This Golden Pair, paired to the line of Marieke BE08-3037512 – Rik Cools – produced ZA 22 trio 37 which was the best ever bird on points in the KSFC Club, and the best bird in NFS Federation.

How it all started

At the age of 9 years in 1993, Schalk Jonker started racing pigeons in a small town called Koppies, located in the Freestate province in South Africa.

“I quickly learned that only the best genes should stay in your loft, and a good breeding hen is very important!”

In 2011 a young hen strayed at his loft, and she had it all that Schalk is looking for in a pigeon.

Schalk crossed this Golden Pair with a pigeon he bought from Cools Pigeons from the line of Marieke BE08-3037512. This pigeon goes back to the old strain of Cools Pigeons as Aske, Den 100, Aagje, Flicka, …. This resulted in ZA 22 trio 37 which was the best ever bird on points in the KSFC Club, and the best bird in NFS Federation in 2023.

What an impressive list of victories…many of them linked to his golden pair

Schalker lost count since this pair of cocks produced more than 50+ winners in their progeny from 2012 to 2024….!! This includes:

• 9 times best bird in his club. 
• 5 years in a row best bird in his club and Federation. ZA 2022 trio 37; a granddaughter of the bird he bought from Rik Cools , was the best hen in the club and Federation 2023.
• Best bird in the Freestate 2019
• Best bird in Federation 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023 ; all children or grandchildren of this pair.
• SANPO 2^nd Ace pigeon Middle Distance; with a son of 1450
• SANPO 2^nd Ace pigeon Short Distance; with a great-grandchild of this pair
• 1^st  Ace Pigeon until the final race in the ALLFLIGHT One Loft Race ;with a grandchild of this pair
• 1^st  Ace Pigeon Short Distance  Genetic One Loft Race
• 6^th  Ace Pigeon Genetic One Loft Race; with a grandchild of this pair

• In the AfrikaPro 2023 One Loft Race
  • Won race 6 – za trio 88
  • Blue Jacket
  • 11^th Ace bird; with a grandchild of this pair
  • 12^th Ace bird
  • 17^th Ace bird; with a grandchild of this pair

• In the AfrikaPro 2024 One Loft Race
  • Blue Jacket
  • 5^th   Ace bird
  • 11^th Ace bird; with a grandchild of this pair
  • 18^th Ace Bird
  • Final Race AFRIKAPRO ( only 86 pigeons return on the day):
    • 7^th    with a grandchild of this pair
    • 9^th    with a great-grandchild of this pair
    • 22^nd  with a grandchild of this pair
    • 25^th
    • First fancier with 4 pigeons on the day, 4 from the first 25 positions; 3 of these are related to 53648 x 4566; his number 1 pair.

“Clearly a golden pair, producing winners year after year. I really want to congratulate Rik with his brilliant strain of pigeons, and can confirm the importance of a good hen! “

Schalk Jonker

How we got into contact again

Thanks to AfrikaPro, he came back in contact with Rik. He is looking now to obtain some more of his “irreplaceable” (quote Schalk) pigeons.

How Schalk sees the future

This coming season, Jan Nijboer (Netherland) and Schalk will join forces to see if they can take their pigeons through partnership and crossbreeding to a next level.

The past 9 years Schalk focused on breeding a type of pigeons that does well in One Loft Races and in the South African normal seasonal races. This is not a given.

He started to change his loft conditions in line with the one loft race conditions. With the same training methods; racing the pigeons every week for 10-14 weeks in a row.

He noticed a clear difference in some fancier pigeons. Some stood clearly out, with head and shoulders. He started crossing these pigeons.

Now he starts to see the results of his approach. Every pigeon of his that participated in 4 different One Loft Races starts to show their potential; including the first and second season of AfrikaPro.

Schalk Jonker is looking towards the future in full confidence!

“Thanks to Rik and his special way of pairing pigeons together, the sport will reach new heights… especially in South Africa. So for every fancier out there; watch this space… there is  new bread that will rock the world in One Loft Racing.”

Schalk Jonker

We wish Schalk and his son Gerber all the best in this journey!!