Pollin Marc & Geert (Snellegem): The Final Auction De wonder years 2000 - 2015

Yesterday we talked about the early years of the Pollin colony, and today we look back at the 2000s.

Early 2000s

Limoges National for yearlings. The early 2000s were the classic for yearlings. Back then, yearlings had a slightly "easier" schedule than they do now, and Limoges was the final exam for all yearling long-distance pigeons. This race wasn't about being allowed to perform, but about having to perform. Limoges was the "selection race." For this reason, Limoges yearlings always attracted a large number of pigeons, and in 2003, no fewer than 21,463 yearlings were at the release site. Released at 6:50 a.m., "B02-3005118" (later renamed "De Limoges") showed everyone with an average speed of 1,141.86 m/m. "De Limoges"... a beautiful blue cock... and a cross between the top lines of "De Vooruit" and "De Perpignan."

In the same year, 2003, the hen "B03-3017314" was purchased from Boudewijn Jonckheere. This hen was named "J & B" and became the mother of two very important Pollin pigeons, "Dortmunder" and "Nai." 

“Dortmunder” – “12” – “Joe” 

His name is indeed linked to the German city of Dortmund, where the 2009 Pigeon Olympiad took place. In the "Long Distance" category, "Dortmunder" (B04-3003154) represented Belgium and was subsequently assigned a breeding box in Snellegem. "Dortmunder" did not disappoint, and his name still appears in the pedigrees of many important Pollin pigeons.

For example, "Dortmunder" is the sire of "12" (B09-3091012).

"12" won, among other prizes:

1st Limoges 385p. (144th Nat. 14,211p.)
1st Nantes 385p. (4th/2,883p.)
1st St. Junien 199p. (6th/1,706p.)
3rd Chateauroux 531p. (125th Nat. 22,718b.)
4th Argenton 348b. (94th Nat. 19,816b.)

The "12" also passed on his qualities perfectly through several generations.

The "12" is the sire of "Joe."

"Joe" B10-3164068 won:

1st Nat. Libourne '15 against 5,024b.
7th Nat. Brive '14 against 5,286b.
18th Nat. Souillac '12 against 7,760b.
42nd Nat. Cahors '15 against 6,576b.
81st Nat. Tulle '14 against 5,976b.
101st Nat. Limoges '13 against 14,271b.
128th Nat. Souillac against 5,282b.
163rd Nat. La Souterraine against 9,548b.
259th Nat. Montauban against 3,990b.
500th Nat. Limoges against 18,390b.
601st Nat. Chateauroux against 25,263b.
678th Nat. Argenton against 19,782b.

"Joe" is in turn the sire of:

"Klaus": Co-winner of the 1st National Championship KBDB Long Distance Year Birds 2022

"026-16": 5th Fontenay 565b – 26th Nat. Tulle 5,117b – 177th Nat. Jarnac 5,117b and so on

"Joe" is the sire of "Marc" at Gerard Koopman's , and "Marc" is in turn the sire of:
"Viento": 3rd prize Final Race OLR SAMDPR 2020 – winner of $100,000 in prize money
"Arfid": 8th Final Race OLR Pattaya '21 – 3,653 p.
"Viento Touched": 36th of 7,756 p. – 38th of 2,135 p. – 271st of 18,737 p. – 264th of 13,967 p. – 494th of 16,327 p.
"Nomie": 2nd of 808 p. – 12th of 5,962 p. – 53rd of 3,455 p. – 186th of 13,967 p. – 368e/14,065d.
“147-21”: 16th/9,183d. – 20th/6,036p. – 73rd/5,618p. – 77th/4,910p.

"De 12" is also the sire of "Bruce's" dam.
"Bruce" won a tough 896km race – speed: 1.023 m/m – 1st National St. Vincent '015 against 3,045 p.
"Bruce" is the grandfather of Koopman, winner of a 9th prize in the final race of the OLR Pattaya, and of "Coby": 1st Dries-Bruck 17,461 p. – 1st Sourdun 5,475 p. (fastest of 12,000 p.) – 1st Sens 1,290 p.

