Tom Smith's SPORT TALK

[willie reynolds]

Belgian Masters One Loft Race 2009

Tom Smith’s SPORT TALK
A Periodic Presentation of News & Views
From Around the Racing Pigeon World

By TOM SMITH Spring Hill, Florida
(Birdman32347@TampaBay.rr.com)

De BELGIAN MASTER 2009……..
There are one-loft-races all over the world, from Great Britian to South Africa, from China to Australia, and many countries in between. It is a phenomena which is said to have begun in the USA several decades ago. Today America has the most one-loft-races of any country in the world.

In my own local area, Hernando County Florida on the Gulf Coast, about an hour’s drive north of the city of Tampa, we have three such races: The GHC “CLASSIC,” the “FLAMINGO INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE,” and the “SUNSHINE STATE INTERNATIONAL.” All fly the usual North to South course. The 300 mile Gulf Coast Homing Pigeon Club “CLASSIC” is a little different; it is a Futurity race, all 210 of its members are allowed to “handle” up to “75 CLASSIC entries,” which are sent in from breeders all over America and Canada to be settled and compete for over half million dollars in prize and pool money! In 2009 there were over 4000 entries, at $100 per bird entry fee! What a race! The GHC organizes a whole week of activities leading up to the CLASSIC race, such as shopping tours for the women, auctions, seminars, luncheons, dinners, theater, and many, many loft visits; the GHC is the largest racing pigeon club in America.


The FLAMINGO INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE LOFT in Brooksville, Florida.

The FLAMINGO International and the SUNSHINE STATE International are traditional one-loft races, both with well over $150,000 in prize money; both have several preliminary money races leading up to a 350 mile final race; and both can be watched on the web (internet) if the breeder can’t attend the race in person. The SUNSHINE race has four races and an Average Speed Award: 150 miles, 200 miles, 275 miles and 350 miles. The FALMINGO also has four races and an Average Speed Award: 150 miles, 200 miles, 250 miles, and 350 miles.

The FLAMINGO is known for its delicious race day barbecue prepared for the race spectators. Hundreds of fanciers enjoy barbecued sausages, hot dogs, and hamburgers as they watch for the race birds. As an added treat, last year the FLAMINGO organizer, John Gallagher (an Irishman originally from New York), presented an outdoor auction, in the Florida


(Lt to Rt) The author Tom Smith, Flamingo owner John Gallagher, America’s top auctioneer Charlie Barbiere, and GHC flier Jack Manders next to the FLAMINGO Loft in Brooksville, Florida December 2009.

sunshine, right in front of the Flamingo loft! The pigeons were from that extraordinary German Champion Andreas Drapa, the 7 x 1st German National Champion and 3 x 1st Olympic Champion! America’s premier auctioneer Charlie Barbiere flew in, all the way from his home in New Jersey, to auction off the birds. Watching this man auctioneering makes one understand what a real professional is; what charisma and knowledge he has! The auction was a total success with one of the Drapas going for $4000!


Some of the spectators at the FLAMINGO race.

These one-loft-races have become very popular, even the Belgians have a one-loft-race, officially organized by their National Federation, the KBDB-RFCB. It is called de Belgian Master race. How appropriate!


Some of the over 2000 spectators watching the 2009 Belgian Master race!


The race is flown from a beautiful, professionally built 90 meter long loft, that’s 295 feet!, located in Nevele, Belgium. Several businesses, including the well known Herbots Animal Products company and Versele-Laga pigeon feed company, sponsor the race.






The Belgian Masters is flown in August from Tours in France 460 km (286 miles). Entry is 250 Euro per bird ($350) with a maximum five bird entry per loft. Total prize money in the initial race in 2008 was 100,000 Euro ($143,000), but was increased in 2009 to 125,000 Euros ($178,000). The prizes money is awarded in 150 race prizes and 10 Ace Pigeon prizes; 1st prize 25,000 Euro ($35,000), 2nd 15,000 Euro ($21,000), 3rd 10,000 Euro ($14,000), and 1st Ace Pigeon 8,000 Euro ($11,000), 2nd 6,000 Euro ($8500), 3rd 4,000 Euro ($5700), etc.




