Shane Gerber serves on the SANPO executive and is a member of the Metro Club in Port Elizabeth, which is under the banner of the PE Federation (160 members) and the Eastern Province Pigeon Union (240 members). His name is often seen in the top five of the points league champions at organisational level.
Shane’s passion for quality Tom Lock birds has been amply rewarded over the past five years. He endeavours to apply state-of-the-art training methods, but is quick to give credit to the quality and courage of his feathered friends.
“They are exceptional pigeons with exceptional genes,” he says.
Out of four pigeons bred recently, two were double winners. This year’s babies have been instrumental in Stefan Strydom becoming the Uitenhage Federation’s Short Distance Champion.
The following summary provides some insight into the extraordinary performance history behind Shane’s foundation pigeons, specifically the pedigree blue cock, ZA THU 05-23597 (97).
This cock, bred out of the ‘R80 000 pair’, is one of this pair’s best producers so far. In its first nest for Shane, both babies ended up being double winners. Photo: Shane Gerber
The sire
Its sire is SA THU 19150-02 (the ‘R80 000 Super Cock’), the best son of the R100 000 Egg Cock and a double union winner. An extraordinary hereditary transmitter, the Super Cock produced four national Ace Pigeons in only two seasons, as well as:
- The 2010 SANPO gold medal winner (middle distance), raced by Out Of Africa Lofts;
- The first Ace in the 2010 GRPA Young Bird Series;
- The 2010 GRPA Derby Combine winner 2010.
- The R80 000 Super Cock is grandsire to the 2010 SANPO Gold Medal winner (short distance) and the 2010 SANPO Gold Medal winner for overall best bird, among others.
The dam
The dam of 97 is SA 1648-03, a TRPF Derby winner by five-and-a-half minutes, from the ‘click’ hen of the R80 000 Super Cock. One daughter was the THU gold medal winner in 2007. Another daughter, ZA 15749-09, was a 2010 SANPO gold medal winner (middle distance) and also a five-time club winner, two-time division winner, two-time GRPA winner and GRPA Derby and Car Race winner.
Shane’s SA 55342-06 is the inbred progeny of sire-to-daughter mating for stock from the André cock (6764 SA 98), sold for R50 000 at auction. It sired union winners, a union points champion, and the second Ace in the ‘Champion of Champions’ in the Pretoria Union.
It also sired Kite, the Best Bird in the Pretoria Union (2002) and Klein Kite, which appeared four times in the union’s Top 10.
Thomas Smit is a racing pigeon selector, and a freelance journalist and writer.
