Combination Van Rooij from Tull en ’t Waal(NL): Building on to the top!

In rural Tull en ‘t Waal, located in the province of Utrecht, we find one of the most passionate families in Dutch pigeon racing: Combinatie Van Rooij. This combination consists of father Peter (68) and his two sons Jeroen (38) and Martijn (35). What started as a hobby of Peter and his brother Joop, grew over the years into a close-knit family project in which each person involved bears his own responsibility, resulting in numerous top rankings at national and provincial level.

A close family partnership

Peter has been active with pigeons since 1987. Ten years later, Jeroen and Martijn joined the loft and they have been an inseparable trio ever since. The division of tasks is clear: Peter and his wife manage the breeders and youngsters, Martijn looks after the widowers and Jeroen takes care of the hens. Clear agreements are the key to a smoothly running team. Since moving to the current address in 2015, the combination has excellent lofts to look after their colony in the best possible way. They currently play with 45 couples on total widowhood, have around 140 youngsters, 30 breeding couples and 5 test couples.

Training and feeding 

We feed a combination of Lady Mix, Bakker Exclusief and Dynamik by Vanrobaeys, supplemented with Peter Theunis' NPO mix. At the beginning of the week, the pigeons are given a lighter mix, which gradually changes to a heavier and fatter feed towards the end of the week. In addition, we provide Beyers' Detox mineral mix daily.

Medical supervision and health as a basis

The medical supervision of the pigeons is in the hands of Stephan Göbel. Every 2 to 3 weeks, the combination takes the pigeons for a check-up, after which, if necessary, they are treated with medication. They mainly use Stephan's own products, alternating with Belgica de Weerd products. Every Saturday, the pigeons receive yellow drops from Vincent Schroeder over the feed, combined with minerals from Mariën. On Mondays, the drinking water is acidified with Forta Vita from Travipharma or Natruline from Natural. To prepare the feed, we use Herbochol from Herbovet. After returning home from a flight, we give Begasol or Herbosol in the drinking water. We also regularly use products from Röhnfried, such as Kräuter-Gemüse-Mix and Atemfrei for respiratory support and Probac 1000 for healthy intestinal flora.All pigeons are vaccinated annually against Paramyxo, smallpox and paratyphoid. The youngsters get Paramyxo-Rota vaccination twice and are treated against smallpox with the brush.

Strong pedigree building and targeted purchases

The foundation of their colony rests on two golden pedigree couples:

Couple 1: A cock from Comb. Van Wanrooij x a hen from Braad-de Joode. This pair is responsible for a large number of top pigeons.

Couple 2: A Hans Dekkers cock x a John and Jan Baeck hen, of which strong offspring are still active in the breeding loft.

In addition, the combination has in recent years purchased pigeons from absolute top names in national and international pigeon racing, including:

• Comb. Van Wanrooij
• Comb. Verbree
• Eddy Janssens 
• G. & S. Verkerk
• Leideman brothers
• Gerard Koopman
• H. & E.J. Eijerkamp
• Jos Vercammen 
• Ruud Bakker

These crosses have created a colony that excels in both sprint, middle distance and one-day long distance races. In addition, several youngsters have become true ace pigeons and the breeding loft continues to provide valuable reinforcement year after year.

The results of recent years do not lie. Some highlights:

National Championships 2023-2024

• 2nd National Champion Middle Distance Designated WHZB/NPO

National Ace Pigeon Listings:

• 5th Nat. Ace Pigeon Middle Distance WHZB/NPO 2022-8301008
• 8th Nat. ace Middle Distance WHZB-BOTB
• 10th Nat. Ace Middle Distance De Allerbeste 2021-1025330
• 7th Nat. ace pigeon middle distance PIPA 2021-1025352 
• 10th Nat. ace Middle Distance PIPA 2022-8301008 
• 13th Nat. ace pigeon middle distance PIPA 2022-8301008
• 14th Nat. Ace Pigeon WBP Yearling 2022-8301008
• 15th Nat. acebird WBP Speed 2022-8301008
• 15th Nat. Ace Pigeon Speed The Very Best 2021-1025352