Birds exercising above the Belgian Masters loft.




In 2008 two hundred birds were liberated from Tours, France at 9:45 am, and the winner was clocked at 14:43;47; a pigeon bred by an old master himself, JEAN GEUSSENS of Limburg, Belgium. Then two birds came together at 14:46…… Jean Pierre Senzee’s trapped a mere 3 seconds before the long distance champions Nouwen-Paesen’s bird, they placed 2nd and 3rd Belgian Masters. Fifteen birds were clocked between 14:43 and 14:51…… All were Belgian pigeons except for 6th place, a Chinese rung pigeon entered by the Fanuc Team, and the 14th pigeon bred by the Old Moorland Loft of the Netherlands.


Belgian Masters winner 2008 JEAN GEUSSENS of Limburg, Belgium receiving his 25,000 euro award from Erik Lambrecht, commercial director of Versele – Laga.


The Asduif (Ace Pigeon) award, which is a points competition competed for over several preliminary races, was won by none other than world famous SILVERE TOYE of Otegem, Belgium.

2nd Asduif was a pigeon bred by the outstanding Provincial and National champion Joseph Deno-Herbots partnership, owned by Yao Bo Feng of China, and 3rd Asduif was well known champion Marc Pollin of Belgium.
Silvere Toye’s 1st place Asduif winner is a blue hen named “SISTER AMIGO” 08Belg3188914. She was bred from “Son Paris” x “Daughter Fantast” bred by the Belgian champion Georges Carteus.


Sylvere Toye receives 8000 euro ($11,000) award for winning 1st ACE PIGEON Belgian Master 2008.

Silvere says “Sister Amigo,” is a produce of ace pigeons, performance begets performance…… Just look at her pedigree. Her sire is son of Toye’s ace “PARIS,” winner of 1st Provincial Limoges 2222 birds; 3rd Souillac 124 b.; 3rd Bourges; 5th Clermont 227 b.; 28th National Souillac 7154 b.; and 64th National Souillac. Sire also of “I Love It” 6th SA Million Dollar Race. The bloodlines of PARIS are Gaby Vandenabeele on both sides. PARIS was mated to a daughter of George Carteus’ CARAAT son of 1st National Perpignan.
The dam of “Sister Amigo” is daughter of George Carteus’ “FANTAST 200,” winner of 4th National 12th International Perpignan 16,803 birds; 37th National Limoges 8616 b.; 65th National Limoges 16,504 b.; 3rd Semi National Argenton 5079 b.;1st Argenton 1381 b.; 9th Bouillon 194 b.; and 95th Souillac 1678 b. “FANTAST 200” was mated to Carteus’ Sister of Millenium 1st National Perpignan. “Sister Amigo” is a long distance blue-blood through and through!
The first ten prize winners and firt two Ace Pigeons were auctioned off at the race, 50% going to the breeder and 50% to the organizer. In September the remaining birds were auctioned off on the internet by the Herbots.
The Belgian Master loft is now empty, but in a few months time entries will begin arriving from all over Europe, and maybe even from China and Japan. The Belgian Masters is becoming one of the premier one-loft-races in the world.















Everyone was looking forward to the BELGIAN MASTERS 2009 race with great anticipation after the success of the 2008 race. The number of entries increased, as well as the number of different countries competing.
This year’s event, held on August 18th, was bigger than ever, with a crowd of around 2000 onlookers showing up to await the birds arrival. There were even fancier there from China and Japan. The organizers were well prepared with several giant hospitality tents, tray after tray of delicious Belgian food, kegs of beer, unlimited refreshments, a video


Close up of the beautiful Belgian Masters loft in Nevele, Belgium

movie, and plenty more. The most popular culinary dish of the day, prepared on a large outdoor grill was “Braadworst…….en Bier” of course! “It was a beautiful sunny, clear day with no wind, perfect for man and pigeon…..

