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Johan de Vries (IJsselmuiden): Rising from nothing, now a fixture at the top of the Dagfond!

17 Jul 2025

After a 17-year break, Johan de Vries returned to pigeon racing in 2016! 

For his comeback, he deliberately chose the One Day Long Distance. The reason? ‘The type of pigeons I brought in were also perfectly capable of performing well on shorter flights. That way, I could enjoy the whole season.’ The first step was logical: look for quality locally. He found it in none other than the late Henri van den Berg, an established name in IJsselmuiden. Over the years, Johan acquired more than 30 direct pigeons from Van den Berg, with the Olympic Nicole line as the absolute foundation. This hen is, as it were, the foundation hen of his colony.

 

Later, the foundation was further strengthened with a few targeted purchases from Henri and Wilma van der Linde (Sint Jansklooster), which resulted in two excellent breeders. In addition, the loft also houses pigeons from top breeders such as T. & J. Elzinga, H. & E.J. Eijerkamp, C. & G. Koopman, Jan Hooymans, Ruud Bakker and Combinatie Fokkinga.

 

A season to remember 2024

2024 proved beyond doubt that Johan's colony is top notch. No fewer than seven times, the top 10 of an NPO result was achieved, a remarkable achievement. A total of 14 (!) Teletext listings adorned the list of achievements from 2018 to 2023, but 2024 stood head and shoulders above the rest:

 

Issoudun 685 km:

  • Circle NW against 1140 pigeons: 1-2-4-5-6-7-10-14-28-30-37-44-50-58-59-72-81-95-99 etc.
  • North Circle against 1973 pigeons: 1-2-4-5-6-8-11-20-39-42-53-62-69-80-81-97 etc.
  • Division 8 against 3553 pigeons: 1-2-8-16-20-23-28-45-78-83-100 etc.
  • National against 23412 pigeons: 16-17-61-214-252 etc.

 

Gray 571 km:

  • Circle NW against 1201 pigeons: 1-2-8-10-28-37-40-50-54-56-57-80-88-90 etc.
  • North District against 2001 pigeons: 2-3-13-19-55-73-79-93-99 etc.
  • Division 8 against 3738 pigeons: 8-13-47-57 etc.

 

Sourdun 483 km:

  • Circle NW against 4093 pigeons: 2-3-7-13-30-31-32-34-44 etc.
  • Circle North against 6671 pigeons: 2-3-8-15-32-33-34-36-47 etc.
  • Division 8 against 12794 pigeons: 2-3-8-15-33-34-35-37-49 etc.

 

Soissons 392 km:

  • Circle NW against 7703 pigeons: 4-18-26-42-58-102 etc.
  • North District against 11903 pigeons: 4-19-27-46-65-114 etc.
  • Division 8 against 22782 pigeons: 4-24-36-63-92-151 etc.

 

Courtisols 410 km:

  • Circle NW against 2103 pigeons: 5-15-16-17-32-38 etc.
  • Circle North against 3349 pigeons: 7-17-18-19-35-42 etc.
  • Division 8 against 6571 pigeons: 10-24-28-29-52-71 etc.

 

La Ferte St Aubin 609 km:

  • Circle NW against 1553 pigeons: 11-40-43-50-62-85 etc.
  • North District against 2679 pigeons: 11-51-55-70-92-123 etc.
  • Division 8 against 5402 pigeons: 12-69-73-91-124-172 etc.

 

Issoudun 685 km:

  • Circle NW against 1035 pigeons: 3-10-11-12-14-21-22-52-53-64-68-72-74-76-78-89 etc.
  • North Circle against 1850 pigeons: 4-12-13-14-16-23-24-65-66-80-87-93-96-100 etc.
  • Division 8 against 3497 pigeons: 6-15-16-19-21-31-32-91-92-113 etc.

 

Chimay 301 km:

  • Circle NW against 4212 pigeons: 9-16-42-46 etc.
  • Circle North against 6597 pigeons: 9-18-46-52 etc.
  • Division 8 against 12093 pigeons: 23-37-75-82 etc.

 

Luyksgestel 149 km:

  • NW Circle against 5561 pigeons: 4-5-7-9-64-65-70-71-72-73-87 etc.

 

The train continues to thunder ahead in 2025

 

Gien 590 km:

  • Circle NW against 1734 pigeons: 1-2-3-7-10-35-36-39-40-42-43-46-55-56-83-93-94-95 etc.
  • North Circle against 2770 pigeons: 1-2-5-9-13-44-45-48-49-51-52-56-70-71 etc.
  • Division 8 against 5529 pigeons: 1-3-6-11-16-68-69-73-74-78-79-84 etc.

 

Chateaudun 595 km:

  • Circle NW against 1476 pigeons: 5-6-11-16-17-19-24-26-30-31-34-41-42-46-55-56-57-68-81-86-93-97 etc.
  • North Circle against 2201 pigeons: 6-7-14-19-20-22-28-30-36-37-40-47-48-53-64-65-67-80-96 etc.
  • Division 8 against 4490 pigeons: 22-23-36-42-43-46-57-59-68-71-75-91-92-98 etc.

 

Luyksgestel 149 km:

  • Circle NW1 against 4079 pigeons: 1-2-5-6-36-37-38-41-82-83-84-95 etc.
  • Circle NW against 6627 pigeons: 1-2-5-6-62-64-65-71 etc.

