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Combination Fokkinga: And their phenomenon “National Pogacar”

29 Jan 2025

Recently Gerard Koopman took the final victory at the 2024-2025 edition OLR Pattaya International Pigeon Race. This hen is a double granddaughter out of the “ National Pogacar” of the combination Fokkinga. High time to introduce this combination also to our Herbots readers.

How it started: The basis of a legendary loft

Ronald Fokkinga fell under the spell of pigeon racing in 2004, thanks to the influence of none other than Pieter Veenstra. During his internship at Veenstra's construction company, Ronald was given a choice: a payment of 100 euros or a pair of eggs from Veenstra's best pigeons. Ronald chose the eggs, which marked the beginning of a pigeon career full of glory.

One of these eggs produced “Seiko,” a pigeon that would be the foundation of their future successes. “Seiko” became the mother of ‘Esmee,’ a hen that Ronald gifted to his friend Jouke Elzinga. Esmee achieved unprecedented performances on the loft of Tjeerd and Jouke Elzinga, including 1st National Ace Pigeon All-Around WHZB-TBOTB and the title of Best Fond Pigeon of the Netherlands in 2014. At the Olympiad in Budapest in 2015 she was renamed “Olympic Esmee”.

The cooperation with top names like Gerard Koopman, Jan Hooymans, Pieter Veenstra, and Tjeerd & Jouke Elzinga raised the quality of the Fokkinga loft to an exceptional level.

The construction of a top colony

Combination Fokkinga's loft is based on pigeons from the absolute world top. The most important bloodlines come from:

  • Gerard Koopman
  • Jan Hooymans
  • Pieter Veenstra
  • Tjeerd & Jouke Elzinga

This cooperation resulted in the birth of several Olympic pigeons, including:

  • “Olympic Esmee”
  • “National Pogacar”
  • “Olympic Vollering”

 

The stars of the loft

1. National Pogacar (NL 4215319)

The performance of “National Pogacar” in 2021 was legendary. With no less than three national titles, this pigeon was the revelation of the 2021 season:

  • 1st National Ace Pigeon Long Distance WHZB-TBOTB
  • 1st National Ace Pigeon long distance competition The Best
  • 1st National Ace Pigeon Fund Mirror
  • 3rd Olympic Pigeon Category Long Distance 

 

Main achievements:

  • 1st NPO Issoudun (753 km) against 2695 pigeons
  • 3rd NPO Lorris (643 km) against 2021 pigeons
  • 16th NPO Lorris (643 km) against 3037 pigeons
  • 33rd NPO Sens (592 km) against 5706 pigeons

The father of “National Pogacar” is “Inbred Hope” (NL18-1392199), a son of “Hallilujah's Hope” and “New Hope” of Tjeerd & Jouke Elzinga. The mother is “Miss Beauty One.” On the fathers side the grandfather is “Hallilujah's Hope” Nl 4280780 of the comb. Tj & J. Elzinga and the grandmother “Miss: Bleu Hope” Nl 13-1585158 also again from the comb. Tj & J. Elzinga. On the maternal side, the grandfather “Mister Bond” Nl 15-1849960 from Hooymans/Elzinga and the grandmother “Beauty 043” Nl 15-1850043 from Jan Hooymans.

 

2. Olympic Vollering (NL 2021-4220808)

This hen, named after cyclist Demi Vollering, shone in the Long Distance class and represented the Netherlands at the Olympiad in Maastricht in 2023.

Some great achievements of her:

  • 2nd National Olympiad Pigeon Long Distance 2023
  • 2nd National Ace Pigeon Long Distance Best 2023
  • 3rd NPO Issoudun 2024 pigeons
  • 8th Prov. Venlo 14096 pigeons
  • 8th Prov. Arlon 8536 pigeons
  • 14th NPO Issoudun 2385 pigeons

 “Olympic Vollering” is bred out of ‘Son Max’ Nl 17-1577923 from the combination Tj & J. Elzinga and Nl 18-4297769 from P. Veenstra. On the fathers side the grandfather is “Max” 16-4280385 from the comb. Tj & J. Elzinga and the grandmother “Sister Esmee” Nl 13-1586146 from Sietse and Ronald themselves. On the maternal side the grandfather “Son Harry” Nl-16-1663069 and the grandmother “Daughter Alexia” Nl 15-1850060.

 

Championships 2023-2024

  • 2nd Olympiad pigeon Netherlands Sport Class one-day long distance (Olympic Vollering)
  • 1st loft day long distance NU undesignated
  • 2nd Ace pigeon day long distance NU
  • 6th pigeon champion one-day long distance NPO/WHZB-TBOTB
  • 10th appointed championship one-day long distance NPO/WHZB-TBOTB
  • 2nd ace pigeon day long distance national competition best
  • 7th general long undesignated division Friesland 96
  • 2nd general long fingered division Friesland 96

 

Housing and playing system

Fokkinga's pigeon lofts were carefully designed and modified. Insulation boards were installed under the roof tiles to reduce respiratory problems. Ceiling openings were enlarged and the aviaries deepened, resulting in healthier and better performing pigeons.

Breeding starts around Christmas and New Year, when the racers incubate the eggs of the breeders. One exception is that the better racing couples, hatch the youngsters themselves. As soon as the young are twenty days old, cocks and hens are separated. One youngster stays with the cock and the other youngster goes with the hen to the hen loft. From then on, the sexes are separated and widowhood begins. They only see each other again when they return home from the first training flight. Before the start of the races, the pigeons are taken away two to three times at a distance of about 45 kilometers. 

The hens are darkened approximately from the beginning of April. This is to keep them calmer. With the cocks and later also with the hens, the light is on during the day. Despite the location of the loft, south-south-east, it is unfortunately somewhat dark in the lofts hence this solution. The focus of the Fokkinga combination is on the one-day long distance. The first flights are not shown but as soon as the one-day long distance comes in sight, the cocks and hens get to see each other before basketing. This is not done in the way most of them are familiar with. Well before basketing, cocks and hens go together. After an hour, they are separated and given a full meal. When the crop is full, they go together again for a while until they go into the basket. Ronald believes that the pigeons eat better that way. There is also variation and the cocks and hens are allowed together as early as Wednesday morning and are separated again on Thursday morning. Ronald believes that this approach increases motivation and performance. After the flight, the pairs stay together according to the heaviness of the flight. In case of a late homecoming, this is of course until Sunday morning. 

Nutrition

In terms of nutrition, their preference is the Pro Revolution line from Vanrobaeys. They feed Pro Revolution light and sport up to 400 kilometers. On the longer distances, Vanrobaeys dynamics and Matador's Turbo Energy are added. During breeding, Pro Revolution breeding and Premium breeding of Beyers are on the menu. The youngsters get Pro Revolution young and from two nights in the basket, Pro Revolution sport is added. On Sunday and Monday we give them Pro Revolution light and then we feed them by feeling.  Depending on the distances, this is supplemented with hemp, peanuts, and candy seed.

Medical management

  • Annual vaccinations against paramyxo, smallpox, and paratyphoid.
  • Periodic cures against paratyphoid and raising yellow pills.
  • Regular use of probiotics, oregano oil, and MG-mix (Beute Gert-Jan).

 

Philosophy: pigeons and cycling

Ronald, a big fan of cycling, often compares pigeon racing to cycling. Pigeons, like cyclists, have to perform continuously and deal with tough conditions. This philosophy is reflected in their approach, where every pigeon must compete weekly. Exceptions are only made for absolute top performers.

 

The Herbots family wishes the Fokkinga combination great successes in pigeon racing!