Comb. van Diest, Dongen, The Netherlands

Introduction:

Combinatie van Diest have their loft in the village Dongen in the south of the Netherlands. The combination is formed by Aad van Diest (at the left) and his son Arjan van Diest. Both are fanatic pigeon fanciers since their childhood, and big fans of the pure Janssen Brothers birds. 

Aad van Diest was until 1975 one of the main champions in the strong combine Afdeling Haarlem, with his pure Janssen Arendonk birds. During that period he lived with his family in the village Lisse, well known of the Keukenhof Park and the flower bulbs. In 1976 he was asked to become the professional caretaker of a very famous loft in the Netherlands, A. Trommelen in Dongen. A loft that was famous about fantastic national results on the one-day long distance races. The main foundation birds on this loft were purchased in the 1950's and 1960's from famous Belgian lofts like Hector Desmet (direct from the Prins and Witpen), Emiel Matterne (direct from the St.Vincent), Horemans, Maurice Delbar and Ducheyne. The main goal of Aad van Diest was to make this loft champion again, after a period of declining results. When he started in 1976, one of his first steps was to select the large amount of birds in a very strict way. Even birds with fantastic pedigrees were removed. Only the strongest and healthy birds deserved a place on the loft. With the remaining birds the new breeding season was started in 1977. And coincidence or not, in this year a big champion was born on the loft in Dongen, the well-known Moulins 409. This cock had the Prins and Witpen from Hector Desmet, the St.Vincent from Emiel Matterne and birds from Horemans in his pedigree. Moulins 409 became the winner of 1st prize National Moulins against 11,743 birds in 1981 and the 6th prize National Chateauroux against about 10,000 birds in the season 1982. Aad van Diest also tried out some mixes of the Trommelen birds with pure Janssen Brothers birds. One of the results of these mixed bloodlines was the 1st Championship Youngsters Semi-National in 1982. In the years until 1985 this loft won a large number of championships and 1st prizes in federation, combine and semi-national level. So you can say that Aad van Diest surely reached his goal. The year 1985 was the last racing season of the loft A. Trommelen in Dongen because of the disease of the owner Mr. Trommelen. 

In 1986 Aad van Diest and his son Arjan started to race on a new loft and under their own name, Combinatie van Diest. Arjan shared the pigeon hobby with his father since he was 7 years old already and became a very enthusiastic pigeon-fancier too. He and his father share the same sport-vision. They want to win 1st prizes and championships and they know that you only can win when you've got the best birds on your loft you can get. Birds from the Janssen Brothers from Arendonk bloodlines scored their best results in the years before, so Aad and Arjan decided that only pigeons of these pure bloodlines were allowed to stay on their loft. As a result of very strict selection rules the pigeons on their loft have proven their racing and breeding results over many years now. It is absolutely impossible to give you detailed information about all the championships and 1st prizes they won from 1986 until now. On federation, combine and even on national level their loft has won an impressive amount of championships. Many other lofts became champion, won and still win 1st prizes with the offspring of the Janssen Brothers birds from Aad and Arjan, and naturally they are very proud of that.

Pigeon-judge

National Certificate Pigeon-judge Aad van Diest.

Aad van Diest is a well-known and high-demanded pigeon-judge in his country. He judged on many big national and international pigeon-shows, like the Olympic Show in Amsterdam. His biggest passion is judging the racing-capacities of the pigeons, one of the most difficult activities in our sport. He knows that the actual races are still the best way to judge the qualities of a racing-pigeon.

Each year many pigeon-fanciers ask him to judge and select the racing-pigeons on their loft. But he also gives free advice concerning the quality of the loft and other important matters in our sport. A lot of fanciers expressed their appreciation, as a result of the significantly improved racing-results in the seasons that followed. This satisfies Aad even more!