| The
Schloemer Strain of Germany
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The
surname of Schloemer is a name not known
to the world's racing pigeon community
as well as Thone or Muller yet it is one
of the modern long distance families which
canbe defined as a strain. For years the
Schloemer's, Josef and Rolf, has won at
the distance in all types of elemental
conditions and long since have reached
the elite status of European pigeons for
conquering the long distances. Perhaps
the crown and glory of their successes
so far is their winning of the Barcelona
International at a distance of 1130 kilometres
from 18,076 of a convoy in 1986. In fact
from amongst the thousands of pigeon fanciers
in their native Germany they have won
the national from Barcelona on two occasions.
The
strain has the old Huyskens- van Reil
at its foundations and as a family it
has not been in existence for very long.
Initially the father Josef Schlomer raced
with a small number of pigeons. Success
was not lacking however nor was it to
be hindered for the stud won the 1994
national long distance championship of
Germany in which the Schloemer birds ran
away with twenty eight of thirty possible
prizes.
One of their undoubted champions is the
hen called 'Emirates' which was the best
long distance bird ( hen) in Germany in
1994. Prior to this in 1988 a half sister
of this great hen won three international
prizes within a few weeks from Pau, Dax
and Perpignan. There is also another inmate
of their lofts who has won three international
prizes that is the famous 08421/96/166.
Also the partnership has scored in the
top 50 results from Pau, Barcelona, and
Bordeaux in 1988.
Of
course the outstanding star is the International
Barcelona winner called 'Lady Barcelona
'. For aside from this success she is
the source which has achieved the following
fantastic breeding results in fact I doubt
if any other national or international
winner has been as successful as this
beautiful bird . Amongst its grandchildren
are: 1st national Bordeaux 1998; 1st international
Pau in 1996; 1st national Pau 1996; 1st
ace pigeon Germany 1994; 1st ace hen Germany
1990; 1st national Barcelona 1992; 1st
prize Tours with a yearling at 588 miles
with 10,068 birds competing; and 2nd prize
Tours with 33,000 birds competing. Yes
the latter were predominantly grand children
of one of the best winners of the marathon
Barcelona International.
As
stated the Huyskens-van Riel was at the
base of their family but there also were
representatives of the Delbar strain and
the Janssen brothers. It was the Delbar
especially of the 'Stallion' line which
projected the Schlomer's unto the European
stage of long distance pigeon racers.
One will also find representatives of
the Van der Wegen and Brakhuis in the
strain's pedigrees and apparently the
Janssen lines were brought in for the
latter Aarden based families because of
the necessary requirement of speed.
An
innovative import in 1997 were representatives
of the New Zealand master Roy McFadyen
of Christchurch. And like earlier crossings
the latter were carefully integrated into
the Schloemer's.
The partnership take most joy from the
reality of welcoming one of their arrivals
after a flight covering hundreds of miles
across the tough terrain of Europe reflecting
the God given gift and miracle of pigeon
orientation. A miracle and a gift to a
non human being which I personally hope
science will never unravel. In the meantime
this European strain will continue to
lead the way amongst others in conquering
the distances.
by: Liam O Comain
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