Übach-Palenberg, a small town with twelve rural districts and five individual farmsteads in the greater Aachen area, in the south of the Heinsberg district. The immediately adjacent neighboring communities are Landgraaf on the Dutch side and the cities Geilenkirchen, Baesweiler, Alsdorf and Herzogenrath in German Page. The village character of Übach-Palenberg has been preserved, but has ensured a significant level of awareness for years Pigeon fancier family – namely the group Röntgen and Sohn. However, not related to the discoverer of X-rays – Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen. But easy to remember and natural because of the similarity of the names because of the excellent travel performance on long distances, the reason for my visit.

The striking community officially consists of the senior Eddy Röntgen, 69, pensioner, and his son Dennis, 37 years old, a trained well builder and now works as a heat pump installer. She belongs to the strongest long-distance club in Germany, the WSC Wegberg – Myhl. At the beginning of October this year, Eddy Röntgen gave us a detailed interview.

TaubenMarkt: Eddy, I would like to have a conversation with you Let's start by talking a little about the sports environment. Our Readers are interested to know whether there are more traveling sports fans here.

Eddy Roentgen: We used to have RV Wurmtal traveled. This has now merged with other RVs to form the RV Northern district of Aachen, approx. 50 traveling punches, in the regional association 411 Grenzland West.

TaubenMarkt: If a sports fan wants to switch to long distance, what does he have to do, I mean formally, organizationally?

Eddy Roentgen: You have to belong to an RV, including me I belong to an RV, the large RV Nordkreis Aachen, and am theirs Operations center manager. I also send my pigeons there as training pigeons. You have to belong to an RV and a club in order to do that Obtain bandage rings. Then contact the managing director Josef Fell and he will accept you as a member of the ARGE Euskirchen. That's it the formalities.

TaubenMarkt: Why are you actually into the long distance changed?

Eddy Roentgen: That's how it happened. In previous years the RV championships were flown by kilometers. The final flight was still over 740 km. And on subsequent flights we always did well, both with widowers and females. Then the travel plans became more and more shortened. First to 650 km, then to 600 km and today there are hardly any 600 km flights left in RV travel plans. What was once Angouleme as the final flight suddenly became Poitiers and with this development this game became significantly less attractive for us. But the final impetus was my friendship with the long-distance family Freialdenhofen and Sons from Aldenhoven, one of the best-known and most successful long-distance players internationally. There I had the opportunity to wait for the pigeons to return home, and the long distance fascinated me back then.

So we became convinced that the step on the To venture long distances and if you do, then do it right. We separated from everyone RV pigeons and in 2011 the first long distance pigeons were born here in Windhausen, a district of Übach-Palenberg. The first breeding pigeons were received us from sports friend Karl-Heinz Kanski from Eschweiler. He was very generous and let us choose 13 pairs of his breeding pigeons because he didn't have them all could test. So we got off to a good start and Karl-Heinz knew quickly more about his breeding pigeons. In the same year the first six pigeons came from the SG Freialdenhofen to us. It has to be said that we are already in the first year We bred great pigeons that are still in our family trees today find again.

We started with yearlings in 2012, for example on Bordeaux. They open there on Fridays, and pigeons arrived here on Thursdays. The reporting office, sports friend Josef Fell, didn't want to believe it. The matter was investigated. At the release point it turned out that a basket had not been sealed and five pigeons had escaped, three of us and two of another sports friend. The flight took off the next morning as planned. Out of 37 pigeons we placed, we won 19 national prizes. We were thanked for reporting the pigeons that had arrived the day before. That was our start to the long distance. Which motivated us a lot. In 2013 we were able to take part with two-year-olds and achieved 6th place at the Int. Long distance championship.

TaubenMarkt: We are now in 2023. Since the beginning you have had very good success. But I can imagine that you wanted to improve and strengthen you even further. Do you have any of these now? Efforts made?

