Peter de Haan, Gebr. Hagens, Jan Polder and others. And indeed, since the middle of the last decade the performance curve has kept rising.” A modest qualification of Arjan’s impressive triumph march along the (Inter)national NPO showdowns. The facts in a row:
Bergerac 2007 Nat.15.490 pigeons: 1., 2., 3., 4., 6., 9., 35., 57., 124., 160., 194. , 328., 451. (88 entered / 55 prizes) Perigueux 2007 NPO 6.843 pigeons: 1., 2., 3., 5., 13., 60., 68., 71., 75., 92., 181. , 207., 406. (80 entered / 50 prizes) Limoges 2008 Nat. 10.823 pigeons: 2., 6., 67., 187., 192.,(55 entered, 24 prizes) StVincent 2008 Nat. 5.682 pigeons: 2., 81., 543., 696., 1167. (16 entered / 5 prizes) Brive 2010 NPO 5.097 pigeons: 3., 6., 8., 20., 21., 130., 136., 151., 235., 283. (38 entered / 13 prizes) NU 18.246 pigeons: 6., 9., 12., 32., 33., 252., 263., 295. (13 prizes) Cahors II 2010 NPO 4.818 pigeons: 4., 9., 26., 33., 35., 47., 76., 85., 92., 101. (40 entered / 26 prizes) Nat. S3 11.054 pigeons: 7., 20., 48., 59., 61., 83., 138., 160., 185. (26 prizes) NU 13.973 pigeons: 11., 26., 59., 73., 75., 104., 184., 217., 250., 267. (26 prizes) Orange 2010 NU 4.023 pigeons: 6., 8., 24., 25., 28., 29., 49., 85., 98., 103., 105. , 156., 159. (35 entered / 22 prizes) StVincent 2010 Nat. 7.278 pigeons: 7., 210., 266., 279., 558., 879., 1293. (10 entered / 8 prizes) Bordeaux 2008 Nat. 5.575 pigeons: 10., 31., 46., 75., 91., 123., 145., 230., 236.,237. , (29 entered, 18 prizes)
In the previous season the prize percentage was – just like every year – again perfectly fine … with 63% (178 entered, 112 prizes) in the afternoon liberations, and 60% prize (43 entered, 26 prizes) in the morning liberations.
Wonderd hen ‘Rika’
Pigeon sport at top level, a busy job and a young family; Arjan Beens has proven that success in the pigeon sport is possible with this combination. With the youngest (6 months old) of three sons on his lap, Arjan calmly speaks of his ‘road to the top’. “It is probably a cliché, but for me the decisive factor is real super pigeons. I always raced quite well, but once I started investing by top fanciers, my level shot up. With some pigeons I was successful, the majority fell short. But it is about that rare top breeder, and if you don’t try, you will never get there. I don’t have any deep rooted breeding strategies. Simply trying on the basis of good x good and if you are lucky, you form a good couple. Top breeders are very rare of course.”
Not to mention a hen which raced superbly and bred marvellously …Arjan has such a rare diamond in the wonder hen NL04-1418619 ‘Rika’ … firstly fabulous in the skies with a.o.
7. Nat. Ace pigeon overnight long distance WHZB 2007 1. NPO Periqueux 2007 7.581 pigeons (913 km) 67. Nat. Limoges 2008 13.239 pigeons (824 km) 80. NPO Brive 2007 6.857 pigeons (895 km) 95. NPO Periqueux 2006 6.303 pigeons (913 km)
A late youngster out her from 2008, NL08-2075874 ‘Miss Gijsje’, became the sensation of 2010! By the absolute top in 2 races and ending with a prestigious Ace pigeon title with
2. Internat. acebird overnight racing Europe Cup 2010 Dortmund The prizes with which she reached this climax were 3. NPO Brive 2010 5.319 pigeons (985 km) 7. Nat.Cahors 2010 11.054 pigeons (999 km) 652. Nat.Cahors 2010 4.998 pigeons (999 km)
Earlier in 2008 ‘Rika’ NL08-2075752 bred ‘Snelle Jelle’ … who showed what he was worth in the morning liberation from Orange with:
6. NU Orange 2010 4.022 pigeons (945 km) – morning liberation 104. SFC Limoges 2009 1.067 pigeons (824 km) – morning liberation
Roots of ‘Rika’ lie by Jelle Jellema; she is a grandchild of his basis pigeons ‘De Ploert’, ‘De Pot’, ‘De Professor’ and ‘Lois’.
‘Mooie Wensveen’ is mainly from the blood lines Brüggemann brothers.