Breeding championships Division 7 (2023-2024)

• 1st Races Undesignated
• 2nd Speed Designated
• 3rd Speed Undesignated 
• 1st Middle Distance Undesignated
• 1st Middle Distance Designated
• 2nd Middle Distance Undesignated
• 2nd Natour Undesignated

Pigeon championships Division 7 (2023-2024)

Middle Distance:

• 1st Ace Pigeon
• 3rd Ace Pigeon
• 5th Pigeon Champion (2023)
• 8th Pigeon Champion
• 9th Pigeon Champion
• 5th Pigeon Champion (2024)

Speed:

• 4th Pigeon Champion

Natour:

• 5th Pigeon Champion
• 7th Pigeon Champion
• 10th Pigeon Champion

General Speed:

• 2nd Pigeon Champion
• 3rd Pigeon Champion

General Total:

• 2nd Pigeon Champion

Top 10 NPO/afdeling 2021/2024

• 1st Duffel 7026
• 1st Lessines 19053
• 1st Melun 6461
• 1st Niergnies 6977
• 1st Niergnies 8143
• 1st Peronne 8047
• 1st Pontoise 6038
• 1st Pontoise 6509
• 1st Pt.St.Max 3576
• 2nd Melun 6461
• 2nd Niergnies 6139
• 2nd Niergnies 6619
• 2nd Niergnies 6977
• 2nd Niergnies 8143
• 2nd Niergnies 8118
• 2nd Peronne 8047
• 2nd Pontoise 6509
• 2nd Pt.St.Max 9238
• 2nd Pt.St.Max 12265
• 3rd Banteux 4586
• 3rd Pt.St.Max 9238
• 3rd Pt.St.Max 1168
• 4th Banteux 5375
• 4th Banteux 7578
• 4th Issoudun 2539
• 4th Nanteuil 3777
• 4th Niergnies 6139
• 4th Niergnies 6619
• 4th Pt.St.Max 3576
• 5th Arras 10144
• 5th Banteux 5375
• 5th Nanteuil 3777
• 5th Niergnies 6139
• 5th Niergnies 6619
• 5th Niergnies 11025
• 5th Pt.St.Max 3576
• 5th Pt.St.Max 11687
• 6th Banteux 5375
• 6th Melun 6461
• 6th Morlincourt 4040
• 6th Nevers 2563
• 6th Niergnies 661
• 6th Pt.St.Max 3576
• 6th Sens 3994
• 7th Banteux 5375
• 7th Morlincourt 4040
• 8th Morlincourt 4327
• 8th Morlincourt 4498
• 8th Niergnies 4237
• 8th Niergnies 6619
• 8th Pt.St.Max 3576
• 8th Pontoise 6038
• 9th Chateauroux 2539
• 9th Morlincourt 4327
• 9th Niergnies 5958
• 10th Banteux 5375
• 10th Nevers 2653
• 10th Niergnies 5958

Main results 2023-2024

• Morlincourt-Noyon (309km) 820 pigeons: 1-2-3-4-5-6-11-12-15-16-18-19-20-23-24-26-27-28-29-30 etc. 66/87

• Niergnies (245km) 8143 pigeons: 1-2-14-25-42-68-76-80-82-115-124 etc. 48/54

• Bierges (145km) 5238 pigeons: 1-2-3-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-15-16-17-18-35-45-46-48 etc. 83/93

• Pt.St.Maxence (350km) 2825 pigeons: 1-3-14-20-21-27-28-32-38-40-42 etc. 54/71

• Pontoise (389km) 6038 pigeons: 1-8-13-22-78-116-125-140 etc. 39/60

• Melun (411km) 1065 pigeons: 1-2-4-6-10-16-19-20-22 etc. 35/50

• Niergnies (245km) 876 pigeons: 1-2-3-6-10-36 etc. 23/36

• Pt.St.Maxence (350km) 2178 pigeons: 1-2-11-19-22-23-24-27-37-45 etc. 58/47

• Bierges (145km) 1469 pigeons: 1-3-4-6-9-12-13-15-16-21-26-30-33-36 etc. 99/147

• Entroeungt 1156 pigeons:2-3-4-5-6-9-10-13-14-15-16-17-18-20-22-23-24-26 etc. 80/100

