Frans van Peperstraten - A Modern Specialist
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There are quite a number of commentators upon the sport in Europe at the moment who are of the opinion that the family of pigeons under our present insight perspective is one of the most promising for the new millennium. They are the Peperstraten pigeons and like many long and marathon distances birds of our modern period are Jan Aarden based, in this case the old 'Sloper 503' line which brought these lofts 2nd, 5th and 14th positions in recent National Championships. The famous 503 was assumed by many to be the best long distance pigeon of the 1980s with:

- 9th National Barcelona
- 13th National Barcelona
- 22nd National Munchen
- 23rd National Dax
- 27th National Munchen
- 27th International Barcelona
- 44th International Barcelona
- 109th National Bergerac
- 155th National Barcelona
- 2007th National St.Vincent

At the present the lofts contain four outstanding racers namely: the 805- Apollo; the 812- Hercules; the 831- Bacchus; and the 832 known as Hermes Four. The latter birds have scored approximately 60 prizes at the distance including the 805, with 11 positions, including 86th Dax, 170th St.Vincent, 178th Pau, 195th
Bergerac National, etc,; the 832 11 positions including 12th, 82nd and 120th price National St.Vincent; the 831, 11 positions in overnight races; and the 812, 16 positions, 11 times overnight including 93rd National Pau 2001. Of course there are others-

NL01-1835653 in 2004- 42nd National Marseille & 75th National Pau

NL01-1835668 - 279th National & 324th National Barcelona

NL02-1587049 in 2004- 246th National & 420th International Barcelona
against a convoy of 24,913 birds.

Other European lofts including the German long distance Champion Bernd Morsnowski Krefeld have scored with Frans bloodlines and there is an increasing interest in his stock. It would appear that the Sloper 503 line is literally of gold like quality and in the hands of an astute fancier like Frans Peperstraten its yield is akin to magic.

I look forward to the evolution of the potential of this family in the years ahead. It look promising!

by: Liam O Comain