Hans Knetsch, Katwijk

[Kyleakin Lofts]

HANS KNETSCH,

1st NARBONNE FC.â€DE GLAZEN STADâ€

ALSO 1st NATIONAL Z.L.U AND 2nd

INTERNATIONAL NARBONNE IN 2009

 

Finally! Hans Knetsch, from Katwijk a/d Rijn, made it to first in a National.

This is great news. He has come so close so often, but something seemed to

have gone wrong every time. To win a first in a National, you need to have

everything going for you: optimum form, the weather, the wind and then that

little bit of luck around the corner. For Hans, that last bit of luck did not seem to

come around until now.

 

Two years ago, Hans raced “Jopie†from Irun. Against a very tough Western

wind, Jopie came so close but just could not make those last few meters to a

first place. Last year, on Marseille, Jopie tried again and was the only pigeon on

the coast still going against all predictions, but again the same Westerly gale

kept her from victory. This year, she simply could not do it as Hans had put her

in the breeding loft.

And then the drama with “Maarten†during the International. Maarten with ring

number NL07- 17199301 made an emergency landing on the sputnik (an inflight

landing plank with a one way trapdoor) and literally had a head-on

collision with the (closed) door latch. Completely dazed he sat there without

being able to go in. As luck would have it, just before Maarten was to land, a

young polish bird had landed on the sputnik. Hans saw the bird, opened the

latch to pick it up and forgot to reset the door for Maarten. Afterwards Hans

found out that this mistake had cost him a first place in the International by only

two centimeters!! It actually was during this very interview that the phone rang

to tell Hans the good news of being 2nd and the bad news of the 2 centimeters.

It will take Maarten a while to forgive Hans for this. Nevertheless, he is a

champ with an impressive score of 2 first and one second place.

 

“Maarten†was clocked at 19.51.06 hours on a distance of 1012 km (629 miles)

at a speed of 1330 m. He is a dark white flight cock and he was played on

widowhood from the small “Sloothokje†where twelve widowers are housed.

Hans owns a fantastic breeding pair. Two young from this couple, the 01-

1681783 “Leendert†a cock is the father of “Maarten†and his sister the 01-

1681782 is the mother of “Jopieâ€. The mother of “Maarten†and the father of

"Jopie†are direct descendants of “Kweekmoedertje†(little breeding mother).

This “Kweekmoedertje†is a Batenburg hen, received from Gerard Dekker of

Assendelft.

This bird greatly helped to bring speed into the Wanroys of Hans.

After his victory Maarten, together with his hen, has moved to Batenburg van

der Merwe.

Hans is turning 75 years on the 1st of September. He plays with 36 widowers

and 25 nest couples and keeps around 60 young for himself. He also owns 15

breeding pairs. These are predominantly birds that have earned their spurs

through successful flights.

Hans has helped many enthusiasts start up e.g. Willem van der Velden, who has

started his complete first round with birds from Hans. Besides Willem, there are

so very many fanciers who thank their success to Hans that the list would be too

long for this article.

This weekend was a big success for the Fond Club “De Glazen Stadâ€. Piet

Overkleeft won 1st National Tarbes in sector 2 by a long lead and Hans Knetsch

the 1st National Z.L.U. and 2nd International Narbonne. Piet and Hans heartiest

congratulations on behalf of the committee of the Fond Club “De Glazen Stadâ€.

[Edinburgh west]

Good read ðŸ‘ðŸ»

[THE FIFER]

Very good m8, another good one

[fieldwalker]

good