• Niergnies (245km) 703 pigeons:3-4-5-6-8-15-19-22-25 etc. 44/51

• Melun (411km) 1326 pigeons: 2-9-11-12-34-36-37-50-51-54-55 etc. 42/58

• Niergnies (245km) 861 pigeons: 6-7-10-11-12 etc. 68/74

• Chateauroux (627km) Sec. three 7541 pigeons: 13-50-105-161-171 etc. 11/21

• Niergnies (245km) 5958 pigeons: 9-10-13-15-20-23-40-42-45-78-83 etc. 37/40

• Issoudun (605km) 8840 pigeons: 65-190-194-308 etc. 15/20

The first flights in 2025

Duffel (109km) 609 pigeons: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-10-11-12-13-14-16-17-20-25-29-30-31-32-33-41-42-43-45-49-50-52-53-56-57-58-59-60-61 etc. 68/92

Bierges (145km) 948 pigeons: 1-2-3-4-5-6-10-13-14-15-17-18-20-21-23-24-28-33-35-37-38-44-45-53-56-59-69-70-71-72-73-75-76-77-78-91 etc. 65/87

Quievrain (203km) 979 pigeons: 2-3-4-5-7-12-13-14-15-17-23-24-26-27-28-34-36-38-48-49-50-53-55-58-71-72-73-77-86-88-89-91-98 etc 60/81

Niergnies (245km) 1119 pigeons: 1-2-4-5-6-7-8-10-12-13-15-16-17-18-19-20-21-29-30-31-32-36-37-41-51-56-58-59-63-64-65-69-72-74-75-77-90-93-94-95-96-103-105 etc 59/81

Morlincourt-Noyon (309km) 992 pigeons: 2-3-4-5-7-8-9-10-11-12-14-15-16-22-23-24-25-26-27-28-29-30-32-33-34-38-39-40-42-43-44-45-47-48-61-65-66-67-68-69-70-78-82-85-90-99 etc. 70/78

Pont St Max (350km) 718 pigeons: 1-2-5-5-7-9-11-12-14-16-17-19-21-23-24-27-28-29-32-33-34-40-46-48-49-53-56-57-63-64-67-68 etc. 51/74

2018-1725078 ‘Lady Arabella’

She is (gr)mother of following toppers:

2021-1025330 ‘Miss Arabella’

• 10th Olympiad Middle Distance Netherlands
• 10th Nat. ace Middle Distance The Very Best
• 18th Nat. ace Middle Distance NPO/WHZB
• 18th Nat. ace Middle Distance PIPA
• 1st Prov. Pontoise 6509 pigeons
• 2nd Prov. Pt.St.Maxence 12265 pigeons
• 2nd Prov. Niergnies 6977 pigeons after loftmate
• 11th Prov. Sens 3994 pigeons
• 22nd Prov. Pontoise 6038 pigeons
• 32nd Prov. Pt.St.Maxence 3576 pigeons
• 39th Prov. Melun 4001 pigeons
• 42nd Prov. Pt.St.Maxence 9142 pigeons

 2020-1323771 ‘Olympic Lady’

• 3rd Olympiad Youngsters Netherlands Romania
• 1st Bierges 4643 pigeons
• 4th Lessines 7429 pigeons
• 8th Prov. Vervins 11446 pigeons
• 19th Prov. Lessines 10765 pigeons

2023-9166717

• 5th Prov. ace Middle Distance
• 2nd Prov. Niergnies 8118 pigeons
• 15th Prov. Niergnies 4987 pigeons
• 22nd Melun 1065 pigeons
• 49th Prov. Pt.St.Maxence 3830 pigeons
• 95th Prov. Arras 10144 pigeons

