THOMAS 6 DOUBLE 120.000 EURO

Thomas Kornelius: The Great Thomas 6 and Beyond

By David Trunnell

I am very pleased to bring you this article on Thomas Kornelius, the German Champion, racing at the top of the Sport with his small family of birds. You will enjoy the great substance Thomas shared with all of us!

Thomas, generally, how are you currently enjoying the sport?

To have winning pigeons has always been my goal. When it comes to breeding pigeons, I wanted to have great success with few pigeons. I never wanted to win many prizes in the races, but my goal was always top prizes on the first page of the prize list, where everybody looks when they hold the race sheet from a big race in their hands. I enjoy racing my birds in OLRs and seeing my friends win with them in local associations as well as in OLRs.

To compete with the best pigeon fanciers in the world today you have to send your pigeons to the big One Loft Races. Whoever wants to make a name for themselves here must breed better pigeons than the other breeders, since the care is the same for all pigeons. The only thing that can set them apart from the others and make them a winner is the quality of the pigeon.

35 years ago, my strategies led me to the top breeders in Belgium, Holland, and Germany, so I could get to see the best pigeons and the best breeding pairs. My goal then was to get a feeling for these special pigeons and of course how to breed such super pigeons. This way, I made many friends over the years and also got to know this side of our sport.

What have been your favorite accomplishments/events/aspects of the sport?

My biggest achievement has definitely been winning the Golden Race Algarve 2018 with, „Thomas 6“ by 24 minutes ahead of the 2nd pigeon and winning 120,000 Euros for the team Schute and Kornelius!

Karlheinz Schute and I have been friends for many years. He was the breeder of “Rubbellos", the winner of the SAMDPR 2011/12. He sold the father of, “Rubbellos" – “Sun City" – on PIPA to Mike Ganus. Mike bred, “Laura is a Big Winner Today" with “Sun City", plus another winner in the SAMDPR. Before Karlheinz and I started our Team in OLRs, he got many pigeons from me from my old line, and he raced them in his association in Germany for distances from 200 to 600 km (~ 120-360 miles) for a rigorous 13-14 races from May- July.

I have approached my goal of having winning pigeons in small steps. I first sent only 3 pigeons to the SAMDPR and my first pigeons to the Golden Race Algarve in 2013. Since then, I was able to achieve the following successes with my own breeding:

Selection of Breeders – and mentors in that?

To get a place in one of my 5 individual breeding compartments the pigeon has to overcome many hurdles. Yes, I have only 5 breeding pairs in my loft – all in one room. In addition, I have 3 breeding pairs in my old loft at my father's house for testing the quality of breeding of 1-year-old pigeons. If there are good breeders there, one or two can be substituted into my loft at the end of the year; but they must be really perfect!

I have followed the many popular theories and during my visits to Belgium, Holland, and Germany I have always concluded that only pigeon families that were successful over generations with extraordinary genes make future winners.

Van Laer Brothers and André Bellens –
I was influenced by André Bellens who bred top, winning pigeons in the 90s in large numbers, but with a very small breeding loft and produced many super breeding and racing pigeons, such as the mother of the „330“ of Günter Prange with 8 x 1st prize. At that time, I also had contact with the Van Laer brothers who called André Bellens one of the best breeders of Belgium. Louis Van Laer selected 4 females from his loft for Andre's breeding loft at the end of the 70s, from which 3 pigeons have influenced his success in the future for races and breeding. Louis van Laer did not buy a lot of pigeons from other breeders, but if he did, you knew that it was a special one, which impacted his loft greatly. Whoever wanted to win first prize at 400 – 700 km (~ 250-430 Miles) at that time, needed to be faster than the first one from the Van Laer brothers. They only entered a few pigeons, but each could rank at the top.

On one of my many visits I was sitting with Louis Van Laer in the garden and I asked Louis how he chooses his breeding pigeons. Louis fetched a basket of pigeons and we took pigeon by pigeon in hand and Louis wanted to know what I liked and didn't like about these pigeons. Louis said: “You are on the right path, but forget about: eyes, size, the back, or whether short or long. Now I will show you how I select breeding pigeons. Even my dad has used this technique and we have always achieved great success. A good racing pigeon does not necessarily have to be a good breeding pigeon. If you want to breed pigeons for the big flights in the future, you need good genes from the generations before. It is also important to observe the pigeon's behavior, and what is also very important: A super pigeon always looks good the whole year round and does not get sick!"