‘Mooie Wensveen’
A cock which had never seen a basket, and was bought as a 4 year old by Arjan from mr.Wensveen. But who still took on star status through his unprecedented breeding performances, the NL02-1439667 ‘Mooie Wensveen’…
A beautiful chequered white pen cock which has already produced four (4!) Teletext-pigeons (NPO top 10) … direct children of him have already won:
3. NPO Perigueux 2007 7.581 pigeons (‘559/06’) 5. Nat. St. Vincent 2010 5.698 pigeons (‘028/07’) 8. NU Orange 2010 4.022 pigeons (‘792/08’) 9. NU Brive 2010 18.246 pigeons (‘791/08’) 31. Nat. Bordeaux 2009 8.058 pigeons (‘028/07’) 32. Nat. Bergerac 2008 14.372 pigeons (‘028/07’) 51. NPO Perigueux 2009 6.330 pigeons (‘791/08’)
Red Thunder’
One of the most appealing breeding icons is the NL01-4219085 ‘Red Thunder’ … son of the “Super van Geel” from the illustrious Limburg brothers , wherefrom more than 50 descendants have ended up in the National / NPO top 10 … ‘Red Thunder’ is such an excellent son of the breeding icon which was self father of two top 10 winners:
1. NPO Brive 2005 9.053 pigeons (‘Jan’)
5. NPO Ruffec 2003 10.034 pigeons
Many grandchildren soon showed what they were worth, so as the wonder pigeon ‘991/05’
6. Nat. Bergerac 2007 15.490 pigeons 62. NPO Brive 2007 6.857 pigeons 406. NPO Periqueux 2007 6.843 pigeons
Another grandchild of the ‘Red Thunder’ and direct child of ‘Jan’, is ‘590/06’
2. NPO Periqueux 2007 7.581 pigeons 19. NPO Periqueux 2008 5.801 pigeons
Another child from ‘Jan’ and so grandchild of ‘Red Thunder’ is ‘The Joker’
25. Nat. Ace pigeon overnight long distance NPO 2008 46. Nat. Bordeaux 2008 5.575 pigeons 122. Nat. Montauban 2008 5.293 pigeons 187. Nat. Limoges 2008 13.239 pigeons
The basis on which the silver fleet of Arjan Beens floats were sent to the breeding dishes for three weeks again in order to produce good descendants. With a new season and promising intentions coming closer, it’s starting to itch in the Beens household. The guns are at the ready … the knives have been sharpened … the quality is unapproachable. In short; Arjan Beens is clearly intent on extending the seven fat years!
Arjan Beens top 25 Notations in NPO and/or National races.
1. Nat. Bergerac 2007 15.415.490 pigeons 955 km 1. NPO Brive 2005 9.053 pigeons 895 km 1. NPO Periqueux 2007 6.843 pigeons 914 km 2. Nat. Munchen 2006 1.508 pigeons 628 km 2. Nat. Bergerac 2007 15.490 pigeons 955 km 2. Nat. St.Vincent 2008 5.862 pigeons 1.136 km 2. Nat. Limoges 2008 10.823 pigeons 824 km 2. NPO Brive 2006 6.536 pigeons 895 km 2. NPO Periqueux2007 6.843 pigeons 914 km 3. NPO Brive 2010 5.097 pigeons 895 km 3. Nat. Bergerac 2007 15.490 pigeons 955 km 3. NPO Periqueux 2007 6.843 pigeons 914 km 4. Nat. Bergerac 2007 15.490 pigeons 955 km 5. Nat. St.Vincent 2010 5.698 pigeons 1.136 km 5. NPO Periqueux 2007 6.843 pigeons 914 km 5. NPO Ruffec 2003 10.034 pigeons 847 km 6. NU Orange 2010 4.022 pigeons 949 km 6. NPO Brive 2010 5.097 pigeons 895 km 6. Nat. Bergerac 2007 15.490 pigeons 955 km 6. Nat. Limoges 2008 10.823 pigeons 824 km 7. Nat. Cahors 2010 11.054 pigeons 999 km 8. NU Orange 2010 4.022 pigeons 949 km 8. NPO Brive 2010 5.097 pigeons 895 km 9. Nat. Bergerac 2007 15.490 pigeons 955 km 10. Nat. Bordeaux 2008 5.575 pigeons 986 km 10. NPO Ruffec 2003 8.849 pigeons 847 km 13. NPO Periqueux 2009 6.330 pigeons 914 km 13. NPO Periqueux 2007 6.843 pigeons 914 km 18. Nat. Bergerac 2000 18.053 pigeons 955 km 19. NPO Periqueux 2008 5.801 pigeons 914 km 20. Nat. Cahors 2010 11.054 pigeons 999 km 22. NPO Brive 2007 6.857 pigeons 895 km 24. NU Orange 2010 4.023 pigeons 949 km 24. NPO Brive 2006 6.536 pigeons 895 km 24. NPO Periqueux 2008 5.801 pigeons 914 km 25. NU Orange 2010 4.023 pigeons 949 km