| The
Brugemann Strain
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In
Holland the Brügemann brothers Cees,
Peter & Jos have managed to develop
a strain of pigeons that is amongst the
best in the world at the present time,
and this inspite of the fact that the
brothers sold all of their pigeons in
1996 with the exception of the birds bred
that year. Prior to this, along with their
father Lou, the brothers raced at the
short and middle distances with success.
(Brügemann senior died in 1987).
The brothers then sold the shorter racers
in 1992 and set their sights upon the
ultra distances until their decision to
sell all racers and stock. Included in
that sale in autumn of 1996 were 'Orthan'
and 'Myra' who finished in 5th and 8th
National Barcelona. There was also 'Tycha'
who won 3rd National Pau in 1994 and perhaps
best of all the 'super couple' who lay
at the base of the strain the great '
Oude 62' and 'De Vegvlieger'.
Let
us now move forward in years to the Summer
of 1998, for the youngsters of 1996 were
to be put to the test after two years
of preparation in an airy loft of dry
droppings. They were astutely prepared
via exercise, training and an intake of
the right food and proper supplements,
etc, to face races such as Barcelona (1,248
km), Marseille (1,026 km) and Perpignan
(1,099km). It should be noted that when
other competitors' birds are home, fed
and asleep the Brügemann Bros. entrants
are still flying for a couple of hours
or more until their base. But what was
to occur could not be imagined by the
most fertile imagination, for two nest
sisters, granddaughters of 'Orhan' named
'Sumari' and 'Sumara' captured 10th and
18th National respectively, 28th and 45th
International against 24,139 pigeons.
What an achievement by three masters nurturing
the seed of the Aarden pigeon dynasty!
It is said that the pigeon who won the
race did not receive the due it deserved
because of the feat of the Brügemann
pigeons. The lofts also scored in the
top 100 from Perpignan and had 5 birds
in the top 100 in the race from Marseille
including 6th National.
However,
there were also yearlings sent by the
brothers to the Bordeaux International
in 1998 (938 km) when they received 33
prizes with 70 pigeons returning in good
time out of the 75 sent. An example of
the stock available to the brothers and
equally an example of their managerial
skills. This was no flash in the pan for
the Brügemann family since then have
continued to reach the heights since their
comeback and I have no doubt that their
strain will be pioneers in the long and
marathon distances in the new millennium.
This prediction is based upon a young
stock loft of approximately 15 pairs of
the best of tested
bloodlines.
The
Brügemann brothers are now Peter
and Jos, for Cees left the partnership
after the 2000 season and now races with
his son Bas at another location but he
is still committed to the ultra distances.
The brothers ensure that mating wise their
long distance candidates are sitting on
the third nest prior to the chosen race
and the condition implies sitting on a
2 to 3 day old YB or on eggs for 10 to
14 days. During this period they are not
raced and have about one month's rest
before going into the race pannier. As
for the young they enter races of 300
to 400 kms and the one year olds have
to fly Bordeaux.
The
Brügemann strain has many admirers
in Europe and in recent years its reputation
has spread throughout the globe. Its further
development will be interesting.
by: Liam O Comain
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