Article Published: 23 August 2007

By NM September-“The Black Cock”

Due to the fierceness of competition in the Blackheath & District Homing Union (BDHU) I deemed it necessary to do some write-ups on the fanciers in this small but extremely tough union. For the past 3 years the BDHU members has won no less than 7 board races with top 10 finishes in almost all board races the last 2 years. I will attempt to do an article on all fanciers winning feds for the 2007 season in the BDHU

This is my very first attempt at writing an article of any sort and do apologize in advance if the readers feel that it lacks anything of any sort, but I hope to improve as time goes by.

The fancier in the spotlight for my first article is a guy that needs no introduction to the pigeon sport, but is a first year member at the BDHU. He is none other than Mr. Lerm who this year race under the banner of Gesin Lerm. Mr Lerm started off with a bang by winning the first Fed of the season, namely Leeu Gamka, but that’s not all, he also won the next Fed from Beaufort West with the same bird and a few races later another Beaufort West as well. Not bad at all considering he is a small team fancier with two cocks and a couple of hens in his stockloft.. Needless to say he races a family of birds all related to one cock.This family is known as the Vrotpoot family. Judging by the feds won and velocities flown, they seem to be a very fast family of birds and the wing men can judge for themselves………

The hen which won the two Feds, Cheq Hen – ZA WKDU 06 -17343 is one of 7 children from one mating of which 5 has already won races.

The other Fed winner, Cheq w/f hen – ZA FB 06 – 57401 is a cousin of the double Fed hen as their sires are half brothers.

Mr Lerm believes in keeping a small team and also tries to keep his management as simple as possible. He manages his team according to a monthly cycle where he treats routinely on a weekly basis and never strays from his program. He believes strongly in Dova Products and the only other products he uses is Tylan & Terramycin. Apple cider vinegar and bulgarian yoghurt is also used on a regular basis, with household jik being used when all else fails.

The lofts in which the racing team is housed is small and very practical and kept neat and clean at all times. He also have his wife and son firmly behind him, and the old hands say where there is a woman in the loft you can only expect to be successful.

Lofts of Lerm Family

Sadly Mr Lerm informed me that he might not race the full season, because the property that he is currently racing from has been sold. The double fed hen has already been sold and the gentleman who bought her definitely bought a gem of a bird. The BDHU would like to wish him all the best for the future and hope that he finds a house in our area because a fierce competitor like Mr. Lerm can only be a benefit to any organization.

My next loft visit will be Mr Ivan Yeo, also known as the Englishman, and he won the first Victoria West fed with a considerable margin. Watch this space……