Alistair Hogg, Sunny Lofts
“Described by many as the Coming Man”
No holds barred for the success story
For no one better than Alistair Hogg for he is certainly one of the new generation in the pigeon sport.
Where Alistair competes, most dare not even send!!
Year after year one top result follows another, a superb family of pigeons … almost like in a fairy tail.
Please enjoy this journey through Alistair’s treasure trove of magnificent pigeons and an insight into the mind of this modern day fancier.
The inexhaustible series of successes from Alistair keeps on going on and on . . .for him and also for other fanciers that have obtained his pigeons looking for the extra kilometres that will assist them getting to the winners podium of which there are but a few places.
Year after year he keeps pushing his pigeons to new boundaries astonishing the world races by listing magnificent results.
By breeding from Top winners and Ace birds of all disciplines and by winning the most important championships one can see that Alistair is on the right track, Indeed an example of this is winning the Championship club 22 times this equally with old and young birds.
Alistair’s pigeons are the living evidence of top quality, a total dedication for the birds, a fancier who will not carry passengers in his small team of quality pigeons, Combine this with the skills of a top fancier makes him different than the ‘average’ fancier . . .
Several years winner many times of the Federation/provincial
Results say it all.
1st 3245b 1st 3325b 1st 2352b 1st 3826b 1st 1682b 1st 4445b 1st 2127 1st 2665 1st 1720b
1st 4262b 1st 1349b 1st 1950b 1st 2755b
2nd 2384b 2nd 1348b 2nd 3940b 2nd 2896b 2nd 2665b 2nd 1720b 2nd 3510b 2nd 3826b 2nd 4445b 2nd 2693b 2nd 3512b2nd 1491b 2nd 860b
3rd 2434b 3rd 2657b 3rd 2665b 3rd 3826b 3rd 1892b 3rd 3851b 3rd 4417b 3rd 3339b 3rd 2061b
4th 1538b 4th 1368b 4th 2384b 4th 1950b 4th 4262b 4th 2863b 4th 4445b
5th 1538b 5th 3826b 5th 3510b 5th 4600b 6th 1644b 6th 2981b 6th 3940b 6th 4262b 6th 2352b
7th 3591b 7th 4262b 7th 3970b 7th 3851b 7th 3245b 7th 3826b 7th 3851b 7th 3129b
8th 2499b 8th 1507b 9th 4262b 9th 3970b 9th 3512b 9th 2061b
10th 3591b 10th 4600b 10th 2059b 10th 2863b 10th 3315b 10th 1637b 10th 1368b
11th 1507b 11th 2981b11th 2434b 11th 3564b 11th 2657b 11th 2061b 11th 2755b
12th 4714b 3752b 12th 2665b 12th 3467b 12th 3161b 12th 4600b 12th 3564b 12th 2061b
13th 1491b 13th 1520b13th 2434b 13th 3245b 13th 4023b
14th 2191b 14th 1936b 14th 3752b 14th 2755b 14th 2473b 14th 2352b 14th 4023b
14th 3339b 15th 3564b 15th 3464b 15th 4023b 15th 3566b 15th 1752b 15th 1865b
15th 3331b 16th 3431b 16th 2434 b16th 2384b 16th 1520b 17th 1105b 17th 2981b
18th 2931b 19th 1520b 20th 1720b
Alistair has raced with cocks as well as hens (On his own unique system), and with success.
Only a surplus of extreme high quality birds can make such a dream come true.
And this unique quality Alistair treasures with the whole of his heart and soul.
With the legendary lines of the old Janssen, Hofken’s, at the base of his strain, he has certainly left many thousands of pigeons in his wake leaving behind the heavy competition pondering how can this be with a fancier with such a small team of pigeons.
For many this would be the finishing line but for Alistair it’s but just the start, Alistair feels there is more work to be done and the building process has begun on an already secure foundation.
The Alistair Hogg success story is going on and on and on. And with the dedication this young pigeon fancier brings to broad daylight, the end of Alistair’s fairytale is not in sight for a long time . . . Still all his success is based on Alistair building a unique strain that proved to be ready for new challenges in this new millennium of pigeon racing.
A strain that will prove to be able to stand the teeth of time and will in time become a household word in pigeon world.
Alistair Hogg’s strain on its way for the journey ahead.