“EUSJE” the BELGIAN MASTER 2009 winner and ACE PIGEON 2009 winner!


Four hundred nine young birds were liberated from Tours at 8 am in clear, calm skies. By two o’clock the crowd at the Belgian Masters loft had quieted down and was scanning the sky intently. A single bird was spotted around a quarter after two; fingers pointed and a crescendo of oohs and ahs were heard as a blue bar youngster approached all alone, folded, and dived into the loft, clocking at 14:16:57! The manager Dirk Leekens’ voice could be heard over the loudspeaker announcing “ring number 09…..NL…..1424967!! Eugene Timmermans & Johan Brans of the Netherlands! 1st prize and 25,000 euro!!” The crowd erupted into a sea of claps as the two owners held mugs of beer high and toasted the crowd…..
It was another three minutes before two birds arrived together, both entering together……14:20:35 and 14:20:40!!! Five seconds, and a difference of a cool $7000 in prize money! The loudspeaker announced “2nd place Bricon Loft…Willy & Yvon Baetens of Belgium!........ 3rd place Georges Boffin of Belgium!” Loud applause again….. It was another five minutes before two more birds arrived; in all, 259 birds were clocked on the winning day. The first German bird was 5th; first Japanese bird 6th; first Chinese bird 7th; first Danish bird 15th, and the


A number of Belgian Masters prize winners received new bicycles!

first American owner was none other than our own Dr. Alfred Piaget of New Jersey (the Jaak Tournier specialist), with a bird from his Belgian partner Van den Branden. “Way to go Al!”
Timmermans & Johan named their Belgian Master 2009 winner / Ace Pigeon 2009 winner, “EUSJE”09NL1424967 BBH. She is a medium sized blue with silky feather, abundant supple muscle, a snappy wing, with a nice step, tight vents, a strong back and a striking eye. What a pigeon! And her pedigree?? Another “blueblood!” A straight bred KOOPMAN. Both sire and dam were bred by Gerard Koopman, and their pedigrees show his famous “GOLDEN LADY” three times in the sire and eight times in the dam!!!! The Golden Lady is a direct daughter of LOUIS & DIRK VAN DYCK’s famous 1st National Ace Pigeon Middle Distance of Belgium 1996 “DE KANNIBAAL;” and is the foundation hen of the Koopman loft. She bred winner after winner when mated to GENTILE, including several ace pigeons and National winners for Koopman and for others who were lucky enough to obtain her blood. Her best son was “KLIENE DIRK” BChC winner of 1st National Ace Pigeon of the Netherlands 1999, as a yearling! He also won 5th World Championship YB, 1st National Troyes Rayon 10 NPO 530 km (330 miles) 17,883 birds; 1st National Bourges Rayon 10 NPO 7155 birds; etc.!! She is revered as one of the greatest breeding hens in the history of the racing pigeon sport! And today her son “KLIENE DIRK has taken her place as the foundation cock of the Koopman loft. Thus, EUSJE’s pedigree is also full of performance pigeons.
The Belgian Masters is becoming a world wide event. The loft will be filled soon; an increased entry is expected, with young birds coming not only from Western Europe, but Eastern Europe, and even Japan and China. The Belgian Masters race is becoming one of the premier one-loft-races in the world.

[willie reynolds]

North American Ace Pigeons and Ace Lofts 2009

SPORT TALK
A Periodic Presentation of News and Views from Around the Racing Pigeon World

By Tom Smith Spring Hill, Florida
Birdman32347@TampaBay.rr.com

ACE PIGEONS

“Ace Pigeons” are both rare & unique in the racing pigeon world. They are akin to thoroughbred horse racing’s “Breeders Cup” winners. They must put up several outstanding performances in one season. Although 1st place winners often receive more publicity, “Ace Pigeons” are coveted by knowledgeable fliers. The North American Ace Pigeon & Ace Loft Championships, sponsored annually by the American Racing Pigeon Digest, acknowledges these champions and the fanciers that race them. This championship is open to all AU (American Racing Pigeon Union), CU (Canadian RP Union), and IF (International Federation of American Homing Pigeon Fanciers) members, as well as independents, in North America, which numbers somewhere around 15,000 lofts, making it the most competitive championship in all North America.



