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Frank Kerkhoff of Holland
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Frank Kerkhoff of Vilt- Valkenburg, Holland, started with sprint and then middle distance pigeons at about 1979 and won several championships in a short period of time. The hen NL79-2091963 which won a combine race was to become an important ingredient of the loft being the mother of quite a number of good pigeons. Then in 1986 when Frank started to race in the Dagfond races, that is five races between 480 and 650km against approximately three and a half thousand members an important pigeon came to the fore, another hen NL83- 1027015. This pigeon mothered three sons who were successful at winning prizes from Bordeaux, Limoges, Orleans and Moulins.One of the sons NL85-541076 which was 26th in the Bordeaux national became a very important bird in the process of building the strain. Frank Kerkhoff of Vilt- Valkenburg, Holland, started with sprint and then middle distance pigeons at about 1979 and won several championships in a short period of time. The hen NL79-2091963 which won a combine race was to become an important ingredient of the loft being the mother of quite a number of good pigeons. Then in 1986 when Frank started to race in the Dagfond races, that is five races between 480 and 650km against approximately three and a half thousand members an important pigeon came to the fore, another hen NL83- 1027015. This pigeon mothered three sons who were successful at winning prizes from Bordeaux, Limoges, Orleans and Moulins.One of the sons NL85-541076 which was 26th in the Bordeaux national became a very important bird in the process of building the strain.

 

 

The lofts had numerious successes especially at young bird racing in the years 1987,1988, and 1990. However it was from a youngster born in 1986 nicknamed 'Boris' which was the next important pigeon to ensure the progress of this family.'Boris' bred NL88-5823258 who won 3rd Vierzon, 8th Limoges, 9th Vierzon and as a yearling 11th Ace Pigeon Dagfond CLBvP 1989. 'Boris' also fathered other pigeons who brought prizes to the lofts. The lofts had numerious successes especially at young bird racing in the years 1987,1988, and 1990. However it was from a youngster born in 1986 nicknamed 'Boris' which was the next important pigeon to ensure the progress of this family.'Boris' bred NL88-5823258 who won 3rd Vierzon, 8th Limoges, 9th Vierzon and as a yearling 11th Ace Pigeon Dagfond CLBvP 1989. 'Boris' also fathered other pigeons who brought prizes to the lofts.

Up until 1992 the successes racing spurred Kerkhoff to consider the longer distances such as the overnight races. In Holland there are approximaterly five races with a release after 12.00 noon. Also there are about five European international races such as Pau 963km, Barcelona 1091km, Marseille 843km, Perpignan 936km, Dax 911km and Bordeaux 825km. To meet such a challenge and achieve his burning ambition Kerkhoff in 1992 purchased five squeakers from F.van Ophuizen-M.Marell, of Landgraaf. One of the latter named 'Fonsje' would be the base hen of the loft. Then a complete round of eggs came from K. and L. Scheepers of Valkenburg and some other eggs from Gebr.Saya, Maastricht. In addition two hens came from L.Heldens, Landgraaf.

Through careful crossing of only the best Kerkhoff in a short time was being successful for example with cousins NL94-1939564 and NL94-1939781. Both of whom were grandchilderen of the NL91-2952715 who was 6th Ace Pigeon Long Distance CLBvP 1993. The 781 'Soustons' has won 48th National.Soustons 1997 and 59th National Soustons 1996. The 564 'Worldchampion' has won 212th National.Soustons 1996, 231st National.Tarbes 1996, 250th National.Soustons 1997, 277th National. Dax 1997 and 371st National.St.Vincent 1997 and was 6th World Champion Long Distance Versele Lage in 1997. Then there is the fine pigeon 'Mirage' NL00-2390294 who won a very hard race from Bordeaux by 1 hour and 45 minutes. The nestmate of 'Mirage' is 'Tornado' who has won 11 prizes out of 11 Long Distance races and who was 1e Ace Pigeon Long Distance in the combine Valkenburg 2002 and 1e Ace Pigeon Long Distance in the union De Witpen 2002, 2003 and 2004.

Since then the Kerkhoffs have won so much at the distance from various racepoints that the space is not available to record it all. In fact in the Barcelona International alone over a period of approximately eight years(1996- 2004) the Kerkhoffs have recorded: 217. Int.Nat. Barcelona 1999 (28.097 pigeons); 286. Int.Nat. Barcelona 1999 (28.097 pigeons); 410. Int.Nat. Barcelona 1996 (24.279 pigeons); 569. Int.Nat. Barcelona 2000 (26.597 pigeons); 732. Int.Nat. Barcelona 1998 (24.139 pigeons); 1199. Int.Nat. Barcelona 1999 (28.097 pigeons); 1788. Int.Nat. Barcelona 2001 (25.760 pigeons); 1912. Int.Nat. Barcelona 1996 (24.279 pigeons); 2046. Int.Nat. Barcelona 1999 (28.097 pigeons); 2623. Int.Nat. Barcelona 2001 (25.760 pigeons); 4056. Int.Nat. Barcelona 1998 (24.139 pigeons); 4548. Int.Nat. Barcelona 1997 (24.908 pigeons); 4624. Int.Nat. Barcelona 2000 (26.597 pigeons); 4986. Int.Nat. Barcelona 1999 (28.097 pigeons); 5000. Int.Nat. Barcelona 1996 (24.279 pigeons); 5333. Int.Nat. Barcelona 2002 (26.928 pigeons); 5358. Int.Nat. Barcelona 2002 (26.928 pigeons); 5420. Int.Nat. Barcelona 2002 (26.928 pigeons); (NO RACE FROM BARCELONA DUE TO FOWL DISEASE IN 2003); 1104. Inter. Nat. Barcelona 2004 (24.913pigeons). Considering the immense birdage in each race the foregoing are fabulous results against the best that the European pigeon racing fraternity can provide.

Frank Kerkhoff appears to be a prudent as well as a determined fancier for he has traversed the course of pigeon racing from the sprints via the middle to the long and marathon distances and has succeeded to become one of the best of the elite at the latter form of ultra endurance.There is more to be conquered and I have no doubt that the strain which he is moulding will bring much fame to his base at Vilt- Valkenburg.

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Liam O Comain -
by: Liam O Comain

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