From 1993 Alistair won all he wanted to win!! And with only so few birds on his lofts, eventually possessing so much quality, we haven’t heard the last of this young champion yet!! For this we believe that the strain Alistair Hogg will have an impact on pigeon racing from Europe to Asia, even longer than his name will do . . . Alistair will not rest until the making of this is successfully completed.
In a block:
1st 457b 1st 520b 1st 203b 1st 114b 1st 523b 1st 389b 1st 332 b 1st 385b 1st 285b 1st 222b
1st 312b 1st 295b 1st 245b 1st 120b 1st 298b 1st 240b 1st 193b 1st 324b 1st 217b 1st 198b
1st 234b 1st 203b 1st 142b 1st 217b 1st 254b 1st 339b 1st 375b 1st 311b 1st 264b 1st 165b
1st 323b 1st 309b 1st 276b 1st 377b 1st 260b 1st 228b
2nd 285b 2nd 365b 2nd 442b 2nd 254b 2nd 173b 2nd 141b 2nd170b 2nd 111b 2nd 247b
2nd 203b 2nd 457b 2nd 377b 2nd 260b 2nd 264b 2nd 443b 2nd 193b 2nd 406b 2nd 385b
2nd 198b 2nd 510b 2nd 301b 2nd 438b 2nd 323b 2nd 389b 2nd 355b 2nd 426b
2nd 265b 2nd 359b 2nd 189b 2nd 165b 2nd 142b 2nd 91b
3rd 285b 3rd 339b 3rd 169b 3rd 300b 3rd 375b 3rd 142b
3rd 176b3rd 203b 3rd 221b 3rd 324b 3rd 323b 3rd 475b
3rd 510b 3rd 523b 3rd 260b 3rd 334b 3rd 168b 3rd 276b
3rd 413b 3rd 298b 3rd 443b 3rd 222b 3rd 377b 3rd 91b
4th 520b 4th 406b 4th 389b 4th 380b 4th 457b 4th 315b 4th 193b 4th 378b 4th 277b
4th 222b 4th 228b 4th 469b 4th 475b 4th 168b 4th 413b 4th 350b 4th 342b 4th 276b
4th 377b 4th 334b 4th 245b 4th 443b 4th 328b 4th 277b 4th 323b 4th 252b 4th 203b
4th 285b 4th 375b 4th 365b 4th 226 b 4th 142b 4th 269b 4th 111b 4th 203b 5th 285b
5th 217b 298b 5th 260b 5th 332b 5th 311b 5th 228b 5th 323b 5th 168b
6th 224b 6th 442b 6th 339b 6th 285b 6th 388b 6th 385b 6th 298b 6th 469b 6th 377b 6th 334b
6th 406b 6th 222b 6th 189b 6th 342b 6th 443b 7th 260b 7th 388b 7th 413b 7th 277b
7th 245b 8th 228b 8th 260b 8th 120b 8th 277b 8th 168b 9th 413b 9th 365b 9th 168b
10th 385b 10th 413b 10th 168b 11th 334b 11th 457b 11th 600b 11th 385b 12th 365b
12th 298b 12th 457b 13th 385b 13th 328b
Superb collection of 1st prize winners!!!
At a glance some top pigeons
“Jayzee” 01-24056 World producing hen with different cocks
Dam to 1st open south west one loft race 2008 plus 3rd Ace pigeon
Dam of 2nd open Europa classic race final rac e 300 miles plus 3rd Ace pigeon
Dam to 99th open Europa classic flying 300 miles and 10th Ace pigeon 2006
g/dam to 31st open Emerald classic race 2008
g/dam to 25th open RPRA one-loft race 2008
g/dam to 4th open hot spot race South West classic race 2008
g/dam to 8th prize million dollar race
g/dam to 10th open 3736b, 251st hot spot 2, 145th hot spot 1 million dollar 2008
g/dam to 4 x 2nd, 2 x 4th open 15th,25th, 30th open all international races.
