In March we had to say our farewells to the sire to more than half of our breeding and show stock. 2817-99 was a breeding cock of a seldom seen quality. His sons and F2 and further generations, both in the bluebarred and bluegrizzled line, and our black line are very succesfull. This all started when 2817 came to our loft.

2817 is bred by our long time friend Aron de Gier. The father of him was a cock from aron's loft(wekking/de vries strain), his mother was bred by us, from Hiemstra/van der Spek lines. Pretty much the best you could get at the moment. One day in December 1999 we got a call from Aron, asking us if we had any interest in his bluebarreds and blue grizzled birds. He decided to only keep his blacks, duns and at that time tigers.

I saw this young cock at a young birds show in Kampen a few months before, and it gave me that sweet sensation one experiences when you come across a "once in a lifetime" bird. I recall being happy for Aron, that he was able to breed such a great bird. It wasn't much of a showbird though. Maybe that's why he was underestimated at the time. Aron thought the birds he had would be in good hands with us, so the deal was made quickly. All his birds from his blue lines came to our loft

When Aron visited in the summer of 2000 he couldn't believe his eyes. There were countless birds from his strain, a lot of them from 2817. Among them 2 sons from him 123-00 and 227-00. This was the season victory started for us. Thanks to Aron and thanks to 2817-99.

If he had been a Racing Homer, he would have been worth a figure containing at least 5 zero's before the point... If he were a Racing Homer he would be a legend on his own. But he was ours, giving lots of great youngs and more important lots of joy to us. Today many of his offspring is spread around the world, being succesfull or very helpfull to many breeding friends. May he live in our mind and heart forever....