'Health' Defined –
“You can see the health of a pigeon. It is always shiny. And always keep an eye on the droppings of the pigeon. People would see more if they looked at the feces/ droppings rather than looking at the pigeon's eyes with a magnifying glass", said Louis Van Laer.

The age of the pigeon does not matter, but it must be perfect and always healthy!

Georg Fröhlingsdorf –
Next I was lucky enough to find a German champion, who in my opinion is one of the best players and breeders in Germany and has been for many years: Georg Fröhlingsdorf. Georg and his wife, Veronika compete year after year and always in the German Championship. (Whenever their race association met the requirements for the Championship.) Certain flights/distances are prescribed and pigeons must be pre-named for the competition. Here only the top prize in the list counts for success).

With only 12 breeding pairs he has built up a stock with his „Josef“ Line, who himself was a super flyer – as I have not seen in Germany before. I would call „Josef“ one of the best breeding pigeons there has ever been here in Germany. He is already a legend in his lifetime! It is unbelievable how many winners of the Championships are children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren from „Josef“. Alone Georg Fröhlingsdorf had 31 x 1st prizes with children of „Josef“! Also, note that my, „Thomas6“ is a grandson of „Josef“.

A “Thomas 6" Story –
There is a nice story about the father of „Thomas 6“. In 2016, I was at Georg Fröhlingsdorf's and I was allowed to choose a pigeon. My pick was the female „1012“ (which, as of the end of 2019 now breeds at my friend, Mike Ganus' loft). “1012" from Georg is a daughter of his „390“ 20th Ace-Pigeon Male of Germany, which was also a full brother to „469“, the 1st Ace-Pigeon Male of Germany in 2015. “390" was paired with „211“, the best pigeon of Germany with 14/14 prizes, and she is also bred from a son of „Josef“. The „1012“ was a perfect pigeon and fulfilled all of my criteria. Afterward, Georg said to me, „You have made a good choice, she was also my favorite“; nothing could go wrong. „1012“ developed into a very special pigeon, which is why I named her “Blue Golden Lady". I then had the idea to mate „1012/ Blue Golden Lady“ with „Josef“. Georg agreed and in the summer of 2017 „1012“ was put to a special bird that could not fertilize and I drove to Georg with „1012“ so that the „Josef“ could mate with „1012“ in the afternoon until the morning of the next day to fertilize the future eggs. A pigeon hatched out and born was „The King“, the father of „Thomas 6“. When The King was 30 days old, I called Georg Fröhlingsdorf and told him that I was holding in my hands probably the best son of „Josef“ ever bred! He had all the signs: perfect body, super muscle, super soft feathers; and he always watched everything and was aware of everything around him. He was always ready to playfully fight with me when I cleaned the compartment. He always stood in front of his young and his female to protect them. Outwardly, he had all the signs of the Josef Line: all united just as the other super pigeons of the Josef Line had. My „1012“, bred in co-breeding with Georg Fröhlingsdorf's, „Josef“, produced the „The King“. That was the start of my „Thomas 6“ Line!

Next „The Queen“ and „Sister The Queen“ were the ideal fit then for “The King" and my Josef Line. Both of these hens have not only, „Romario“ as the father, but also in the line of their mother were very special pigeons. For instance, there was, „Goede Jaarling“, Olympic bird 2001 Cape Town in 2 years: 7x 1. prize races and before him, his father, “Boris" flew 7x 1. prize. Here again, are the super genes. Therefore, I count these two daughters of „Romario“: both „The Queen“ and „Sister The Queen“, as the jewels of the Romario children. Today, „The King“ as well as the mother of „Thomas 6“, „The Queen“, as well as „Sister The Queen“, are all with my friend, Mike Ganus, and his wife Debbie.

Vandenabeele/Schaerlaeckens Blood –
„Josef“ has the super blood of Gaby Vandenabeele: with all the necessary, exceptional super characteristics: perfect body, super muscle, super soft feathers; plus, they always watch everything – and, they always look perfect/healthy. These are the same 'signs' seen in the „Josef“ Line and in the „Romario“ Line.