Laurie McConnell – DOUBLE North American Ace Pigeon Winner

Laurie McConnell of Spring Hill, Florida, USA has been around our sport for well over half a century, and he’s won a lot of awards, including having several qualified contenders for the AU Hall of Fame, but winning a rare double in the coveted 2009 North American Ace Pigeon Awards, sponsored by the American Racing Pigeon Digest, is the highlight of his long pigeon racing career. His pigeon “Little Champ” AU07GHC4434 BC not only won 1st North American Middle Distance Ace Pigeon (Old Bird), but achieved a “double” by also winning 1st Overall North American Ace Pigeon (OB) Division 2 Average 1001 – 2000 birds!
Laurie’s pigeon career began as a teenager back in 1950 when he entered his first race and won it! He lived in up state NY and flew with the Rochester club which had 90 members back in 1950! They were mostly immigrants from Belgium, Poland, etc. who had brought their sport to America and were very good at it. Young Laurie’s enthusasium soon made him a top contender.
As the years went by Laurie became deeply involved in the sport; the administrative side and the competitive side. He built modern lofts, used advanced racing techniques, imported stock from several European champions, and began winning out of turn. Laurie even became the Dutch champion Leen Boers’ American agent from 1983 – 1987. Boers most well known champion was “Mirage,” winner of 1st St Dizer 20,180 birds (and fastest of 150,000 liberated at St Dizer that day!). This bloodline still runs thru Laurie’s present day Leen Boers, such as his foundation “BASE COCK” and its daughter the potent “GOLDEN HEN,” which bred him three 1st Greater Tampa Bay Concourse winners!



Laurie did particularly well in the young-bird money races in Rochester, flying young hens to a 10 – 12 day old youngster. He would take the mate (cock) away a day or so before the race. At one point he won four consecutive auction races on that system….. and then the club discontinued the race!!



Laurie became interested in the administrative side of our sport at an early age. He was on the AU Board for 25 years and was the AU president from 1983 – 1985. He and his Board created the AU National Rules, and Laurie worked on various important projects, including the “Postal project” for seven or eight years until it was approved.

The decades flew by…. In 2000 Laurie left New York for Spring Hill, Florida, better known as “Little Belgium.” He wanted to enjoy the Florida sunshine and compete in the largest club in America, the Gulf Coast Homing Club. He had heard that the competition there was quite intense. And so it was. In fact, the two pigeons that “Little Champ” beat out for the championship also flew to lofts in “Little Belgium,” only a few blocks from Laurie: 2nd Overall North American Ace Pigeon (OB) Div 2 was won by Bruce Cerone, Woods End Loft. Bruce also won 1st North American Sprint Ace Pigeon (OB) Div 2 and several other positions in the championships; 3rd Overall North American Ace Old Bird Div 2 was won by Rob & Kevin O’Leary, flying as the O’Leary Boys. The brothers were also 1st North American Long Distance Ace Pigeon (OB). And another flier in the area, flying about ten miles short, John Marles, flying as Marles & Evans, won 2nd North American Sprint Ace Pigeon (OB) Division 2, 3rd North American Ace Young Bird Loft Division 2, and a couple of other awards.

I visited Laurie, along with two friends, Tom Crawford and Bob Debatt, on a beautiful, sunny, Florida afternoon. We were impressed by his two professionally built racing lofts, which are typical “Belgian style” lofts with wood floor grates, self cleaning nest boxes, sliding dowel doors, and nice wooden decks across the front of the lofts. The widowhood loft has 32 nest boxes, but usually houses only 24 cocks, while the yb loft has 96 perches and houses a team of from 75 to 80 young birds for racing.

