Jo Hendriks, Twello

[Kyleakin Lofts]

A visit with Jo Hendriks, Twello, Holland

Winner 1st International Barcelona 780 miles

13,636 birds 1980. (first published 1980)

 

Unbelievable! Remarkable! Astounding! Fantastic! Jo Hendriks of

Twello Holland wins the 1980 Barcelona International flying 780

miles at a speed of nearly 1,000 yards per minute. He beat the

second-place international winner of Herman Vandersijpe, Lede,

Belgium by 30 yards per minute flying over 100 miles further! Jo

Hendriks blue chequer cock 76NL1194042 flying 1243 km at

986 m per minute garnered 1st Dutch National 3,714 birds, 1st

International Barcelona 13,636 birds beating all the cracks from

Belgium, West Germany, France, Holland, Luxembourg and

England. His performance is being heralded as one of the best

ever in the history of this international classic.

 

They said it could not be done. But the Dutch are true long distance

devotees 500, 600 even 700 miles to them is like

“vitesseâ€( Sprint) race is to the Belgians. It is not uncommon to

have over 20,000 pigeons in the Dutch National from St. Vincent,

600 miles! And hens seem to predominate although the

widowhood cocks are well represented. There are over 50,000

fliers in Holland which makes for some keen competition.

When it was learned that Jo Hendriks had topped the

International it was not a surprise because he is a nationally

known long-distance champion. For 17 years he was first

champion at either short, middle or long distance in the tough

Apeldoorn District of 525 loft’s. When he moved to the Deventer

District of 518 lofts it took him three years to become the first

champion again. In 1977 he gave up competing in the short and

middle-distance (100-300 miles) in favour of specialising in the

long-distance (500-780 miles). And as history now shows three

years later he won the most prestigious of International races in

the classic Barcelona International.

 

Jo Hendriks is 65 years of age (1980), a retired a bank manager.

He has been an inspector and secretary in the support for many

years. He was president of the Netherland A Bond for Pigeons,

Salland District and is today president of the Marathon Club

(long-distance fliers).

 

When Jo decided to improve his loft in 1970 he went to the

famous long-distance master Sjef Van Wanroy of

Broekhuizenvorst. He bought 10 late breds including two direct

from the famous “90†for a big price. But they were worth every

Guilder spent their young won many prizes. Jo won 1st and 2nd

Chateroux, 400 miles, 850 birds 28 minutes ahead on a very hot

day against a tough headwind and later that year 1st Bergerac,

580 miles, by ten minutes against 600 birds with the progeny of

the Van Wanroys. This was a sign of things to come. Each year

the Van Wanroys became stronger and more successful in the

Hendriks loft.

 

The name “Sjef Van Wanroy†may not be familiar to those English

speaking fanciers reading this article but in Holland it is a

household name. Van Wanroy kept only 25 pairs of birds and

specialised in 500, 600 and 700 mile races. In 15 years he

entered 242 birds in “grote fond†(long distance) races winning

196 prizes. Among those prizes were 1st, 4th, 21st and 24th

National Marseille, 1st and 3rd National Barcelona, 1st and 7th

National St. Vincent, 2nd and 9th National Dax and 3rd and 4th

National Marseille. In 1974 Van Wanroy died and most of his

colony of 40 pigeons was bought by Jo Hendriks. Seventeen of

the forty were children of the famous “90†hen such as “t’Hartjeâ€

1st National St. Vincent. "De 90" was a great racer and producer

having won 4th National St.Vincent 697 miles, 11th National

Dax 680 miles, 36th National St. Vincent , 125th National Dax

and in her last year of flying in 1970 at seven years of age 7th

National Dax 7,460 birds. Hendricks not only bought “De 90†but

also the cracks “De Westerhuisâ€, “De Spinâ€, “De Barcelonaâ€, De

St.Vincentâ€, “De Maaskantkampioenâ€, “De Tekkel†and “De Jong

Spinâ€.

 

This year’s Barcelona International winner is a pure Van Wanroy

bred by Jo Hendriks from two birds bought from Van Wanroy

before his death. His pedigree is most interesting showing line

breeding to “De 90†hen. His sire was bred from a son of “De 90â€

x 3rd National Barcelona Hen (daughter of 1st National

Barcelona). His Dam (sister of 1st National St. Vincent) was bred

from “De Maaskantkampioen†cock x “De 90†hen. What long

distance blood.

 

Sjef Van Wanroy built up his strain by close breeding, severe

selection and a few out crossings of only thoroughly tested long distance

pigeons. When out cross was tried its youngsters were

tested for two or three years before a final decision was made on

keeping the blood or not. If it was decided not to keep the blood

not only was the new pigeon disposed off but also all of its

offspring.