Note that, “Romario" is a 100% Ad Schaerlaeckens pigeon and is the grandfather (father to the mother) of „Thomas 6“. In the „Romario“ pedigree, you can find 3 X's the super pigeon, „Sissy“ from Vandenabeele, as well as 3 X's the Schaerlaeckens, „Ace Four 96-145“, and 1 X „Nest Sister Ace Four 96-146“, which both became 1st and 2nd Ace Pigeon against approx. 11,000 pigeons as young birds in the „Adelfing M Brabant NL“ (a pigeon association in the Netherlands). Ad Schaerlaeckens has understood to strengthen the genes of his super pigeons in his breeding pigeons more and more he breeds again and again on the exceptional pigeons to strengthen the genes of these super pigeons in the offspring.

Ganus/Schilling Equivalent Lines to „Josef“ and „Romario“ – I always look for equivalent lines to „Josef“ and „Romario“: single pigeons with the corresponding characteristics identical to my pigeons – to the lines of Josef and Romario: super pigeons for example: „Mona Lisa“ and „Wolverine“ of Mike Ganus; as well as, „Little Miss Nikki“ of Tom Schilling (USA).

The GFL-2014-275 of Mike Ganus, in the 2014 San Francisco Triple Crown won 1st prize at 350 miles (3rd in the clock), and a week earlier 1st prize at 272 miles 16 minutes ahead!!!!; plus, 1st average speed for the whole series!!! She is the granddaughter of „Rudy“ (Vandenabeele) and the „Mona Lisa“ of Mike Ganus. With such exceptional pigeons, I try to make my loft even better. I am very happy that Mike Ganus gave me this pigeon during my visit to the USA so that I could add it to my small stock. Since also several siblings won races, it was no coincidence and has therefore everything in itself to strengthen my loft in the future.

Simon Wolf –
With Simon Wolf, I have found a friend who has made a big name for himself in One Loft Races in a very short time (see FCI Grand Prix One Loft Championships) of the last years, and we follow the same breeding strategy and have the same basic pigeons. We exchange our best pairs so everyone can improve. Simon is the owner of two direct children from, “Romario", and also siblings to “Thomas 6", and children of “Josef". Simon has already had much success with the offspring from these pigeons.

Selection of Youngbird Racers?
“Perfects" – Rounds 1-3 > Races; Rounds 4-5 > Breeding – All young pigeons that develop perfectly are weaned and ALL of the pigeons from rounds 1-3 are sent to races; then the breeders are separated and are mated again for a final two rounds. In these two rounds, the focus is to breed youngsters for breeding pigeons. From these, I choose 1-3 pigeons for our breeding program and the other youngsters are given to friends, but only if the youngsters also meet my requirements for breeding. If a pigeon does not meet my own requirements, this pigeon is not given away.

The success of Others –
Here are several friends who have achieved the following successes with my birds. Martin Steffl, with 2 pigeons in 2019 for his two small sons, and with children from these two pigeons flew: 10. + 102. Place Final Race 510 km (~ 325 miles) in the BFP Romania OLR 2020 from Line “Thomas 6"; plus, 22. Place Final Race 390 km (~ 250 miles) SuperStar Race 2020. Bas Weijers 17. Place Pattaya 2020/21, 1st Race 330km/4682 pigeons, bred from a sister of „Thomas 6″. Karlheinz Koch 1. Place Moledo Yearlings Derby 2020/Middle Distance!! (His, 'Team 4' pigeons started out vs. +/- 320 breeders and +/- 1,800 pigeons) and the best pigeon from the Team, 0849-19-488 was also 14. Ace Pigeon over all Races; and is a grandchild of 03801-16-689 – daughter of Romario, “Sister The Queen“. Koch's 0849-19-488 won: 21./268km, 53./306km, 23./344km, 53./483km. Stefan Steenbergen won 9th (Champion KBDB) All Belgium 2020, and Team 1-2. Stefan got a full brother from „Thomas6“!!! This pigeon “01696-19-209" was on the Winning Team!!! Many top results by Simon Wolf for his top ranking in the FCI European OLR results came from the line “Thomas 6" and “Josef".

