Endurance Breeding Centre Europe

The idea for Endurance Breeding Centre Europe (Endurance Pigeons) was one I had been considering for a few years. I became hooked on the idea of competing in the grandest race of them all (Barcelona) and I came to the conclusion that best way to achieve positive results is to acquire predominantly Belgian and Dutch pigeons that had showed considerable strength and determination to finish in the top 10 of the International result, when racing conditions were at their hardest. It is my belief that, in order to win the Barcelona International (and I do mean win) the UK and Irish fanciers must obtain the strongest bloodlines that they can possibly get and then take those pigeons to another level and improve upon the work of their previous masters. No mean feat, but nothing is impossible.

We often watch the very best blood drift to the usual studs in mainland Europe or disappear altogether from our grasp by being sent out to Asia. I resolved myself to breaking the cycle and to making the blood of the very best Barcelona and Marathon pigeons available to whomever wishes to invest in them, wherever they are in the world.

We have been fortunate enough to be working very closely with the Herbots family in Belgium. It will be well known among the fancy that the Herbots family have been at the forefront of various disciplines in racing over the decades and they have a particularly strong association in obtaining the best blood possible, not least at the extreme distances. It is by working closely with Jo Herbots and the team that we have been able to acquire what we believe to be a quite staggering line-up of pigeons in such a short space of time, considering that we only began the venture in February 2018 with the first secured stock bird.

The Herbots family are hugely respected all over the globe and we are very pleased to have such a good relationship with them. Recently, I was delighted to meet Hugo Batenburg and Nikolaas Gyselbrecht at the PIPA Elite Centre, where we arranged to purchase two children of ‘New Laureaat’. Hugo was kind enough to personally select a batch for us and give us the time and space to make our final selections from these. With my father Kevin’s 50 years of experience (for those that know him they will concur that he is the most ruthless selector you will meet) combined with my own 20 years of experience, we were delighted to be coming away with what we believe will only enhance the blood we have.

We are located in North Norfolk, England, near to King’s Lynn. In fact, one of my closest competitors is Her Majesty the Queen only a couple of miles down the road and I am delighted to be a member of her club. I have particularly enjoyed racing at club level in order to prepare and compete in the National races and was delighted to achieve a National 1st Open win in 2013. As mentioned, the birds we breed are available to anyone who wishes to buy them. We will be racing the lines ourselves over the next few years, but do not begrudge anyone near or far from accessing this fantastic resource of pigeons. I truly believe we have catapulted to somewhere near the top in Europe, let alone the UK, for extreme distance bloodlines with no less than 3 top 10 International Barcelona cocks, one of which was 1st National Holland this year in one of the hardest editions with head winds and high temperatures.

We have chatted to a few of the aforementioned connections regarding shared breeding programs and this is something that could realistically happen in the very near future to ensure the best and most up to date bloodlines continue to flow through the stud. Aside from this, we are determined to continue to buy the very best bloodlines that become available each year.

At home, we have the expertise of my father to call upon and some more people behind the scenes keeping us at the forefront of the sport and working hard to obtain the very best.

Jim has kindly offered to support us in our venture by selecting for us pigeons that have the bloodlines well proven in these islands to help strengthen the project.

We are extremely proud of our principle birds as we know just how hard we fought people from all over the world in order to obtain them. ‘’Barcelona El Cid’’ was obtained during the summer of 2018 having just won 1st Dutch National and 4th International Barcelona in one of the most difficult races and seasons on record. Constant east and north east winds and searing heat meant that a National win into Holland was going to be achieved by an extremely strong bird. We spared no expense at bringing him to our centre and saw off rival bids from the very biggest names.

Now in this auction off “Barcelona Special” we present you the first youngsters of “Barcelona El Cid”. A very unique offer from this new super marathon loft.

Click here for the movie of "El Cid's Laureaat"

Click here for the movie of "El Campeador Laureaat"

‘’Conquistador’’ was 2nd Belgian National and 5th International in 2016. Again, this was a tremendously hard race, with only 7 pigeons achieving a velocity over 1100 metres per minute. ‘’Conquistador’’ comes form the 5 years Ace Barcelona Loft in Belgium of Lieven Buelens. He has been twice second National and has numerous top 20 and top 100 positions in National and International Barceolna races. Think Barcelona, think Lieven Buelens! The cock is an absolute joy to behold for the distance fancier. Long wings, beutifully long tail and a tremendous specimen of a pigeon. It is no surprise that he performed so well as a mere two year old in such a difficult race.

Also in this fantastic auction we present you 2 youngsters of “Conquistador”. The famous 2nd Nat Barcelona winner from Lieven Buelens in very hard conditions.

Click here for the movie of "Conquistador's Son 848"

Click here for the movie of "Conquistador Shadow 523"

‘’Second Speedy’’ has a racing record as long as your arm! This beautiful cock’s achievements at National and International level were crowned with a 5th Dutch National Barcelona and a 10th International in 2017. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg! Below is his outstanding record. There are not many of these pigeons in the world and his father was also a top performer!

5th Nat. Barcelona'17 4,504 p. and 10th Int. 17,026 p.
15th Nat. Dax 8,398 p.
60th Nat. Tarbes 4,670 p.
91st Nat. Bergerac 4,663 p.
180th Nat. Cahors 10,624 p
427th Nat. St. Vincent 9,757 p.
793rd Nat. Dax 4,616 p.
914th Nat. St. Vincent 6,169 p.
1141st Nat. Tarbes 5,392 p.
1472nd Nat. St. Vincent 6,228 p
Son of ''Speedy Bang'' 2. Nat Dax and 15.Nat St. Vincent

What a racer on the extreme long distance races is this “Second Speedy”. It is a honour to have 2 super quality youngsters of this racer in the internet auction. He was coupled with a tophen of Arjan Beens and with a hen of Janssens – Hausoul. These are 2 famous loft on the marathon races from the Netherlands.

Click here for the movie of "The Red Domoulin II"

Click here for the movie of "Speedy Jan 515"

The birds at Endurance Pigeons will be given fulltime care and attention by me. I have taken up the stud full time and relinquished my teaching career in order to focus on my passion. We have erected a beautiful facility with some state of the art heating and lighting features, with no expense spared in order to breed the best quality youngsters possible and keep the breeders in the optimum condition. We employ a ‘’bull’’ system where we float the eggs away to foster parents for the rearing. This keeps the stud birds fresh all year and they are rewarded with rearing a nest later in the year. We have a plethora of top quality daughters of Ace pigeons and Winners in order that we keep the hens in cycle and never pull extra eggs out of them. They also receive a mid season break and post season break. I am a great believer that the key to strong youngsters is healthy parents.

Buelens Kim