The lofts are very well ventilated thru windows, vents along the floor line, front and back, and is aided by large electric ceiling fans. There is no dust, dampness, or pigeon smell. The large windows in front of both lofts also enable plenty of sunlight to enter. Both lofts provide an ideal atmosphere for Laurie’s birds. He says the loft is your first step to becoming a successful flier.
Laurie’s breeding loft is a large, metal, “shed loft” behind one of the flying lofts. Its not quite as pleasant looking as the other lofts, but it works…. It has 15 nest-boxes at each end, and two sections to hold extra birds and birds for sale. Next to the racing lofts there are ten individual walk-in breeding pens, each housing a special breeding pair.

Laurie handed us several extraordinary breeders emanating from the strains of S & D Verkerk (NL), the Leen Boers (NL), and the Canadian Sylvan Loft Gaby Vandenabeeles (B). All had bred winners for him and were wonderful specimens in the hand.
Laurie’s Double North American Ace Pigeon “LITTLE CHAMP” is bred out of the well known Gaby Vandenabeele Belgian bloodlines from John Marles’ Sylvan Loft in Canada. John is an agent/partner of the well known British Myrtle Lofts of Mark & Dick Evans. Myrtle Loft has some of the best Vandenabeele pigeons in the world and in fact, has the record of producing over twenty 1st National winners!

“Little Champ’s” sire is “Sylvan Carus” son of the top breeder “Sylvan Gold Kap,” who is descended from several record birds and has “Wittenbuik” in his pedigree several times. “Little Champ’s” dam is “Sylvan Cassee” daughter of “Sylvan Laura” 1st Champion YB in Club & 1st Champion YB in the Up North Combine 2004, who also has all the great Gaby’s in her background too. She was flown by Joe Ferreira who bought his Gabys from Sylvan Lofts.
I asked Laurie how he obtained the Sylvan “Gaby” pigeons, and the breeding of his Ace Pigeon. What he related to me is a fascinating story, which teaches a good lesson:
Laurie admired the great racing record of Gaby Vandenabeele of Belgium, and the successes of John Marles/Sylvan Loft in Canada with “Gaby”



SYLVAN CARUS sire of “LITTLE CHAMP”



SYLVAN CASSEE dam of “LITTLE CHAMP”

pigeons from Mark & Dick Evans Myrtle Loft (GB). So when John Marles held an auction in Florida, he attended, hoping to obtain a few top “Gabys” for his breeding loft. He met John Marles at the auction, struck up a conversation, and asked him to suggest a pair of birds to buy. John suggested two dandies. Laurie bought the cock after some spirited bidding, but the hen went too high, into the thousands, so he bought two other young hens, with the intention of mating them both on the cock. A few months later when he tried to mate up the two hens, one turned out to be a cock…a small cock at that. Laurie didn’t like the size of the cock at all, although it did have good conformation. He finally decided not to cull it, so he called John Marles to enquire about buying two more hens. John had two sisters available out of a top breeding pair, and although the price was a little steep, Laurie bought them. When they came, one was a beauty, but the other one was a “beast,” very small and ugly. He thought of sending the ugly one back, but he remembered what the great flier Leen Boers had once told him… “Don’t worry about how a bird looks, it has nothing to do with its flying or breeding ability….Worry about performance…” So Laurie kept the “ugly little hen.” When breeding time came around the last two birds left were the little cock and the ugly he. He didn’t have a nest-box for them, so he let them nest in a corner on the floor. When their youngsters hatched and developed, one was large and one was small! He put them on the yb team and at the end of the season the little one was still there, even though it hadn’t won anything. Laurie had noticed it never seemed to be tired after a race. When he moved over the young cocks, into the yearling section, he looked at the little cock and thought to himself “I should cull you, but who knows maybe a runt can win…” Well the little checker cock became the “LITTLE CHAMP” that season, having the best performance of any pigeon on the race team! He flew eight races in the top 2% against an average of over 2000 birds per race! What’s that old saying? “Don’t judge a book by its cover!”