Flying Pilgrims USA flew 8. Place Victoria Falls 2019 winning 10`000 USD and 20. Place Victoria Falls 2020 with siblings; and they are all grandchildren from the “Sister The Queen“. The father of these two pigeons was raced by me in the Derby Great Algarve with 101.Place on the Final Race 496 km and bought by the Flying Pilgrims USA in the auction after the Final Race.

These are only a few successes from the last 2 years!!!!
These reports of success as well as my own successes are the basis for the selection of my few breeding pairs.

Rigorous Selection – begins with Breeders – If a pigeon is introduced and I cannot improve my future basis, this pigeon and all offspring will be removed from my loft!

If I keep breeding with such a pigeon, it takes years to compensate for such a mistake in the breeding in the years ahead. To separate from the pigeons is the faster way. I would rather accept to have possibly separated from pigeons too early than to see that I did not select consistently enough.

Management of Health?
Only healthy pigeons breed or fly well. Whereas other breeders may keep 80-100 pigeons in their loft, I only keep 10 breeding pigeons in the same amount of space. This is how I can guarantee a perfect climate where the pigeons feel very well.

Annual Vet Inspection – In the fall, all young pigeons that stay with me and any newly introduced pigeons are vaccinated against rotavirus and PMV in the first year, and after that from the 2nd year only against PMV. All newly introduced pigeons also receive a course of treatments against salmonella immediately upon arrival.

Veterinarian Dr. Norbert Peeters comes every year in February to me to examine my pigeons and only if he finds something is the pigeon is treated, otherwise not.

Round 1, 2 Tricho Treatment – It is of great importance that when the next clutch of eggs is in the nest, and just before the young are weaned, then the old and the young pigeons are treated with “Tricho green" from Dr. Peeters against trichomonads for 3 Days. This way I always have the young and the old pigeons to be in the best health and the young well prepared for the future. From this moment on, the immune system of the pigeon is responsible for its health.

Feed/Supplements – Besides “my own feed mixture“ for breeding, which is mixed by Vanrobaeys Belgium and is also used by some friends, my pigeons only receive a product from Dr. Geilen, which is used especially for breeding. (You can find this here: www.n-fit-pulver.de and www.n-fit-pulver.com).

I have been testing this product for years and Dr. Geilen currently has a perfect product for breeding. He also achieves considerable success with his race program. I only breed with the very best pigeons, so I also try to use the best product I trust to increase the quality even more and nothing is left to chance. I give the product 4 – 5 times until the laying of 1 egg (1st round breeding), then again 3 – 4 times before the next 1st egg of the next round. Thus, also the young pigeon in the nest receives this product which contains all important minerals to give to guarantee that the next eggs and the young pigeons in the nest have a perfect base.

The pigeons must have everything in the egg to develop perfectly, whether it has good or bad genes is decided by the parents and the ancestors. After hatching from the egg, we have ONLY 27 days to give the pigeon everything to become an ace pigeon.

Errors or deficiencies, in my opinion, cannot be corrected later. Only a pigeon with perfect organs can become a super pigeon. Everything builds on what the pigeon has available in the egg until weaning. „Thomas 6“ has the best I could find in his genes for OLR. These pigeons come from the program of 12-14 races of 200 – 650 km (~ 120-400 Miles) on flights week after week, but they have their strengths at 300-600 km (~ 180-360 Miles).

I am sure that the powder has a positive effect on the development of the organs and the brain and even if it improves the quality of my offspring by maybe only 2 to 3 percent, I have already achieved great success. However, I think that the powder can only reinforce the health of the pigeons, but if the pigeon does not have good genes, the powder alone cannot make a winner.

Other Methods producing your success?

I give my own feed mixture all year round (and I give them more than they would need; the next day I will get rid of the rest), but during breeding and molting, I add hulled sunflower seeds which I will get freshly hulled from organic sunflowers. The pigeons receive 3 different types of grit mixtures/ minerals fresh daily.