"De 12" is the sire of: 2nd Provincial Ace Pigeon Middle Distance Young Birds 2011

"De 12" is the sire of 5th International Bordeaux 11,444 p. "De 12" is the sire of "Nestbrother Joe," who in turn is the sire of:
"Mickey": Co-winner of the 1st National Championship KBDB Long Distance Yearlings 2022 and of the following national top winners: 17th Nat. Tulle 5,976b - 17th Nat. Tulle 4,169b - 22nd Nat. Tulle 10,251b - 33rd Nat. Chateauroux 25,126b - 33rd Nat. Chateauroux 13,098b - 75th Nat. Limoges 13,098b - 89th Nat. Chateauroux 25,126b.

Talk about a very successful breeding line!

“Nai"

Another son of "J&B" is "Nai." "Nai" (B04-3003112) is actually the fourth generation of the Pollin colony's first stock cock, "De Vooruit" (477-77). Through his sire, "Son Tony" (030-00), we arrive at "Tony" (040-94), and via "De Montauban" (432-89), we arrive at "De Vooruit" (477-77). In other words, the "Nai" breeding line is proof of how the class of Pollin pigeons excels generation after generation.

"Nai" became the sire of well-known Pollin top pigeons such as:
"As-Trix" (B07-3080019): 1st Provincial Ace Pigeon Long Distance Young Birds '07

"Provinciaal Poitiers" (B07-3080116): won 1st Provincial Poitiers 1,457 p. – 25th National Limoges 6,138 p. – 36th National Souillac 7,045 p. – 45th National Limoges 11,869 p. – 78th National Chateauroux 17,109 p. – 88th National Limoges 10,448 p., etc.

If we go back a generation, we see that

"As-Trix" is the sire of winners of:
3rd National Chateauroux 17,725 p. – 4th National Chateauroux 17,109p. – 31st Nat. Limoges 7,221p. – 42nd Nat. Montauban 5,935p. – 51st Nat. Tulle 6,817p. – 58th Nat. Argenton 19,816p. – 60th Nat. Chateauroux 25,263p. – 88th Nat. Poitiers 13,813p. – 105th Nat. Limoges 10,448p. – 118th Nat. Chateauroux 22,718p. etc.

"Provincial Poitiers" sired:
1st Provincial St-Junien 1,736 p. – 1st Soullac 1,138 p. – 3rd National Bordeaux 6,251 p. – 4th National Libourne 8,269 p. – 4th National Tulle 6,817 p. – 5th International Bordeaux 11,444 p. – 8th National Chateauroux 16,479 p. – 13th National Souillac 7,760 p. – 28th National Souillac 5,282 p. – 42nd National Souillac 5,667 p. – 68th National Tulle 6,817 p. – 100th National Souillac 7,760 p.

And... incidentally... "Provincial Poitiers" is, among other things, the grandfather of “Neymar” with renowned champion Ally Norbert and Stefan. 

The miracle year 2015 – 4 x 1st National and 1st Nat. Ace Pigeon KBDB

"A year in which everything went well," says Geert, lost in thought. That was quite something. I think if we had basketed the drinking loft, it would have won a race. Of course, we had the wind in our favor that season, but still. Achieving four national victories in a single season was a unique achievement at the time.

It all started at Montauban (804km – June 6th), where "Montauban II" (B14-3027005) won 1st National against 2,129 yearlings. "Montauban II" was bred from the pairing "Joske" (a son of "Mortifer") x "Sister Nai." Montauban was released at 6:30 AM, and "Montauban II" was registered at 5:10 PM.

A week later, St. Vincent (896km – June 10th) was on the race schedule, and again, it was bingo. Released at 6:45 AM, I saw our "Bruce" at 9:20 PM. (B13-3016047) still diving towards the landing board. "Bruce" is, among others, the sire of top breeder "Obelix" for Gerard Koopman.
Then came International Agen, where "New Belgian Pride" (B14-3027025) won 3rd International against 4,485 yearlings

We continue with Libourne (753km – August 2nd), where "Joe" concluded his impressive career with a 1st National against 5,024 old birds, and "New Belgian Pride" put the finishing touch on his impressive career by winning 1st National against 5,890 yearlings (also the fastest of all 10,914 Libourne racers), thus also winning the title of 1st National Ace Pigeon KBDB Marathon Yearlings!
With the exception of "New Belgian Pride" (sold to the Herbots family), all the others remained in Snellegem and were all assigned a breeding box.

Stefan Mertens