PigeonLinks.com - The Holle Cropper Website

Larry Jolly in Europe 2008 Review of the Holle Croppers
Guys, I have just returned from visiting the VDT National at Dortmund 19,000 birds and the Amersfoort Regional Show 2000 birds. I was lucky, my gracious host was John Logemann the younger, and we were able to take in the 2 shows and also visit friends, Thomas Voss and Family, Henk Weijmar, and John Logemann Sr. First I want to say that John and Vera were great to open their home to me and take me all over Holland and Northern Germany. Many thanks to you both for taking such excellent care of me. Many wonderful developments have occurred this year that I would like to share with you. First the Vrienden Holle Club has decided to go International. This makes total sense as John has helped Holle Guys in Norway, Australia, France, Italy, England, as well as the US. Johns commitment to the promotion of the Holle Cropper knows no boundaries. The club has decided that they want to open the Club to all interested Holle Breeders World Wide. This makes good sense as it will help to unify the breeders and help improve the Holle Cropper universally. Speaking of Improvement, I am really pleased and congratulate the members of the Friends Club for their efforts and achievements in Improving the Holle. My eyes almost fell out when I saw the quality of the Holles at Amersfoort. The Breeders have taken great efforts to improve the bodies on the Dutch Holles. The classes at Amersfoort all showed birds with good development on the front line. When I was at John's 3 years ago he told me that I must be very careful to look to the bottom Circle on the Holle Cropper. He was very right as this circle, controls the stance, and determines if the bird will be a tail sitter or not. There was one bird at Amersfoort that was given a 90 or an unjudged predicate. I took a picture of this bird to show you what a Dutch judge considers unworthy of being called a Holle Cropper. You really need to receive a score of 94 to be considered adequate for breeding stock.

Look at this bird, the bottom line is uneven from behind the leg to the front. There is no resemblance to a circle on the bottom. The bird has a small body, and it looks like it is standing on stilt legs. The neck is short and the bird is a tail sitter. I took a picture in a book at John's dads place so that you can see old style Holles.

The date on the photo is 1924. This is the Bird that finished first in Amersfoort. Note a completely round Bottom line, Eye over the foot, adequate Globe, Horizontal stance. The Bird could have a little longer neck, a little less wing cross, and would look much better in my loft :-) The Bird belongs to Danny Logemann.

You might think that 150 miles away in Dortmund that there might be some good Holles. I am not sure what was going on but the Holles in Dortmund were disappointing. Many of the top Breeders were not in attendance but there were some definite trends that are counter productive. This Blue was the top bird. Sorry for the crap photo. This bird is a tail sitter, he is short in the front, and short in the neck.

I was thinking before I go to far it would be great if you met the folks I refer to in my writings.
This John Logemann, Danny Logemann, and John Logemann Sr in front of John Sr's Loft

Do you think this guy knows anything about Pigeons. One of the Founders of the Friends club John Sr is one of my Heroes.

Long time Friends Thomas Voss and John Logemann. Thomas's Norwich are legendary and he is also a genetic expert, and as good a person as one could find

Eberhard Voss father of Thomas a real legend in the Norwich world.

My Good friend Nich Dawyd on the right. One of the best Pigeon breeders on the planet, he is secretary for the British Brunner Club. He is so universally recognized and gifted, that he is in high demand to Judge constantly at shows in Germany.

Holle legend and good friend Piet Hiemstra Friends Club

Rien De Maag on right breeder of Black, Blue, Tiger, and Yellows Sander de Heus with back turned. Discussing judging results.

Danny Logemann, Aron de Gier breeder of Blacks and Duns, John Logemann

Henk Weijmar and me in front of his loft. Henk lives in the house formerly owned by Roozendaal, a Holle legend. Henk is simply one of the finest men I have ever met. He is a master breeder of Black Pied Holle Croppers the best on the planet. I am honored to call him friend.

I just got a note from Bob Nolan asking for the clarification of the circle on the Holle Cropper

I just shot his in the Spruit Book from the 30's. This shows the original "de cirkels van Tuijt" Note it is a result of the birds from Henry Reij from the 20's Particularly a white cock known as the King These 3 circles are no longer relevant. To a point the center diagram still works but there must be more Globe overlapping the shoulders.
This is the King by Henry Reij of den Haag from 1920. This bird signaled the end of the Amsterdam Balloon Cropper And the Birth of the Holle Cropper, considered the break through pigeon.

