Sunny Lofts – a top class family of winning pigeons

After a lengthy break from pigeon racing and working in Australia for a Year on my return setting up my business in the building industry would take up all my spare time. A start back in pigeons was by chance visiting a friend he asked would I like to handle one of my old birds again. I did and that day was to mark the beginning of my return.

This was in the mid-nineties with no loft and no pigeons a small loft was to be erected at my parents house and then the purchase of the initial stock various birds were sought out but the more I read the name Janssens stood out and so I purchased Some, these were of the world famous Bange lines and zero 19.

The basis of every success is birds with notable performances capable Of passing on the winning gene First of all birds had to fly and compete under my own management both old Birds and young the Darkness system has never been used.

A break through came with 89/47602 that was to set a corner stone In the breeding loft for many generations purchased as a six year old she bred winners against strong Competition on a week to week basis against between 1500-5000 birds.

Working with a small team of 16 birds and limited accommodation every bird had to perform and give a 100% no names or strains would protect birds from elimination should they have failed to perform.

A bright start “The first season” 1993

Flying in only six races the above results won the coveted trophy award performance winner for the whole country. These birds laid a sound foundation for sunny lofts and further top results would follow. After a short period racing a house move was to curtail racing for the next two Seasons.

Starting Again from the old location

Getting back top performances with a small team was the goal working with the original Base birds would assure this and again the birds would prove There cast iron breeding ability.

Performances came quickly enough:

• 3rd,5th federation 4400 birds. 1st championship club
• 1st,2nd,3rd,12th federation 2665 birds. 1st championship
• 11th,13th federation 3900 birds.
• 12th federation 3161 birds.
• 5th,11th,32nd in open competition etc.

A Golden Period

Many more top performances were to be won:

International racing

Then a big break through after reading in the pigeon magazine a new concept of pigeon racing was taking place One loft racing this was just the Challenge I was looking for.

Now I could test my birds against the worlds best a true test of endurance managed under different regimes in another country.

The race I chose was the greatest pigeon race in the World. The Million Dollar pigeon race in South Africa.

On my first entry I won 1st Section 10th open in the final race Flying 615km against the worlds best winning $10,000 1998.

This result was to prove that the breeding lines was good what was now required was patience to build and shape the family.

Another move

After continued success at my parents another house move this time to get married and have a family this was a difficult period for racing my business was taking up more and more of my time as was the family so very limited racing would take place further to this I took up office in a senior capacity at federation level.

An opportunity arose for us to move to our existing house which is in the countryside through all my time working I never lost site of the birds but the initial stock was getting older and I knew new blood was required to revitalise my base stock that had served me so well.

The Next Step “A new dimension”

To compete at the highest level against the Worlds best in International one loft racing this would require birds with that extra factor not losing site of my own base I have with an extra dedication built a team of birds capable of up to date top performances.

Lets now look at some of the birds that have shaped the family. Read more…