g/dam to 1st open Odenworld derby final race Germany 2009
g/dam to 3rd open Europa classic hot-spot 2009
g/dam to 1st prize 2-bird challenge Odenworld derby race Germany 2009
g/dam to 4th open hot spot South-West one-loft race 2009
g/dam to 64th open German open one-loft race “Freiberg” 2009
g/dam to 4th Ace pigeon overall Europa classic 2009
g/dam to 16th open Europa classic final race 2009
g/dam to 12th open Hot-spot RPRA one loft race 2009
g/dam to 13th open “Offenberg” Odenworld Derby Germany 2009
g/dam to 71st open “Ettlingen” Odenworld Derby Germany 2009
g/dam to 75th open “Rastatt” Odenworld derby Germany 2009
g/dam to 54th open Galway one-loft race 1, 2009
g/g/dam to 1st open hot-spot Europa Classic 2009
g/g/dam to 9th open Europa classic Final race 2009
g/g/dam to 7th Ace pigeon overall Europa classic 2009
g/g/dam to 17th Ace pigeon Emerald classic overall races 2009
g/g/dam to 1st Sing Buri Thailand 2010
g/g/dam to 45th open Kings cup final race, Thailand 560km
g/g/dam to 57th open hot spot 3 450km Thailand 2010
g/g/dam to 34th open Hot spot 2 350km Thailand 2010
g/g/dam to 96th open Hot spot 1 310km Thailand 2010
Dam to Aniversary Girl,West Tip, Kara, Lynx, Ntar, Angel, ETS, Macro etc..
For further information refer to www.sunnylofts.co.uk
A foundation stock hen of which to build.
“Zen” 05-2582
Sire to 18th prize German open Final race “Wroclaw” 2009**
g/sire to 2nd open Europa classic hot-spot race 2009
g/sire to 3rd open Europa classic hot-spot race 2009
g/sire to 4th Ace pigeon overall Europa classic 2009
g/sire to 13th prize German open one-loft race “Bautzen” 2009
g/sire to 31st prize German open Final race “Wroclaw” 2009**
g/sire to 2x`1st prize winners 2009
g/sire to 16th open final race Europa classic 2009
g/sire to 13th open Europa classic hot-spot race 2009
g/sire to 111th prize German open one-loft race “Freiberg” 2009
“Zen” son of “Combine cock” winner of 3 x 1st club, 2 x 2nd club, 2 x 1st federation 2x 2nd federation, 1st combine 2325b, 5th combine 2999b, 6th combine 3190b when paired onto the “Janssen hen”
Hofkens 291”
Cheq Hen winner of 1st club,1st section,49th open 8219 birds sister to 1st club 23rd section 24th open National 3000 birds,1st club 17th section 37th open 5422 birds,20th section 80th open 16880 birds,1st club 1st section 7th open 22489 birds all bred from top stock pair 443/495 which bred also 6/1st club 141st open 13081birds, 16th section,49th open 25641 birds,6th section 42nd open 25172 birds,1st section 49th open 8219 birds,17th section 37th open 5422 birds this from the old Janssen base
06-04351 “Hofkens 351”
Cheq Cock winner of 1st club 1st section 7th open 25350 birds 2nd club 23rd section 60th open 10235 birds,4th club 27th section 121st open 14890 birds Top Stock cock bred “West Tip” 1st open winner South West One loft Race 2008 3rd Ace pigeon also 21st open. Same way bred as “351” have won 25th open 14890 birds,1st club 1st section 3rd open 16880 birds,6th section 26th open 6762 birds,46th section 156th open 26474 birds,5th section 86th open 8219 birds plus many other open positions Hofkens/Janssens.
08-627 “West Tip”
Cheq Cock winner of 1st Open Winner South West One Loft Race 2008 winning £4000.00 plus 3rd “Ace” pigeon for the whole series plus open
Sire “Hofkens 351” winner 1st club 1st section 7th open 25350 birds,2nd club 23rd section 60th open 10235 birds,4th club 27th section 121st open 14890 birds.
Dam is “Jayzee” Golden Producer dam to 2nd open Europa one loft race winning £15000.00 + 3rd “Ace” Pigeon award 2005,3rd open Hot spot 99th open Europa Classic main race + 10th “Ace” pigeon overall 2006 1200 birds at 300 miles,g/dam to 31st open Emerald Classic race 2008,g/dam to “Monarch” winner of 8th prize Hot spot 3 million dollar pigeon race 2008 winning $1000.00 also 10th open 3736 birds,251st open Hot spot 2, 3883 birds,145th open Hot spot 1, 3919 birds and g/dam to 25th open RPRA one loft race 2008,g/dam to 4th open Hot spot South West One Loft race 2008 plus 4/2nd open,2/4th open,15th open,25th open,30th open all in International one loft Racing.