2019-1488252

• 4th Prov. Sezanne 7303 pigeons
• 4th Prov. Pt.St.Maxence 6197 pigeons
• 9th S.Nat Nevers 8453 pigeons

2020-1323656

• 4th Prov. Pt.St.Maxence 3576 pigeons
• 14th S.Nat. Nevers 8453 pigeons
• 41st Prov. Peronne 8047 pigeons

2022-8300990

• 6th Niergnies 8610 pigeons
• 13th Prov. Niergnies 5958 pigeons
• 39th Prov. Niergnies 4237 pigeons

2018-1620316 ‘Maverick’

He (gr)sired the following toppers:

2021-1025352 ‘Miss Kiki’

• 7th Nat. ace pigeon sprint/mid distance PIPA-Ranking 2023
• 15th Nat. acebird Speed The Best 2023
• 1st Quievrain 2320 pigeons
• 2nd Bierges 5828 pigeons
• 3rd Quievrain 8454 pigeons
• 5th Pontoise 1352 pigeons
• 9th Quievrain 1052 pigeons
• 10th Prov. Niergnies 5958 pigeons
• 15th Prov. Niergnies 6619 pigeons
• 19th Prov. Pt.St.Maxence 3576 pigeons
• 25th Prov. Niergnies 8143 pigeons
• 47th Prov. Niergnies 7274 pigeons

2022-8301008 ‘Sabrina’

• 5th Nat. ace Middle Distance WHZB/BOTB 2023
• 10th Nat. Ace Middle Distance PIPA Ranking 2023
• 13th Nat. ace pigeon middle distance 2023
• 2nd Prov. Niergnies 8143 pigeons
• 8th Prov. Pontoise 6038 pigeons
• 9th Prov. Niergnies 5958 pigeons
• 9th Pt.St.Maxence 2372 pigeons
• 9th Melun 1221 pigeons
• 9th Niergnies 1286 pigeons
• 13th Prov. Pt.St.Maxence 12265 pigeons

2021-1025322 ‘New Kiki’

• 3rd Prov. Banteaux 4586 pigeons
• 5th Prov. Niergnies 6619 pigeons
• 6th Prov. Pt.St.Maxence 3576 pigeons
• 6th Bierges 5828 pigeons
• 7th Niergnies 8610 pigeons
• 8th Niergnies 1447 pigeons
• 11th Prov. Banteux 5375 pigeons
• 18th Prov. Melun 6461 pigeons

2020-1323679

• 17th Nat. ace pigeon PIPA-Ranking Old 2022
• 1st Prov. Pt.St.Maxence 3576 pigeons
• 4th Prov. Banteux 5375 pigeons
• 6th Quievrain 1052 pigeons
• 7th Niergnies 1152 pigeons
• 11th Bierges 4643 pigeons
• 17th Prov. Pt.St.Maxence 5355 pigeons
• 24th La Ferte St. Aubin 1265 pigeons
• 30th S.Nat. Nevers 8453 pigeons
• 50th S.Nat. Chateauroux 7541 pigeons

2024-8269922

• 46th Entroungt 3700 pigeons
• 4e Prov. Pont St Max 10167 pigeons
• 8e Prov. Morlincourt 12757 pigeons
• 40th Rekkem  1525 pigeons
• 68th Morlincourt 2701 pigeons

2022-8301009

• 19th Prov. Niergnies 4987 pigeons
• 23rd Prov. Niergnies 5958 pigeons
• 31st Prov. Niergnies 4237 pigeons
• 35th Bierges 2757 pigeons

2024-8269964

• 7th Entroeungt 3700 pigeons
• 13th Morlincourt 2701 pigeons
• 36th Duffel 7036 pigeons
• 123rd Niergnies 13884 pigeons

Future vision

Combinatie Van Rooij continues to build a robust strain of pigeons that can perform under all conditions. The goal is clear: to continue to compete in the absolute top, with an eye for innovation.

Congratulations from the entire Herbots team!

Christophe Mathues