 

The Van Wanroys are a small type pigeon possessing very soft

feather, good balance, strong backs, small heads and beautiful

eyes. They mature slowly and are very tame. They rarely win a

prize in short distance races but at 500, 600, 700 miles they

excel.

 

The Barcelona winner is typical of the strain. He was a second round

youngster of 1976, and like all the Hendriks young birds

flew 6 races up to 190 miles as training. As a yearling six more

races up to 250 miles winning three prizes. As a two year old in

1978 he flew the disastrous Orleans race where half of the birds

did not return. As a three year old he won 29th Ruffec 510 miles

and 10th Bergerac 580 miles. This year as a four year old he was

mated in March, raised on nest of youngsters, sat the second

round for 10 days then went on widowhood. Because the cold

spring weather he was not raced in the early races. He was

trained by car then flew 130 miles, 180 miles, then on May the

31st of 300 mile tune-up for Barcelona, winning 35th.After a

months rest he was entered at Barcelona along with two other

four-year-old widowhood cocks and a five-year-old natural hen.

They placed 1st, 10th, 27th East Holland Section National. The

Barcelona winner was Jo’s fourth nominated bird. It was hoped

that one of these specially prepared cracks would duplicate the

performance of Jo’s famous “441†“De Barcelona 1†blue cheq

w/f cock winner of 1st Kring (town and surrounding villages), 41st

National Dax in 1976: 1st Kring, 12th National Barcelona and

2nd Kring, 141st National Dax in 1977: 1st Kring, 22nd National

Barcelona 1978: but was lost at Barcelona 1979.

Another top racer in the Hendriks loft is the wonderful “St.

Vincent†71H482807 blue chequer hen. Here is a true long distance

champion having flown St. Vincent four times, Bergerac

three times and Dax twice recording the following prizes:

Bergerac 580 miles

1973 7th Kring

1974 2nd Kring 60th National

1975 18th Kring 374th National

St Vincent 697 miles

1974 1st Kring 194th National

1975 3rd Kring 466th National

1976 1st Kring 66th National

1977 3rd Kring 304th National

Dax 680 miles

1976 4th Kring 52nd National

1977 5th Kring 244th National

 

How's that for a natural hen! Jo says his nest pigeons are as good

as anyone's widowers - if not BETTER!

 

Jo Hendriks has achieved tremendous performances with two

systems natural and widowed. His widowhood cocks have won a

lot but his hens and cocks on the nest, with eggs or youngsters,

have won just as much.

 

I was surprised to see Jo feed’s heavy - 50% peas and 50%

cereals. Feed is left in front of the old birds all day long so they

can eat what they want. Youngsters are fed once day, 80%

regular mixture 20% barley. Jo likes to use Dutch green peas

which are very nutritious. Red corn is in the mixture but as the

long-distance races approach yellow corm and brown rice are

added. In the winter all birds get 50% barley.

I was also surprised when showed told me “I never used chemical

products vitamins etc. I never give drugs or vaccinate against

pox, diphtheria or paratyphoid.†And he was adamant. He feels a

strong healthy pigeons fed the right way can ward off diseases

naturally. The ones that cannot are not the good ones and are

culled. Jo believes this is one of the foremost reasons for his

great success.

 

Jo has strict training schedule that all his pigeons have to follow.

As youngsters they compete in races up to 300 or 400 km (180 to

240 miles) for training - not to win prizes. They are not allowed

to nest. As yearlings they must develop further and fly up to 500

km (300 miles). As two-year olds they must fly 700 or 800 km

(450 500 miles). Then as fully mature, well trained three year

olds they must fly all the way to Barcelona 780 miles. Jo

watches his birds training and development very closely. Not

every pigeon has the stamina and intelligence necessary to

become an long-distance champion although the Van Wanroys

produce a high percentage.

 

Between two long-distance races, the Hendriks pigeons get no

less than three weeks rest. Because of this system they retain

their vitality and are eventually retired to stock where they

perpetuate and strengthen the family. The famous “90†laid all

the fertile eggs this year at the age of 17. The Hendriks stock loft

is one of the strongest in all Homeland. When the distance is

long, the weather hot and the wind against their beak the

Hendriks pigeons excel. At Barcelona on July 6, the temperature

was around 100 degrees for almost 500 miles of the 780 miles.

The wind was variable and Hendriks winner was one half hour

ahead. Jo has been offered over $50,000 (£25,000) for the

International winner but is not sold him yet.

 

Jo Hendriks is a “perfectionist†nothing but perfection will satisfy

this man because he knows through years of success that that is

the only way to stay on top.

 

Tom Smith

[THE FIFER]

very interesting reading, and a great flyer,

[paddymac]

Very good pigeons the old Van Wanroy strain