Gerard Koopman (Ermerveen) ... the unique power of a unique strain of winning birds

When speaking with Gerard about his base, it is very striking how respectfully he speaks about the late Jules Rijckaert (St. Amandsberg) and the late Louis Van Loon (Poppel). Gerard had a very special click with Louis. So good, in fact, that he dares to call him his teacher without hesitation. Louis Van Loon, modest as a human being, did not blow his trumpet, but everything he said was well thought out and based on years of experience. The master from Poppel always stayed close to the basic principles that were very important in his eyes. No highfalutin theories. For example, he never showed a result, not even when he showed the competitors all corners of the room. Much of that good advice has resurfaced in recent years. Most of it is about simple things. But they have to be done well. Often it only dawned years later what Louis' statements really meant.

“Gentil” x “Golden Lady”

One of the most spectacular breeding couples the pigeon sport has known so far, namely "Gentil" x "Golden Lady", is a creation of grand master Gerard. Olympiad pigeon 'Gentil', a Janssen-van Loon cock formed together with 'Golden Lady', a daughter of the 'Cannibal' of Dirk and Louis Van Dyck, a pair which until today has been of enormous influence. With Gerard himself, but not least with a range of top fanciers who reaped the benefits. Still the best pigeons in Ermerveen are related to that famous couple.
"Gentil" is a son of "Eric" (3x 1st in big combine), in turn a son of "Raket 84" x "van Loon 112". And "Raket 84" is a son of the "Jonge Raket van '76" of Gebr. Janssen who won no less than 15 first prizes. The mother of "Gentil" is a daughter of the "Zitter" x "van Loon 314". The "Zitter" has as mother the "Gouden Duifje" (also mother of the "Beatrixdoffer") , a daughter of the "Goed duifje van 72" (Daughter "Jonge Merckx"). An hen that won several first prizes in Arendonk. And also grandmother of the 'Jonge Raket van '76'. The hen of the basic breeding pair is 'Golden Lady', a direct daughter of the 'Cannibal' of Dirk and Louis Van Dyck, a phenomenon in middle-distance and 1st national ace ½ long distance. K.B.D.B. in 1996. And in his turn a son of 'Rambo' with 3 x 1st Semi Fond in Union Antwerpen. 

Also thanks to many other fanciers
Gerard also wants to thank numerous other fanciers who have sold him so much quality. Gerard explains: "The problem is that this list has become so long over the course of 15 years that I am afraid of forgetting someone. I apologise for not mentioning the other fanciers by name but I will mention the story of "Super Rik". During a visit to Belgium, I asked Rik Hermans if he knew a good pigeon somewhere. Rik mentioned the pigeon of Herman van Sande who won that year two provincials and I went to see him. I liked the pigeon and also the good family appeared to be present. It became an exceptional breeder.”

The lesson of this story is that very good racers are not always sufficient in the first line for breeding. But that the children and grandchildren can be fantastic breeders. The advice of Louis van Loon at the time was to always place two children of real cracks directly on the breeding loft. 

Results racing season  2021

23-05 Sourdun  (528 km): 2,4,6,7,8,14,16,19 against 5,502b.
06-06 Sens (566 km) 1,2,4,5,8,10,12,18   against 4,995b.
-  at this race "Sifan" won with a 20 minutes lead.
19-06 Lorris (621 km): 6,21,23,25,26 against 2,372b
03-07 Issoudun (730 km): 2,3,5,6,7,28 against 2,082b
18-07 Lorris (621 km): 1,2,6,7,8,9,10,11,12 13,15,16,20 against 1,727b.  

Result Sector 4
19-06    Lorris (621 km):                8,26,28,30 against 5,053b
03-07     Issoudun (740 km): 3,4,8,14,15 against 4,348b
18-07     Lorris (621 km):                1,2,6,7,8,10,11,12,13,14,16,17 against 3,455b

 Marathon
28-05 Limoges: (861 km): 8,13,15,21 against 881b
11-06 St Vincent (1175 km): 5,7,8,11,12,14,16 against 381b
18-06 Perigueux (952 km): 4,7,16,20,23  against 770b
02-07 Cahors (1058 km): 1,2,6,11,14,22  against 604b
09-07 Dax (1156 km): 5,6,8,27 against  274b
30-07 Bergerac (1029 km): 4,5,11,15,18 against 1,630b

Middle distance
 29-05 Chimay (345 km): 4,14,38,40 against 14,065b

youngbirds
28-08 Reims (435 km): 2,3,17,20,23,26   against 6,036b.

