The
Mr International - Raymond Hermes of Germany
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When
Raymund Hermes entered the sport of pigeon
racing this was nothing new nor extraordinary
for the Hermes family were involved at
sometime or another over the previous
decades with a strong belief that good
pigeons were the bottom line. For only
the best could conquer the geographic
configurations into Westerwald where the
pigeons are based. From the start Hermes
did well in the German national programme
and this success was to be carried over
into the internationals. In fact the results
of the latter participation are phenomenal
and it is opined that his successes arises
from the fact that all the pigeons in
his lofts are carefully raced after a
strong process of culling.
At
a period around the the beginning of the
1980s a decision was made to ensure that
only the best bloodlines available would
be used to tackle the international races.
Breeding wise was the best so to speak
and in addition a record of successful
flight.
One
of such was the 'Steenberger', a red cock
raised by Cees de Groot who was a friend
of Jan Aarden. This bird produced a number
of great long distance pigeons for Hermes
which included the 'Nachtflieger' who
won 2nd National at Perpignan and the
3rd International in 1985. 'Steenberger'
is also a grandfather of the pigeon that
won the 1st International from Barcelona
in 1990 against a convoy of 28,128.

The
bloodlines of Marcel Braakhuis have also
played an important role in the lofts
of Raymund Hermes as well as the genes
of the pigeons of the late Erich Heinemann,
a former President of the German Pigeon
Association. One of the latter being a
Bostijn pigeon whose father was a brother
of the famous Benoni and her mother was
a sister of Passport. Of course there
are many more great pigeons at breeding
that could be mentioned but as this is
only an insight into this great fancier
and his pigeons our space is limited.
However it should be noted that between
1982 and 2004 the Hermes pigeons have
scored as follows: lst National Marseille
1982; lst International Pau 1983; lst
National Perpignan l983; lst National
Marathon 1984; lst National Perpignan
and 1st International Perpignan plus 2nd
and 3nd International Perpignan 1985;
1st National Marseille and lst International
Marseille 1988; lst National. Perpignan
1989; 3rd, 6th and 13th International
Barcelona 1989 with 25,502 pigeons competing;
lst and 2nd. International. Barcelona
1990 against 28,128 pigeons; 1st and 4th
International Perpignan 1990 against 10,444
pigeons; 1st, 2nd and. 3rd International
Marseille 1990; lst International Dax
1991; lst National Barcelona 1992; lst
International Marseille 1992; lst and
3rd International Dax 1993; lst International
Europa Marathon 1993; lst National Dax
and lst International Dax 1994; lst National
Marathon 1994; lst National and 1st International
Perpignan 1995; lst International Pau
1996; 1st. International Dax 1997; 1st.
International Dax 1998. Outstanding flying
by any definition!
An
interesting aspect of husbandry associated
with this maestro of international pigeon
racing is the Hermes- Mazee method in
which pigeons are kept in open aviaries
in summer and winter exposed to all types
of weather. This occurs usually in the
wake of Etampes when the birds are left
outside and the traps are closed. They
remain for a month being forced to adapt
to natural conditions where they learn
to forage for themselves, seek shelter
against inclement weather and protect
themselves from predators of any kind.
As a result the birds appear to reflect
glorious health and the theory underlying
the method is that the healthiest and
most intelligent birds will survive and
that the experience will be retained for
the rest of their lives.
In
the history of the sport Germany has produced
some outstanding pigeon breeders and racers
but there is no doubt that Raymund Hermes
is an outstanding example of their best.
An innovator of the sport as we traverse
a new millennium.

by: Liam O Comain
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