| Karl
von Gardony of Canada
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 Karl
von Gardony of Bright, Ontario, Canada
has been associated with the sport for
approximately 74 years. Before the age
of 10 years he had been bitten with the
pigeon bug and his commitment to the sport
has been second to none. Too numerous
to relate are his successes over the decades
which includes 26 Combine 1sts at 500
miles and there is no doubt that he occupies
an honoured place amongst the elite of
the North American pigeon racing fraternity.
In contrast with my own small stud Karl
von Gardony has approximately 85 birds
to race with on a weekly basis and as
there are two weekend races organized
from these he will choose about two score
to compete in each race. His selection
apparently is based upon his loft book
other than handling. As a result of this
method on occasions the first three Combine
positions have been captured by this loft.
Karl von Gardony lays emphasis upon performance
as an important factor in the moulding
of his family based upon a strict selection
regime in fact he is always pursuing good
pigeons so much so that in 1987 or '88
about ten birds were purchased from Joop
Beumer of Holland and eight birds from
Raymund Hermes of Germany. This was added
to in 1992 with 16 Litherland Meulemans,
14 birds from Jan Grondelaers and 14 birds
from Maurits Voets Kesselwere. The latter
bloodlines today permeate his lofts and
since I started this series this is one
family in which I believe is an outcross
reality for according to sources von Gardony
sees a threat to the modern racing pigeon
from too close inbreeding or line breeding.
An interesting thesis which would imply
that there are really many roads to Rome
for this maestro has a list of many wins
to his credit.
An
outstanding example of his stock which
goes back to his original base is the
winner and only bird in the South Western
Ontario Combine race from Grand Mere flying
15 hours, 30 minutes and beating candidates
from 81 other lofts. This courageous hen
was of Sion X Barker bloodlines. Other
bloodlines that have worked well for Karl
are the Tourniers and Van Wanroys, Hector-Desmet-white
flight family, and the De Smet-Matthys.
Karl
von Gardony would appear in matters of
health to be a hard task master for he
refuses to tolerate any weakness and any
pigeon showing signs of disease is eliminated
quickly. Early in the pigeons year the
usual precautions are taken relating to
the usual potential dangers but no medical
treatment is given during the racing season.
He flies to the nest and his family of
birds has won from all distances so much
so that he has been closed out of his
federation on occasions. Performances
of 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th,
9th and 10th with only 12 day birds at
450 miles illustrates why other fanciers
would be reluctant (although not justified)
to refuse to fly against von Gardony.
On another occasion he timed 8 pigeons
within two minutes in a 400 mile race.
As
stated von Gardony's commitment to the
sport is second to none for aside from
his triumphs at racing he has served it
in various organizational positions including
a term as President of the Canadian Union.
Not bad for an immigrant from Hungary
who arrived in Canada in 1959 without
a word of English but who was determined
to adjust to the Canadian culture- the
same determination which has took him
to the top pinnacle of the sport in his
adopted country. A great Canadian pigeon
racer - (perhaps the greatest)!
by: Liam O Comain
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