The Marathon love of Gerard Koopman

Some time ago we already wrote an extensive report about the class of the Koopman pigeons on the one-day long distance races. But Koopman pigeons are more than that because also on the marathon races the Koopman pigeons score like no other. 

Thanks to marathon phenomenon “Red Bullens” 

Gerard and exceptional breeding/performance pigeons ... somehow they always find each other ... the past has proven that several times. Also when Gerard started focusing on the Marathon business he looked for and found that “white blackbird”... namely “Red Bullens”. 

“Red Bullens” NL07-3704851 - was bred and played by Jan Bullens. His palmares are more than impressive with as absolute top performances:

1 NPO Bergerac 2011 4,288b.
2 NPO Bordeaux 2008 5,038b.
2 NPO Bergerac 2010 4,651b.

Importantly, this red topper was born into a family of winners. For example, his father is a full brother to “975”. The “975” is father of “Rooie Duuk”, 2nd Olympiad pigeon Marathon Dortmund '09. The grandfather of “Red Bullens” won 6th National St. Vincent and 69th National Barcelona. 

But ... and now it comes ... when the “Red Bullens” moved to Ermerveen as a 4-year old cock he immediately revealed himself as a true top breeder. Coupled with several hens, he sired several promising marathon pigeons, but two standouts are “Noel” and “Leonidas”. 

“Noel” NL11-1185771 born out “Red Bullens” x “Peiren 671” (original Noël Peiren)

“Leonidas” NL12-1076994 born out “Red Bullens” x “Miss Anke” (original Hermans-Hoekstra)

Won:     1e Asduif NFC Marathon 2013
2             Cahors                 977b.                    1.031km
24           Limoges               1,051b.                 861km
24           Bergerac             929b.                    992km
754         St. Truiden         10,715b.              240km  
893         Gennep               10,818b.              130km

Won      1st National ace Marathon WHZB/TBOTB 2014

1             St. Vincent         523b.                    1.176km
2             Bergerac             1,739b.                 992km
24           Limoges               1,108b.                 861km
980         St. Truiden         10,715b.              240km  
849         Chalons                 6,639b.                 130km

No wonder both “Noel” and “Leonidas” were also ticketed for a breeding box. 

“Red Bullens” also became father of among others

“Fons” NL16-1072615 (for sale in Part 4 - buy 2)

“Aristos” NL14-1462493  (in auction Part 4 - number 1)

and “Elza” NL16-4783369 (for sale Part 4 - number 3)

 

And what was to be expected happened. The unique genes of “Red Bullens” were also continued in the 2nd generation. 

So “Noel” is father of

“Phidippides” NL15-1230917 - (Part 3 nr 1)

 “Henderikus” NL16-4784186 (Part 3 - number 2)

 

“Mischa” NL16-1072679 - Part 3 number 3

And “Leonidas” is father to:

“Evaristos” NL17-4704021 - Part 1 auction number 10

“Vitalis” NL15-4767369 - Part 1 auction number 1

 

And because we can't help ourselves “Evaristos” is father of “Chionis.” 

And “Vitalis” is father to:

NL21-4777087 - Part 1 - number 3

"Assefa" NL21-4777163 - Part 1 - Nr 4

You can see that the “winners blood” of “Red Bullens” knows no bounds and is perhaps one of the strongest Marathon breeding lines in the world.

Gerard...from where all of a sudden this love for the marathon races ? 

That step happened because in the past we were very successful with pigeons of Hermans-Hoekstra on the marathon races. So “Miss Waalre” won : 1st ace marathon TBOTB in 2004 - 1st National St. Vincent 1,334b but also the fastest of 15,122b. - 1st NPO Ruffec 1,835b. - Fastest of 3,963d. “Miss Waalre” was paired against the ‘Dreamer’ of De Rauw-Sablon and out of this was born the ‘Milko’, the grandfather of ‘Miss Maniwan’ (1st National St. Vincent 25,807d.). In spite of such achievements that make you long for more, the marathon business was kept on a very low ebb, but especially under the impulse of co-worker Kjeld Spithoven, the “marathon pilot light” was rekindled. 

With what basis was this challenge tackled ? 

Overnight races ask overnight pigeons.  With the purchase of “Red Bullens” our marathon project suddenly gained momentum. The family of the “Red Bullens” brought more horsepower and the real “marathon grinta” came with the purchase of direct Peiren Noël (Zedelgem -B), and Hermans-Hoekstra (top hen “Miss Anke”) pigeons. We have the feeling that “the whole thing” clicks perfectly. New investments are made on a regular basis. 

A top investment was the purchase of “Daughter Blue Dusk” (NL18-1062439 - Saarloos and Son - for sale in Part 2 nr 6).

She is a daughter of “The Blue Dusk” and we are talking about the 1st International ace - all races” ‘16/’17 - 1st Internat. Ace Pigeon Perpignan '16/'17. Paired against several cocks, “Daughter Blue Dusk” became mother of:

"Melpomene" NL21-4777191 - Part 2 - nr. 7

"Nott" NL19-1244570 - Part 2 - nr. 8

"Adine" NL20-4753886 - Part 2 - nr. 9

NL20-4753984 - Part II - nr. 10

NL21-4777099 - Part II - nr. 11

NL22-4786592 - Part II - nr. 15

NL22-4786696 - Part 3 - nr. 5

Last time Barcelona.

Team Koopman played one of Holland's better results at Barcelona 2024 (distance 1,289 km).  National against 5,325, Gerard won: 60-98-162-171-203-365-381-...

22-1504552 (Part 12 - auction number 1)

21-4777043 won 98. Nat. Barcelona / 132. Internat. but was subsequently beaten Bergerac. The parents of this topper are in sale)               

22-8072189 (Part 4 - auction number 21, won 162nd Nat. Barcelona / 222nd Internat.)

21-1504991 (Part 4 - auction number 23, won 171st Nat. Barcelona / 232nd Internat.)

21-1504925 (Part 3 - auction number 16, won 203rd Nat. Barcelona / 275th Internat.)

21-1504551 (Part 2 - auction number 2, won 365th Nat. Barcelona / 515th Internat.)

21-4777238 (Part 1 - auction number 13, 381st Nat. Barcelona / 540th Internat.)

 THE KOOPMAN MARATHON AUCTION ENDS WEDNESDAY 12 FEBRUARI IN SEVERAL PARTS STARTING AT 2 p.m. (c.e.t.)

Stefan Mertens