Laurie flies his old birds on the traditional widowhood system. He has tried “double widowhood,” but says it was too much work, although he knows the hens would win too. Someday he may fly the hens as lesbians or to the perch, which is much easier, and can be very successful.

Laurie does not use the popular “Darkness System” in Florida, as he believes it is not advantageous in Florida. Instead, he gives the ybs 24 hours of light up until the end of June. At that time the lights go off and they go on regular sunlight. They go into a heavy body moult and are in good feather by the time he begins heavy training and racing. Laurie pulls the ybs’ 9th and 10th flights and two outside tail feathers, on each side of the tail, on all of the “Classic” futurity birds, Auction Race birds, and some of the younger ybs. But Laurie says he doesn’t like to pull the flights of any of the young cocks that he thinks will be on the yearling race team. Why? He says, “You know the pulled flights come in a tiny bit shorter and most have that ‘little chip’ at the tip of the feather when pulled and grow in.”

Laurie gave us a tour of the racing lofts and the racers housed there. We handled one outstanding pigeon after another; excellent bodies, excellent feather, excellent eyes and excellent throats.
Pride of the loft today is “Little Champ,” which won the two 1st North American Ace Pigeon awards with the following record: 1st GHC 300 miles 76 lofts 1201 birds, 1st Florida Federation 100 lofts 1373 birds 1355 ypm; 5th GHC 254 m 89 lofts 1492 birds, 5th Florida Federation 116 lofts 1755 birds 1543 ypm; 11th GHC 408 m 79 lofts 1311 birds; 11th Florida Federation 109 lofts 1575 birds 1461 ypm; and 4th GHC 122 miles 93 lofts 1595 birds 1258 ypm; all in the 2009 season. The GHC is the very competitive Gulf Coast Homing Club, which has the largest membership of any club in America; over 210 members, with an average of about 90 competing in the races. In 2007 – 2008 “Little Champ” also won: 40th Greater Tampa Bay Concourse 150 m 138 L 2339 B; 41st Greater Tampa Bay Concourse 200 m 141 lofts2558 b; 46th Greater Tampa Bay Concourse 200 m 131 L 2320 b; and 49th Greater Tampa Bay Concourse 200 m 148 L 2594 b.
If you study the “Little Champ’s” pedigree, you see all the great old Gaby Vandenabeele champions in its background. These “Gabys” seem to like the Florida heat….
Laurie has bred and flown several top pigeons in Florida. He says that the “best bird” he has raced since moving to Florida is “Golden Express,” a blue cock, a son of the Leen Boers “Golden Hen” x Verkerk Cock 530 “Allessandro.” “Golden Express” won many top prizes including 1st GHC 1st Tampa Bay Concourse 250 m 124 L 1895 b, and is now proving to be a potent breeder. Laurie says that much of his success has come from crossing on his “base Boers line.” That is the line that he won the prestigious “San Diego Classic” one loft race with. “Top Contender,” a BC, is a Boers x Van Loon cross that was Lauri’s best young bird and yearling racer, winning many top prizes, but






was lost on a tough 500 mile race; Laurie laments, “I should have never sent him……..one race too many”