Even More Great Insights On Breeding –
In my loft, there is no free mating for my pigeons. I will use 3 rounds of pigeons for races and afterward, in the next rounds, there are a few pairs to get children for breeding, to strengthen genes, or just to see the result. I always have the basic pigeons, the super race pigeon, and the stock breeding pigeons in mind and I like to see these characteristics again and again in the offspring. I will not introduce a pigeon that only had a one-time success in this line, but only if successful pigeons can be discerned over at last 3-4 generations. I think 10-25% new pigeons every year is a good basis to keep the breeding pigeons on a young level. If I keep a pigeon that is older than 5 years in my breeding loft, it must be a very special pigeon.

A good idea is to take your best breeding pigeon and mate it with the best breeding pigeon of a friend, and then share the young pigeons. This way, you can both strengthen your breeding lofts and it brings both breeders further. If you cannot do that, you can always buy a young pigeon with good genes from a very special pair.

I only part with older and special pigeons if I have bred at least 2-3 even better pigeons for myself (according to my own requirements of a breeding pigeon). I try to improve myself from generation to generation and I will not succeed if I hold on to the same pigeons for 10 years. The successful base must of course always remain, but to keep improving I must mix with even better and then mate back to my base.

Favorite families, distances, etc.?
My favorite among all base pigeons is, „De Kleinen“ from Gaby Vandenabeele and some of his offspring like, „Sissi“ – which was bred by Gaby Vandenabeele (from Piconol, son of De Kleinen), but then was a foundation breeder for Ad Schaerlaeckens. (Two full sisters to, “Sissi" were also excellent breeding pigeons at Gaby Vandenabeele's loft.) These pigeons have the super genes!

“Josef“, the foundation breeder of Georg Fröhlingsdorf, grandfather of Thomas 6, is very closely bred to „De Kleinen“ via his mother; also „Romario“ has these same ancestors concentrated in his genes via Ad Schaerlaeckens. We find in them exceptional pigeons in the most competitive races and in breeding over many generations. These pigeons are at their best at 200-600 km (~ 180-360 Miles). And in headwind and hot weather, these pigeons are almost impossible to beat.

Gaby Vandenabeele bred, „De Kleinen“ from two pigeons he borrowed for breeding. The father flew in a difficult race in hot weather, with a lead for the 1st prize; and since he did not have a suitable female that corresponded to the quality of this male at that time, he then borrowed a special breeding female from a friend. From this pair „De Kleinen“ was born, which brought him a lot of success.

Was it luck or was it planned what Gaby Vandenabeele has achieved here? I think he understood already then that you could only get a breeding jewel like, „De Kleinen“ from two extraordinary pigeons.

Through Georg and Veronika Fröhlingsdorf, the mother the famous „Josef“ is inbred from, „De Kleinen“ of Gaby Vandenabeele. You can recognize that when comparing the picture of „De Kleinen“ and „Josef“. This is the way I had the opportunity to breed pigeons over generations that dominate their competitors at distances of 200-600 km.

Here in Germany, I would equate „Josef“ of Georg Fröhlingsdorf with „De Kleinen“ in Belgium. He is a descendant who followed in the footsteps of the „De Kleinen“.

A Sample of the Descendants of, „Josef“:

Father: 1st + 3rd + 20th Ace Pigeon Male National Germany; 37th Ace Pigeon Hens National Germany

Grandfather: 4th + 9th Ace Pigeons Hens National Germany; plus, „Thomas 6“ WINNER of the Golden Race Algarve 24 Minutes ahead (2018)

Father: 31 x 1st Place Winners!!!! (only those in the loft of Georg Fröhlingsdorf!)

„Josef“ is also father to Super Breeder, „The King“ 03318-17-154

Importantly: Josef Raced for 5 Years! – It should be noted that „Josef“ was entered 5 years on races and was also involved in a 2nd German Championship and many other championships. Only then his career began in the breeding loft. In 2014, in his first year in the breeding loft, he bred pigeons that won 1st and 20th Ace-Pigeon (male) in 2015 in Germany! And every year thereafter Josef bred super pigeons with different hens.

Key Breeding Pairs?
My breeding pigeons were all selected according to the same system: successes over several generations, and generations after that they must still have been very successful. As well, they must possess many similarities with their successful ancestors: perfect body, super feathers, good behavior, and be offspring from the „best pairs" any breeder has. The pigeons must have the ability to win by a few minutes ahead!

