DEUTSCHLANDS TOPSCHLAG DER WEITSTRECKE

Over a lot of years the Schlömer loft has belonged to the absolute elite of long-distance races in Western Europe. During their racing career they have reached a climax with the international victory of Barcelona on a distance of 1130 kilometres among 18 076 pigeons from six European countries. In this King's race they have achieved the first prize twice on national level. This performance is unique among the approximately 100 000 pigeon breeders in Germany.

This successful loft society has actually existed for only 14 years. At first the father alone, Josef Schlömer, raced with a small stock of pigeons. In 1994 the unstoppable success went on with another top-performance. The winning of the 1st national long-distance championship of Germany has been another record with 28 of 30 possible prizes. Since the German participation in the international races organised in Belgium no other German loft has succeeded in achieving such an amount of prizes. This achievement definitely emphasises the capability of this successful tandem. Even prizes among the European champions have not been rare. A constantly good work must be noticed without any doubt. At this point we drop listing single results that would fill many pages and would not be interesting for the readers.

An extraordinary highlight has been the pigeon named "Emirates". This hen is carrying the name of the world-famous and prize-winning airline of Dubai. The pigeon 02624 92 1509 became 1st ace-hen on the long-distance in Germany in 1994 while the airline became the best airline on long-distance flights the same year. In an official certificate the Schlömer loft society has been authorised by the United Arabian Emirates to call this hen "Emirates". Even in the racing season of 1998 the Schlömers achieved top-performances again.

A half-sister of "Emirates" with the number 08421 96 302 achieved three international prizes within a few weeks from Pau (1020 km), Dax (1001 km) and Perpignan (980 km). In the race of Dax the hen reached her home in Mönchengladbach as first. Also the bird with the number 08421 96 166 an offspring of the old Huyskens-van Riel line won three international prizes. Additional top-results among the 50 top-pigeons of Germany were achieved in the race of Pau (1020 km), Barcelona (1130 km) and Bordeaux in 1998.

The follow-breeding of "Lady Barcelona"

With the famous hen called "Lady Barcelona" the pigeon loft society Schlömer obtained world glory with the international victory of Barcelona. Meanwhile the line of the "Lady Barcelona" is populating the whole breeding loft of Schlömer. In Germany it is said that there has not been a better pigeon during the last 20 years. The following successes were achieved by the follow-breeding of this miracle hen:

• 1st national Bordeaux 1998 (great-grandchild)
• 1st international Pau 1996 (grandchild)
• 1st national Pau 1996 (grandchild)
• 1st ace pigeon in Germany (long-distance) 1994
• 1st ace hen in Germany (middle-distance) 1990 (grandchild)
• 1st national Barcelona Euregio 1992 (grandchild)
• 1st prize Tours against 10 068 pigeons (588 km) with a yearling (grandchild)
• 2nd prize Tours against 33 000 pigeons

The line of Josef and Rolf Schlömer has brought out very successful pigeons for all distances and in all weathers.

Care

On the Schlömer loft all pigeons are raced with the classical method of widowhood. One start in spring with 80 racing pigeons therefrom 30 hens that are raced from the attic. All remaining pigeons stay in the garden loft. The partners of the racing pigeons always remain in the loft. Since spring 1998 only the long-distance races have been practised. Before this the short and middle-distances had been raced additionally. In this category nearly everything most of the breeders can only dream of was won. That means uncountable first prizes non-stop. On the short and middle-distances from 200 to 660 kilometres first prizes and championships against 2 500 members had been won. So there was not a breeze of motivation for Josef and Rolf Schlömer to go on with these kinds of races. They finally decided to take place only in long-distance races in the future especially since the long-distance races have become more and more important in the international pigeon scene. In the racing year of 1998 the long-distance pigeons were trained in a racing society that is placed 70 kilometres offshore the Schlömer home loft. This advantage in training became very clear because top-prizes were races from Pau, Barcelona and Bordeaux. The young pigeons too, were coached from the offshore society but during the first few races losses had to be accepted. After a few weeks the best young pigeons were quickly selected out of the mass. On a long-distance race from Orleans (488 kilometres) in 1998 two birds raced absolutely top. This can stand as a proof that the prior training had been optimum. Surely this advantage in training will prove in the coming years.

Approximately two weeks before basketing in an international competition the selected birds are spared and provided in the boxes. A long-distance mixture from the firms Dacapo and Teurlings is fed. This mixture contains a big portion of carbohydrates with a lot of maize. The rate of proteins consists partly of toasted soybeans and peeled sunflower seeds. At the beginning of the week amino acid in connection with vitamins are dispensed and at the end of the week the product "Jodkraft" from the firm Hasanol is given. Twice a week the food is moistened with the combined oil of Dr. Peeters from Begium. In addition the product "Mineral 2000" is dosed. This product contains minerals, trace elements and vitamins. Every second week a Rondidazol or Metronidazol product is medicated against trichinas. Against the so called "dry cold" (microplasmosis) the product Linco-Spectin is medicated every four weeks. During the time of preparation the birds are privately released several times about 50 kilometres away from the loft. Before deployment the cocks are allowed to stay with their hens up to two days. They are even allowed to build a nest before they are basked. The selected racing hens are put together with their partners only for one day as otherwise they would have to lay eggs during the competition. The hens are locked in their boxes during the daytime. Only for feeding or for the evening flight between 8.00 p.m. and 10.00 p.m. they are let out. The Schlömer team trains their pigeons as late as possible for the pigeons can learn to handle the dawn. During the week the birds are released in a distance of 70 kilometres. Most of the time the release is about 9.00 p.m. near the Belgium border area. On long-distance races the Schlömers often achieve to clock their pigeons on the day of deployment. Some years ago a Schlömer pigeon succeeded in flying the farthest distance on day of deployment. This was Marseille with 880 kilometres distance and an arrival at 9.10 p.m. In the racing year of 1997 a bird released in Dax 1 001 kilometres away was also clocked on day of deployment, exactly at 9.53 p.m. in the dark. The bird won the 16th prize in Germany. With an equal winner the strength of the loft was proved in 1996. The first prize in the national race from Angouleme (768 km) was won in the racing district. Another victory on day of deployment in the dawn. Another top-performance by night flight was given by the bird 02624 91 113 called "Barcelona Air". This bird has been racing six international prizes within two years on long-distance race. In 1996 it won Barcelona (1130 km), Marseille (880 km) and Perpignan (980 km. Thereby it was first of the loft twice. It achieved a good point rate for the great championship.

Realisierung: EOS Internet-Service