Some of his other top racers were: “Mr Consistent,” another blue Leen Boers cock, which flew 8 races in obs, all in the top 5%; the “Lake City Cock,” a blue Verkerk cock, 1st GHC 1st Tampa Bay Concourse 125 m 140 L 2295 b; and the “Louisville Cock,” another blue Verkerk cock, 1st GHC 300 m 85 L 1777 b.
The Verkerks have amazing pedigrees. They are bred around the many Dutch National Ace Pigeons flown by S & G Verkerk (NL) over the years. Laurie has several Verkerk imports, including several record birds. Very nice pigeons.
I talked to Laurie about many facets of our sport. I asked him about his feeding methods. What he said was most interesting:
“Feeding is one of the most mystifying aspects of racing our pigeons. ‘There are many roads to Rome.’ I’ve flown in Rochester, New York for 50 years, and now in Florida for ten years. I’ve tried more than a few feeding methods.
When I flew in Rochester, New York one of the most successful long-distance fliers was an old friend named George Steger. He either won or was close to winning almost every race from 400 miles (650 km) to 600 miles (1000 km). I visited him often, and he fed whatever he could get cheaply when he went to the feed store; cracked corn, red wheat, green peas, etc. It didn’t matter to George or to his pigeons! Meanwhile I paying top dollar for the best Philadelphia racing feed, heavy in maple peas and corn. I won my share, but never had the record George had at the distance…..”
I said to Laurie, “ I remember reading about your racing successes many, many years ago in the old American Racing Pigeon Bulletin, so tell me a little more about your methods.”
“ During most of my years in Rochester, New York I used the light to heavy feeding method. Light feed with barley, then the heavier flying feed with maples and corn, Wednesday night until Friday shipping; Tuesday – Thursday for the long races.
In 1993 that all changed. My wife died in ’93 and I kind of lost interest in the pigeons and life in general…. I had been flying widowhood , but now I just left the birds natural (nesting) and gave them open loft all day, every day. I filled their hopper with an inexpensive, general pigeon feed, and topped up the water fountains every day, basically ignoring the birds. I didn’t train them, but flew them every week. I had the new Benzing ATIS electronic timer, so went golfing and came home to find the birds already in the loft. I would call around and many times no one had clocked yet! I won many ob races by 15 – 20 minutes!”
“Wow Laurie, the birds ate as much as they wanted, what they wanted, when they wanted. They flew around the loft when they wanted, for as long as they wanted, for the sheer love of flying….”
“Yes.”
“But what about racing in Florida, where the race course and the climate are so different from New York?”
“Tom, Florida is a different thing entirely. For the first two years I tried the Rochester method of light to heavy feeding, with no results. I placed well in some races, losing one by 4 seconds, but generally my results were not satisfactory. Some fliers told me ‘No corn in Florida.’ I modified my feeding method a little, and over the next few seasons won a 200 – 300 mile race in every series. I still fed light to heavy, but on Friday I now give them a light feeding of high protein small seed, or none at all for the short races, 100 – 150 miles.”
What other things do you do because of the climate here?”
“In our hot, humid climate, hydration is as important as proper feeding. I give the racers a combination of vitamins and electrolytes on Wednesday or Thursday depending when we are shipping. In addition, on the day of shipping I take the water away after a light feeding in the morning and put it back before I crate the birds to go to the club.”

Laurie also says you must have a well ventilated, healthy loft; the best management, no matter what system you use; natural health products; and use as little medicine as possible. But if you don’t have the best pigeons, it is all for naught…. All the methods in the world will not win races without extraordinary pigeons. Laurie McConnell has shown the expertise, and he also has those extraordinary pigeons……..
Congratulations Laurie McConnel. You are one of the outstanding 2009 North American Aces!

To Be Continued………………….









McConnell lofts in “Little Belgium,” Spring Hill, Florida, USA



Both birds, McConnell Leen Boers








McConnell training crate which is rolled up to an opening in the loft, and the birds walked in.




McConnell loft inside. Note ceiling fan for increased ventilation.



Laurie and imported Europen nest boxes inside his loft.




Laurie McConnell showing Tom Crawford, a local flier, the racing loft.




Ventilation rear & front of the McConnell loft in Florida.



Inside one of the yb sections. Photos by Tom Smith.


Laurie holding his top race “Top Contender” which was lost at 500 m.


Laurie holding Verkerk breeding cock Emotion. McConnell lofts.