After the sensational first win for British-American combination in the first race they have competed in the mighty Antwerp Union in the first race of the 2010 campaign, now also a great result on the first national flight from Chateauroux organized by the KBDB.
Antwerp Provincial telephone results for this combination: old birds 2-8-13…, yearlings: 5…
In this first of three parts we introduce Ed Sittner together with the lofts in Merksplas.
In part two we will devote a few words to the English loft: the Premier Stud UK to end with an introduction of the Vegas Classic Race in Las Vegas.
First question the Belgiums asked was who the hell are these guys?
Introduction Sittner Ed
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Ed Sittner.
I am 63 years old and have had birds since I was 9 yrs and have flown competitively since 1978. I have won many races in small clubs as well as One Loft Races in the US and UK. I started the Vegas Classic Race in 2001 here in Las Vegas, Nevada. By trade I am a land developer and builder.
The lofts at Merksplas
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In Antwerp, the first-story loft where the old birds birds are flown.
I purchased the home of Louis van Hove, Merksplas in September of 2004 and started a life long dream of flying birds in Belgium.
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The lofts in Antwerp as seen from the rear, where we fly the youngbirds.
I arrived in Belgium November 2004 and stayed until the end of the season 2005. I had some supper good races and some just as bad. I was 12 and 13 National Argenton by call in time but the module quit working so I was given my gummy times and was 34 and something else against 31,700 birds. I was also in the first 100 in two other National Races that year. Picked my pool birds perfectly.
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Old Bird Lofts with steps and lift.
That year I built a new young bird loft and started to remodel the house. The house was in need of remodeling as were the lofts. Every year after it has been remodel lofts or put in a new kitchen or bath.
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Young birds lofts just been altered.
The first few years
The years 2006, 2007, 2008 were hard years because I couldn’t get the help to do things my way. They had a hard time realizing who was paying them. I was always trying to catch up when I got to Belgium and that doesn’t work. The birds would be in bad condition, not trained, dirty lofts and just about anything else that stops success.
Then the bird flu had the race seasons in a mess and I couldn’t wait for things to smooth out!!
The cooperation
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Brian Bolton in front of the young bird loft in Antwerp.
I had met Brian Bolton at the 2005 Europa Classic and he had entered birds here in the Vegas Classic and had said he always dreamed of flying in Belgium. He has won about all he could in England and is a super competitor. I approached him about Belgium but he had just begun managing the Premier Stud UK and I was to late talking to him about Belgium.
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Michelle & Brian.
In 2007 Graham Sparks owner Premier Stud, Brian, Derek Nichols and I had discussed the possibility bringing Brian to Merksplas and that he had to make the move a full time one. We agreed to work towards this idea because we all knew Brian was the key.
We all talked again mid May of 2009 because I had let another helper go and Brian made the commitment that he would be in Belgium the end of June. Oh happy days
The stock
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Michelle with her youngsters.
The agreement is the Stud will bring over young off their very best. This way he can test them against their loft mates bred in Merksplas as well as the weekly Antwerp Union races with a special eye for the National Races. With the formation of this partnership with Edd Sittner in Merksplas and Premier Studs full time Racing Manager. In Merksplas the directors of Premier can test the birds against the best and get the results they wish for.
I would also furnish young off my breeders, again no expense spared. Brian would be the loft manager and I would help as often as I could be there.
Derek would manage the administration and Graham along with all the rest of us would get together in Merksplas and enjoy the great spot of pigeon racing.
Ne plus ultra, Latin which translates to Nothing better!!
And it seems to work, a view on the great results until now:
(click on the results for the complete race-result)
01/05 Melun 2.037 old birds: 1-4-9-13-14-15-21-25-26-27-29-44-48-50… (40/47)
01/05 Melun 2.265 yearlings: 1-2-3-5-30-39…(33/52)
08/05 Dourdan 2.186 old birds: 4-6-17-25-48-49…(28/46)
08/05 Dourdan 2.369 yearlings: 18-20-23-41… (20/50)
15/05 Dourdan 1.602 old birds: 13-14-15-17-26-30-41-49-50…(32/45)
15/05 Dourdan 2.356 yearlings: 10-19-22-46…(32/50)
22/05 Dourdan 951 old birds: 6-42-46…(16/19)
22/05 Dourdan 2.030 yearlings: 26-42…(16/23)
Keep up the good work and we wish you success from the Duivenkrant and Pitts!
The sequal will follow...