3rd place National championship NPO.
The marathon pigeons also did splendidly and were rewarded with the 3rd place in the NPO marathon loft championship category.

5th and 9th ace bird national competition  WHZB 2021
"Akira" became 5th Ace pigeon of WHZB in the category long distance 2021. Besides that "Maura" became 9th in this category. Two pigeons in the top 10! The Koopman team is more than satisfied with this result!

Toppers to be super proud of:

When we ask Gerard which are his four current favourites, he doesn't have to hesitate too long to mention the following names. We have to say that he hesitated a long time to include "Adora" in the list. 

“Manu” NL16-4784182

The absolute star of the racing team in 2018. The 3 most spectacular prizes of her are: 
- Chateauroux, 755 km 1st prize against 2566 d. Also 1st against 12,313 b. in NU (Northern Union) and the fastest in the sectors 1,2 and 3 against 19,192 b. 
- Bourges, 704 km 1st prize against 5,877b. In Sector IV 
- Sens, 564 km, 1st prize against 1,069b. 

"Manu" is mother to: 
"Jan": 3rd NPO Reims 6,036b. 
"Ruben": 8th NPO Lorris 3,455b. - 10th NPO Sens 4,995b. 

"Manu" is grandmother of:  
"Manu Victoria": 11th final OLR Victoria Falls 2021 
"Jemina": 6th NPO Lorris 3,455b.
"857-20" : 7th NPO Sourdun 5,502b.

"Manu" is a full sister to "Amadi" (4th National Ace Pigeon WHZB/TBOTB)
and "Paco" (2nd Nat. S4 Bourges 5,877b - after "Manu")

At the moment 1 daughter and 2 half-sisters of "Manu" are offered in internet auction Pigeon Bids 

"Ravita" NL12-5210704
One of the basic hens of the loft Koopman

Is mother of:
"Li Ming: 2nd National ace WHZB/TBOTB '17
"Benson": 4th National ace WHZB/TBOTB '17
"Akira", "Quinlan" and "Hedzer".

Is a full sister to "Vakir": 3rd NPO Blois 6,279b.
Is a half-sister to "Daydream": 1st NPO Ablis 8,519b.

"Ravita" is a daughter of "Cassius" (son of "Kleine Dirk" x "Annelies") x "Hebberecht 941".
(also mother of toppers "Abelle", "Azurit", "Gicara", "Vakir", "Vakira")

At the moment 1 daughter and 1 son from "Ravita" are offered in internet auction Pigeon Bids. Given the age of "Ravita" do not hesitate to act now!

“Royal Dream” NL-2012-1076982 

 

Is father of "Fahsai", winner 1st NPO Sens 4,237b. - 44th Quievrain 8,902b. - 69th Hapert 11,263b. - 81st Morlincourt 5,379b.

Is grandfather of 
"Viento" : 3rd Final flight Million Dollar '19) 
"Amano" : 1st Nat. S4 Lorris 6,086b.
"Sifan": fastest Sens Sector 10-11 against 10,701b.

Is the great uncle to "James Legend" (1st ace Pioneer Club - sold for 2,78 million €) 

Out of a sister of "Royal Dream" comes the father of "James's Legend" (1st ace Pioneer Club - sold for 2.78 million €) 

The father of "Royal Dream" is "Cassius" out of "Kleine Dirk" x "Annelies" . Remarkable is that also Manu's mother "Goudband" is a daughter of "Cassius".

At the moment 1 daughter and 1 son from "Royal Dream" are offered in internet auction Pigeon Bids. Given the age of "Royal Dream" do not hesitate to act now!

“Sifan” : 1st Sens 4,995b.

This checquer hen won the race from Sens with a lead of 20 minutes and 40 sec on her loftmate. Her father is "Bento". "Bento" is a son of "Bjarne" and a grandson of "De Dromer" (De Rauw-Sablon). "Bento" is a proven breeder because his son "Reinier", a guy who performed super in OLR Million Dollar (South-Africa). "Bento" is a half-brother to "Good Aim" (3rd final flight OLR South Africa) and a half-brother to "Manimukda" (1st prize final flight Pattaya).

The mother of "Sifan" is "Albina". "Albina" is a daughter of "Royal Dream" x "New Hope". "New Hope" is a daughter of foundation mare "Golden Lady" and "New Hope" is also mother of proven pigeons "Bert Junior", "Alawa" and "Believer". 

At the moment a son and a daughter are offered from the father of "Sifan", namely "Bento".