This is the modern Ideal. I have emphasized the circles with Black ink. The Bird must form a circle from the side. Particularly relevant is the line on the bottom. My Friends Quite literally with the HOlle CrOpper the BOttOm line is everything. You need to start thinking O. Does this help you see OOOOOOOOOOO ??

ALWAYS LOOK FIRST TO THE BOTTOM LINE. The rest of the bird will follow if this is correct.
Some photos from the show in Amersfoort This gives you some idea of what a show looks like in Holland





I was looking at the wall and saw this Lentink reproduction of the Holle Cropper

Look carefully, you should see a bunch of multicoloured circles standing on 2 legs I think these birds show me a good line



This is an overview of the birds of John Logemann Sr John lives in a very old town near Hoorn Netherlands, this town was once a fishing centre

Some of John's birds, he is working with dominant red in dilute and grizzled I like this cock very much

A powerful bluegrizzled hen

Notice the length of the tail of this black hen

The same with this blue hen hen

This little hen is a sweetheart, a delicate color and a good personality

Nice grizzle hen, could use more neck but again notice the tail and flight length She has a good amount of body in front of her legs

Three generations of Holle breeders. Joh Sr has a small garden for his birds and he must climb on the ladder to take care of the birds upstairs He is now in his 70ties. Story has it he had a knee replacement a few years back. The day he got home from Hospital he made it up there to feed and water. I made it with the wet snow that was falling. John is one of my favourites, he is a real pigeon breeder.

I remember Bertus van der Vegt introducing me to John in Leeuwarden. I think he was the first champion of the Friendsclub

I visit to Henk Weijmer in Kampen, the Netherlands. Henk lives in a house in the Gerrit Roozendaal lumber yard. He is a grand gentleman and a fabulous breeder of Holles. I'm proud to call him friend!

Like most Dutch breeders Henk used to fly Racing Homers

The depth in quality of Henk's black pieds is obvious.


For me this is Henk's best hen. I am hoping someone else will consider bringing in some of Henk's bloodlines. These pieds are the best that exists. 2 years ago Henk had an equally good stud of red pieds, guess what, they are gone now. I only wonder what will become of them without Henk's guiding hand.

Henk, John and Danny trying to convince me it is really not cold enough to snow

Henk keeps a few Flying Gaditanos in a very practical flying loft


I have some of these Dutch Flying Gaditano's, I'm going to build a flying cage like this They look very cool flying around with partial globes

He also started with a high quality stud of white Brunners Look at the bottom line on this bird. These birds were in an open loft....I can only imagine what they would look like in a showpen

The next stop on our tour will be to visit John Logemann. John is the point man for the Holle Cropper world wide. John has a very demanding job, far from his home. Somehow he always finds time to take care of his birds, support shows, and to act as chairman for the Vrienden Club formed in the late 90's by my friends in Kampen. John is also the worldwide Ambassador of the Holle Cropper searching out and helping any new Holle Cropper enthusiast on all continents. I like and admire John, he recently was asked to pen an article in Geflugel Borse the top German Pigeon Magazine comparing the Holle in various countries but especially comparing German to Dutch birds, this he managed in a diplomatic fashion. No one understands the Hole Better or Works harder at it. We are lucky to call him friend. John is supported well by, Vera his loving companion and Danny his son and next generation Holle guy. John is also a very humble guy always deferring to breeders like Thomas and Eberhard Voss, Henk Weijmer, John Sr, and other corner stones in the Pigeon world.
Danny and John Logemann taking some kidding from me as they have just seen that Vera has won a certificate for her White Cock. The Other certificate was won by Danny with a Black Cock and this was also Champion.

This is my friend John helping me compare Andalusian Holles at Amersfoort. John has trained himself to look at the entire Holle, and to gently pass that information on to other breeders. John has made his selection and will now steer me to the Best Bird.

Birds from Family Logemann, not all perfect poses but look at the quality of the birds.


Pieds and Tigers are dying out in Holland. I encouraged John to cross his Best Blue Selfs with a Pied Holle. This is unacceptable to most breeders as they prefer to keep Pieds to Pieds. This is one of 2 cock birds bred by John that will lead the way to saving the Blue Pied Holles. 2 more years will show us a lot.



As you can see John is working hard to improve the Holle

This strawberry hen and her sister are from the white cock that won the certificate

One of my favourite birds, actually bred by John Sr. I hope she gets tired of Holland and immagrates to a warm country:-)