 

Soissons 392 km:

  • Circle NW1 against 4067 pigeons: 4-8-10-14-32-38-39-47-83-91-92-97 etc.
  • North Circle against 10769 pigeons: 9-16-18-24-58-66-67-88 etc.
  • Division 8 against 19280 pigeons: 19-33-36-45-87-97-98 etc.

 

Reims 392 km:

  • Circle NW against 5185 pigeons: 5-6-21-22-23-35-46-47-53-63-81-82-83 etc.
  • North District against 8042 pigeons: 5-6-22-23-24-38-49-50-56-66-87-88-89 etc.
  • Division 8 against 15526 pigeons: 6-10-31-32-33-52-66-67-75-87 etc.

 

Chalons en Champagne 417 km:

  • Circle NW1 against 2131 pigeons: 1-3-8-9-21-22-38-47-57-58 etc.
  • Circle North against 5527 pigeons: 5-8-19-22-40-41-72-88 etc.
  • Division 8 against 9606 pigeons: 16-23-49-57-84-85 etc.

 

 

Johan also has two candidates for the FCI Olympiad Long Distance 2024-2025. Currently, these occupy places 4 and 8 in the interim rankings.

 

NL22-8099187 “Miss Issoudun”

  • Issoudun 685 km: 6/3497
  • Issoudun 685 km: 9/1826
  • Sourdun 483 km: 32/6671
  • Chateaudun 595 km: 22/2201
  • Issoudun 685 km: 20/1973
  • Gien 590 km: 67/5452

NL23-9602845 “Lena”

  • Issoudun 685 km: 2/3553
  • Gray 571 km: 13/2001
  • Sourdun 483 km: 36/6671
  • Melun 492 km: 36/4616
  • Chateaudun 595 km: 57/4490
  • Issoudun 685 km: 92/3497

 

The power of the breeding loft: ‘De Havik’ x ‘909 Nicole’

Central to the stock structure is the super pair ‘De Havik’ x ‘909 Nicole’, both directly from the late Henri van den Berg. Their pedigree goes back to the phenomenal ‘Olympic Nicole’, and their descendants perform well in both sprint and long distance races.

Other top performers from Johan de Vries loft

Joy 2019-1269517 daughter “Pukkel Nicole” x  “Lelijke Eendje”

‘’Miss TELETEKST’’ NL 2017-1672553 Daughter of ‘’De Favoriet’’ x ‘’Mooi Bolletje’’

  • 10th Best Long Distance Pigeon and 4th Best Ace Pigeon Best World Pigeons F.C.I. ranking Netherlands
  • 13th Ace Pigeon W.H.Z.B.-T.B.O.T.B. 2019
  • 3rd N.P.O. Chalon en Champange 8,235 p. + TELETEKST 2019
  • 4th N.P.O. Issoudun 2,815 p. + TELETEKST 2019
  • 5th N.P.O. Chateauroux 1,920 p. + TELETEXT 2019
  • 6th N.P.O. Vierzon 1,753 p. 2019
  • 1st Circle 2 Duffel 2,250 p. 2019

‘’Jennes’’  NL2017-1672427 = Son of Super Pair ‘’Havik’’ x ‘’909 Nicole’’

  • 4th N.P.O. Chateauroux 1,824 p. + TELETEXT 2018
  • 37th N.P.O. Chateauroux 1,920 p.
  • 58th N.P.O. Issoudun 2,815 p.
  • 66th N.P.O. Bourges 2,070 p. 
  • 7th N.P.O. Chateaudun  1,611 p.
  • 2nd Duffel 1,890 p.
  • 3rd Meer 784 p.
  • 11th Duffel 8,963 p.

 

“Fay “NL2019-1269514 = daughter of super pair “Havik” x  “909 Nicole”

  • 5th NPO Fay aux Loges 2 +TELETEKST 2020
  • 9th NPO Fay aux Loges 1 2020
  • 11th NPO Niergnies 2019
  • 43rd Niergnies Afd. 8 25,379 pigeons

‘’Number one’’ NL2021-1533201 = daughter of super pair ‘’Havik’’ x ‘’909 Nicole’’

  • 1st Tienen 7540 p. 
  • 1st Quiévrain 1622 p. 
  • 3rd Geel 4811 p. 
  • 7th NPO Gien 2634 p.
  • 8th NPO Morlicourt 9052 p. 
  • 8th NPO Melun 2960 p.
  • 18th Geel 6467 p. 
  • 21st Morlicourt 3426 p.
  • 22nd Biergies 4478 p.
  • 46th Niergnies 7042 p. 

As a young bird against the old birds, pigeon champion circle and region natour and 2nd in the department 8

‘’Favorietje’’ NL2023-9602801 = daughter of super pair ‘’Havik’’ x ‘’909 Nicole’’

  • 6th NPO division 8 North Issoudun 1973 d.
  • 12th NPO division 8 North Issoudun 1850 d.

IJsselmuiden as a rear base? No problem!

IJsselmuiden is located at the rear of Section 8 GOU, but Johan still manages to compete at the national top level on a regular basis. He emphasises how important it is to race pigeons that can handle the same distance: ‘I select strictly, especially based on performance in the one-day long distance, but those same pigeons can also excel in the middle distance.’

 

Johan, congratulations on these great results from the entire Herbots team!

 

Christophe Mathues