95-8636 “Champion 36”
Cheq cock base stock cock winner of 5/1st club 1st federation at 225 miles 50ypm clear,Sire to 35th Open million dollar race 610km winning £1850.00,g/sire to 36th open 8th “Ace” pigeon Europa race 2007,g/sire to 86th open Europa Race 300 miles,top breeder with his sister “122” bred 37/1st club,21/1st federation,8/1st sprint ch/club,4/1st open,1st,4th,6th,8th,11th,21st combine up to 4673 birds,+ 37/2nd,21/3rd club,16/2nd,11/3rd federation,7/2nd sprint ch/club plus 38 further positions in first 20 in federation.
This is one of the old stock bears of the loft fantastic for head winds.
09-357 Cheq Hen “Ailsa”
Dam of 1st Sing Buri Thailand 2010
Dam of 45th open Kings cup final race, Thailand 560km 2010.
Dam of 57th open hot spot 3 450km Thailand 2010
Dam of 34th open Hot spot 2 350km Thailand 2010
Dam of 96th open Hot spot 1 310km Thailand 2010
Sire of Ailsa is “Sebo” full brother to World producer “Jayzee”
Sire to 2nd open International “Europa classic”
Sire to 3rd “Ace” pigeon
g/sire to 1st open “Odenworld derby final race Germany 2009
g/sire to 5th open hot-spot Europa classic 2009
g/g/sire to 1st open hot-spot race Europa 2009
g/sire to 13th open “Offenberg” odenworld derby Germany 2009
g/sire to 31st open “Wroclaw” final race German-open 2009**
g/g/sire to 7th Ace pigeon overall Europa Classic 2009
g/g/sire to 9th open Europa classic final race 2009
g/g/sire to 19th open Emerald classic 2009
g/sire to 71st Open “Ettlingen” Odenworld derby race 2009
g/sire to 75th open “Rastatt” Odenworld derby race 2009
Dam of “Ailsa” is full sister to “West Tip” 1st open International
From “Hofkens 351” Champion racer/producer x World Producer “Jayzee” dam of 1st International, 2nd International, g/dam to 1st International and a legacy of other International performers.
04-3498 “National Express”
Top racer producer
Sire to 1st National , 1st Section, 2×1st Federation,7th Combine 4696 birds
Sire to 1st Sing Buri Thailand 2010
Sire to 45th open Kings cup final race, Thailand 560km
Sire to 57th open hot spot 3 450km Thailand 2010
Sire to 34th open Hot spot 2 350km Thailand 2010
Sire to 96th open Hot spot 1 310km Thailand 2010
G/Sire to 67th open Tyani one-loft race china 2010
National express line bred to 1st National 31428b,1st National 59908b,1st National 22400b,1st National 38234b, 1st 11500b, 1st 29920b, 1st 16308b, 1st 23441b, and many open one-loft race birds.
Line of Gaby Vandenebelle.
More extraordinary pigeons are housed in his stock loft described as a pack of “Aces” which include Club, Federation, National, International, Olympic, Championship bloodlines for all possibilities.
A dedicated fancier with own methods
Total widowhood
In 2008 for the first time Alistair used his own widowhood system. And it turned out very well.
He continued it with great success… Though mistakes have been made!
Some remarks:
- All hens are situated in separate section where they were wintered.(in front of the cocks)
- Hens and cocks are fed in a similar way (feeding up until the basketing day)
- Cocks and hens are in different lofts.
- The racers always get to see their partner before basketing and are separated the day after returning home.
- Cock and hen birds are entered on a basketing day.
- A lot of small seeds are given. Every day about 10 grams a bird. Returning home from a race, the birds get Electrolites.
- Alistair likes good hygiene: However the immunity system gets also its challenges put before it and only the strongest shall survive.
- Not every bird is suitable for this system, some of them would probably race better paired on the nest, this has not been practised but maybe in the future.
Alistair is really enthusiastic about racing this system. The quality of the hens can be more easily judged in this way.
Racing a small team the fancier has a great opportunity to find the quality of the hens as these are the back bone of every body’s loft.
Alistair pairs his racers in January or as the weather dictates No lights or heaters are used.