My uncle had racing pigeons and I used to ride my bike to his house as a young boy to see the arrival of the pigeons. It was always something special for me. My first pigeons as a small boy stayed with the chickens of my parents. Soon I had my first pigeon loft and my first races as a teenager were from only one compartment – BUT, with the rubber rings in hand, I had to run to a neighbor who let me use his clock! Fortunately, there weren't that many cars at that time, because the way led over the main street in my village and I didn't want to lose precious time.

My uncle gave me his pigeon clock when I was about 14 years old and every year after that, when my parents came back from vacation another pigeon loft compartment was added to the top of the garage until there was no more space left.

With my first car, the first visits to Belgium and Holland took place and the first of those pigeons came back with me to Odenheim, Germany.

When I started with racing pigeons, there were 25 pigeon fanciers in our small village alone, today there are only 2 pigeon fanciers left – and they enter races clubs nearby.

Therefore, I see the future for pigeon racing only in urban areas with many pigeon fanciers or at the big One Loft Races.

My Background
In my youth, I played handball from autumn to spring and as soon as the handball season was over I participated in races with the pigeons.

In 1992, I married my wife Kirsten and in 1997 we had our daughter, Julia-Marie. On the 1st of April in 1994, I founded my first company together with 2 colleagues. We trade in tools, machines, steel metals, work protection supplies, etc. Since 2000 I now own 50% of the company.

The handball sport was terminated with the establishment of the company and the breeding pigeons remained as a balance to my main job for a long time. The sport has now accompanied me for more than 45 years. After having founded the company, I only had time to enter very few pigeons. 10 years ago, I took over another company, with similar products, giving me a bigger role in my industry.

Everyone who knows me knows that I am not satisfied with 2nd place. When it comes to a competition, I want to win. When I decided to participate in the big One Loft Races, it was clear that I also wanted to be among the winners and it was already in my first year 2013/14 on the SAMDPR Million Dollar Pigeon Race (when I entered 3 pigeons in total) in the Hot Spot Car Race 5 with 356 km, that my pigeon „Blacky“ came in at 2ndplace and many other top prizes before that!

When it comes to my breeding pigeons, I do it the same way: Very few pairs but they must be the best. If I give a pigeon to another breeder, it must be an enrichment for the new owner. I rely on my experience and my feeling in the assessment.

Only through the support of my parents as a teenager, and now today with my wife and my daughter, who together with me now breed the pigeons, was it possible for me to always keep racing pigeons. I am very thankful for that because I made many great friendships through the pigeon sport in all these years, even in the United States and China. I am very happy that my daughter is very involved with our pigeons and I can pass on to her many experiences and knowledge about the pigeons.

For the future, I wish us all many years of fun with our pigeons, fair and successful races, and many hours together somewhere in the world with nice final races among friends.

Tips summarized:

– A successful breeding pigeon should only be given away if there are equal or maybe better offspring available.

– When it comes to breeding pigeons, very little medicine is best.

– Medical controls are nevertheless necessary once a year.

– The fewer pigeons you have, the easier it is to keep an eye on the health of the pigeons.

– Do not force a mating on the pigeons only because it looks good on paper; whether a mating makes sense, you can see in the first 10 seconds when you put the female next to the male.

– Only pigeons with perfect behavior bring us further in „breeding“, i.e., to defend their territory strongly, but also recognize the territory of others. I like to have these pigeons in my „breeding program“. No fighters that destroy other's nests.

– Pigeons under stress in overcrowded lofts breed many more bad pigeons than good ones in my opinion.

– If the pigeons trust you and are not afraid of you, your handling of the pigeons is good.

– A good pigeon always watches his fancier; if he knows what he does and how he behaves, a good and important relationship is built.

– New pigeons for breeding must be better than the greater part of your own pigeons; otherwise, it is difficult to improve.

– Rather buy only 1 pigeon than 10; but the 1 pigeon must be from the best, even if it has the price of 10 pigeons. Rather put offspring from the one pigeon later in your breeding loft.

– Always maintain the excellent appearance and the characteristics of your foundation stock pigeons. The more similarities are present, the greater I see the possibility of success in the future in breeding and races.