| Author: RWS | Title: Grizzles |
| Date: 2004-07-17 15:50:20 | Uploaded by: webmaster |
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My first ever real incounter with pigeons was in 1995 and I was only 9 years old. A beautiful light grizzle cock flew down from my friends two story loft, to my feet, picked up a twig and flew back again. He did this for at least 20 minutes; I was completely amased as I didn't even know my friend kept pigeons!
Later that day he took me into the loft and showed me a huge variety of colour in his birds, (he didn't keep any or many blues at all),immediatally I was bitten by the 'pigeon bug' and wanted to take the birds home!
After careful persuasion with my parents I setup my own 6 x 4 foot with 6 x 3 foot aviary on the front. So I went back to this fancier and he offered me some wonderful birds including that grizzle cock.....
From those first eight birds I received I still have four running in my loft now, still including the grizzle cock!
My first year of racing will be next year (2001) and the young from this grizzle will finally be tested. My grizzle is: kirkpateric and getting on for 5 years old, he is unrung and unraced.
But anyway enough about me, on with the others!
John Peterson from South Africa has purchased, raced and bred a good strain of grizzles since only 1998. His birds foundly came from Rick Mardis and are thought to be a Janssen cross. He started with 10 pairs and only bred 6 for the 1999 old birds racing season (as he does not believe in racing young birds). At the start of racing he had 3 hens and 1 cock left, and he only raced the first 8 races of the year.The 3 hens were placed in the top ten in every race but were mostly in the top five, this is from 100 to 500 miles. From these results we can see that these birds are very consistant, and dependable at most distances.
Again in South Africa one outstanding cock was the 1999 Middle Distance Champion of all Africa (see picture). With 886,009 birds competeing for that title it is a brilliant performance.
Back to England and Dr Jeff Horn won countless positions with his grizzles in the very strong Up North Combine (upwards of 25,000 birds competeing in each race), before moving to Scotland.
While over in america John Curry has great breeding and racing stock of grizzles. His #144 grizzle 'Reecie' a, Roussell, De Bacq, Dordin x Janssen cock has produced numerous winners for him and other people; and youngsters are being sold at $100 US each!, this just shows what class this bird is. Even 'Reecie's' father #428 at 16 years old is still producing the goods!
To keep with the head of the pack John is crossing in some 'Bandit' grizzles (from Hapyco (see Below)) to strengthen his team even more.
But the original family of John's came from France in World War 2, from Anthony Mickalauskas.
As I have said the 'Bandit' was from Hapyco birds so hear is their information of grizzles:
"The Bandits are Grizzles and whites. Sometimes they throw dark checks and the odd Blue Bar. We have imported over 60 birds from Belgium. They are winning all over the USA. One cock in Texas "The Bandido" bred 30 1st place winners. and it goes on and on.
Hapyco Lofts
Of Chic Judy Brooks California Brad & Sis Laverne
The Bandit Family
In 1987 Brad Laverne and Chic Brooks went to Belgium and Holland to seek out and purchase a family of top Sprint Birds. Prior to our visit Peit DeWeerd and his son Henk DeWeerd compiled a list of flyers they considered to be the best in Europe. Heading the list was a man in Beveren, Belgium. Mr. Julein Janssens, flying under the name of Janssens-Segers.
Since Mr. Janssens was not in the business of selling pigeons, but certainly in the business of making money by winning races. He was not willing to part with more than one of his top widowhood cocks, at any Price. The trip, after much negotiation, netted us the "WHITE BANDIT" from his young bird team a son "TONTO" along with "JULIENA" mother of "THE BANDIT". Nine other hens, and a promise to consider us when he was ready to retire 5 cocks that we really wanted from his widowhood team. Sadly in 1989 Mr. Janssens passed away and his son Roland continued on with the birds.
We contacted Henk de Weerd in June to visit Roland on our behalf to see if he would part with the 5 cocks. He agreed to send them to America, along with three white flown hens. Peit's evaluation, the finest group of sprint birds he had ever seen leave the country. Birds with such records seldom leave.
11 of the first 21 we purchased had combined Firsts of 95.WIZZARD OF WIN 16
WHITE BANDIT 17FLASH 12SUPER STAR 9WHITE FAVORY 20
THE WHITE ACE (Ace Pigeon in 1986/87)
We never received his flying record
CLAUDINE (Champ Y. B. 2
JULIENA 9
WHITE PERFECTION 3
SNUFFY 3
QUICK MARIA 4
95
Since 1987 we have imported over 70 from the ROLAND JANSSENS LOFT.
The Bandits straight or crossed have far away done the best of any family we have imported. They have won, State Hall of Fame, Club Hall of Fame, Combine Hall of Fame. State Races, City of Hope Races, over $90,000 in the Snow-Bird Race. Including $20,000 in 1998 & $11,000 in 1999. 1999 the 2nd in the world, 1st USA 200 mile @ Beijing Classic and was a straight BANDIT. The 4th place Snowbird 1998 15th place 1999 bred out of a son on "TONTO" , 3rd AU 98 was from "BINGO II" Although they were only flown up to 200 in Belgium ...they win 100 to 400 here have won 500 (by Hapyco) and 550 (Ed Lorenz). They make great crosses, especially with the ELIO LUMACHI'S, MEULEMANS and VAN LOONS. Meuleman Bandit Cross 1999 won 2nd in the Texas Center, 1st Texas Futurity, 1st 2 clubs & 2 Combines. The Bandit Crossed with Van Loons and Lumachi also won 1st place 1998/99. Awe are again in negotiation with Roland Janssens to purchase a top white grizzle cock. Hopefully for our 2000 poly Breeding Program."
Now you can see grizzles are winning major prizes throughout the world with many different people and strains.
Perhaps now people will not stock their lofts with only blues and chequers and think of other colours too. Wouldn't life be boring with only the blue coloured birds!!
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