When the youngsters are approximately fifteen days old, they move to the young birds loft together with the hens.
The cock birds are sitting alone at that point.
On the first short distance race the youngsters are about fifteen days old.
Two rounds of youngsters are reared by the racers in some cases each year it changes there have been no significant advantages or disadvantages for doing this..
If the weather is not too good, the cocks and hens stay together, with good weather they are separated.
In that case the cock birds rear two youngsters, especially yearling cock birds must rear as they get better attached to their nest box in that way.
Every year Alistair breeds one round of youngsters to end the season these are in most cases special pairings for the purpose of future stock.
He thinks that is very important for the future of the loft.
Trend
Many fanciers cure the birds with a preventative against paratyphus injection in winter.
Alistair does not do that as one year he had a bad experience in doing this and it won’t be repeated.
All his birds get a canker cure before the breeding season or when they are on eggs, this I believe is very important.
He treats the birds with a product based on Ronidasol 10%. During the racing season all racing birds (cocks and hens) get a canker tablet every three weeks.
When they arrive from the race and every following Sunday morning he uses a product to clean them out this is in the drinking water.
Next to that every Tuesday or Wednesday some vitamins is in the drinking water during the racing season.
Only when Alistair feels the health is in doubt of the birds, he takes them to a veterinary surgeon. ,,
I am not that naive to think that good birds never get ill, because that just is not the case!!
Even a top bird can become ill.’’
But its better to get on top of something before it gets on top of the loft!!!!!!!!
Observation of the fancier must play its part here.
Training
Alistair’s old birds only train once a day once in the morning and once in the afternoon as this is the time he has.
In the beginning you may have to flag them to get them going but once they know the system this keep’s them in the air as there fitness increases, but after a week they train about an hour totally unforced. At the end of the training the lofts are opened and it is playtime; they can fly in and out the loft than.
The cocks get to train after the hens, from 6.00 o’clock until 7.00 o’clock. In liberating them, five minutes either way more or less is not a problem.
In the beginning of the season the birds are taken for training many times to get them in the right condition, always to the same spot, about 23 kilometres’ away.
As young bird’s they are already taken to this place, Alistair does not look at the weather circumstances too much when liberating them. A small shower will not harm the birds. When youngsters are only trained at home, they play around more and do not really train!
Alistair therefore takes them for a short distance, they will train like they race on Saturdays and they fly around several times faster than if they are just touring around the loft.
Taking them away several times teaches them the system.
Feeding system
Alistair’s pigeons get mainly versele Laga mixtures,(without pellets) No reason for this other than still the old system always worked great for Alistair.
On short distance the birds are fed a light mixture in the beginning of the week and up until the basketing day the mixture is getting a bit heavier.
The last two short distance races they get all they can eat, because longer distance’s is coming.
On these races and on the programme races the birds are able to eat as much as they want and the feeding tray remains in the loft for about half an hour until an hour.
Then the food is removed what they will not eat, is thrown away.
As the birds come home from a race, they get electrolytes (Glucose) in the drinking water.
Besides this a lot of natural products are used and vitamins and amino acids.
Grit and minerals are available always.
Youngsters
The youngsters are trained as much as is possible or as the weather dictates.
Please note and Alistair forces this point his youngsters have never been on the darkness system.
For the one loft races Alistair say’s this is a different matter.
His results are a testament to that.
International One-loft Race Results
2 x 1st open Final races
10 x 1st section Internationa
2 x 1st Hot-spot races
9 x Ace pigeons within first 10
26 positions between 1st-10th open
75 Positions between 10th-50th open
58 positions between 50th-100th open
119 positions between 100th-200th open
1 x 1st 2-bird challenge
Racing from Europe to Asia
Motivation
You use tricks with the widowers?
‘I sometimes do, yes. I might give them another hen once in a while or put in a few perches in the loft. The last races the hens get to spend some more time with the cock birds before the race and I sometimes put some tobacco-stems in the loft. I also let them fly around together, but that is about all.
All that is said and done its Quality pigeons managed by a motivated fancier!!!!!!
“Its Results that count and that should be the only bench mark everything else is secondary”.
More information can be viewed at Sunnylofts.co.uk
Or e-mail Alistair directly on alistair.hogg7@virgin.net
For further archive information on the family of birds click here.