Eddy Roentgen: That’s right. You know Friedhelm Menne, an international top long-distance club known as Menne and daughters. I got to know him at our deployment site in Erkelenz when he put training pigeons there. As an interested long-distance player you look Of course, look at the price lists. And there is the female with Friedhelm Number 94 noticed. She flew one from Barcelona for the fourth time that year Top price. When inserting I was able to get this female into the in two flights take hand. After everything was over, I took Friedhelm aside and asked: “Can I buy a child from this female?” His answer was: “Eddy, so many She can no longer lay eggs like I could give her offspring. But I promise you one thing next year!” In fact, he brought the following year to be brought to Perpignan with three pigeons, and one was a child of the Female number 94. This child turned out to be a bird. He has the number 188, And this bird has become the top sire of our breed. Also with He only brings top pigeons to different females, for Barcelona and Perpignan.

TaubenMarkt: Let me interrupt. You named the release points Barcelona and Perpignan. I was already very familiar with them as a young man. But for our readers: There is a certain system behind whether and which long-distance pigeons are placed on which flights. I'm talking about Pau 23.6.23 minimum distance 730 km; Agen 30.6.23 Minimum distance 700 km; Barcelona 7.7.23 Minimum distance 900 km; St. Vincent 15.7.23 Minimum distance 710 km; Marseille minimum distance 675 km; Narbonne July 28, 2023 Minimum distance 700 km; Perpignan 08/04/2023 725 km.

Eddy Roentgen: The pigeon should if they go to Barcelona flew, have a three week break. She doesn't need one in between either Training flight more. There are also long-distance pigeons that can do it fly up to a thousand kilometers, but nothing goes beyond that. You ask that firmly. If it continues, they are gone. For example Friedhelm Menne's pigeons, They can also travel twelve and thirteen hundred kilometers, you have to know that. That's why the best of 188, son of his 94, is already in the breeding loft.

TaubenMarkt: Does anyone else have long-distance pigeons? contributed that you would like to mention?

Eddy Roentgen: Yes. This is Marc Schreurs from As in Belgium. He lives 300 meters from the well-known pigeon veterinarian Dr. Peeters away. We also got to know Marc Schreurs about the Belgian travel results learned. He is an absolute Barcelona specialist. We've been going for four years and get us a young one from his annual ace pigeon. We order early enough and also know how much it costs. It won't be discussed for long, but If we don't like it, we leave it there. We have a baby on Saturday taken from the pigeon that was the best Barcelona pigeon for five years.

TaubenMarkt: You give me the keyword “not pleases". Do you prefer a certain plumage color or type of pigeon, so Appearance of a pigeon. Or what you don't like, for example a mold, a colorful check or red?

Eddy Roentgen: I don't care about the color, but the pigeon has to I like it in my hand, it has good harmony. But I'm looking at this Eye. I always have a magnifying glass with me. I have already acquired this knowledge 35 years ago with my sports friend Kurt Artz. He doesn't live far from here and it is a well-known and successful so-called program player. I got my basic knowledge of pigeon racing from him.

TaubenMarkt: Your “looking in the eyes” is very good Interesting. I am aware of various theories regarding this. I have I've already tried to use it and I also have a magnifying glass. Explain to us please explain how you or you apply an eye theory.

Eddy Roentgen: I'll tell you. The eye has to have one Have a value ring that is really clearly visible. Then you have to go to that Have lots of breeding grooves around the value ring. Lots of black in it, and you can Also recognize the speed and distance lines in the value ring. All my pigeons have good eyesight. There is no top airliner here who can do that doesn't have. The color of the value ring does not matter. A good pilot has always a good eye.

Pigeon market: And other external characteristics of the pigeon, For example, overhead tail feather on the right or left?

Eddy Roentgen: I don't look into that. But after that Wing pattern, i.e. the striking feathers very well. But all pigeons have to Have feathers like silk! And we have the best pigeons Breeding loft.

TaubenMarkt: How big is your pigeon population?

Eddy Roentgen: About 250 pigeons included Breeding pigeons.

TaubenMarkt: Is the loss rate on that? Long distance particularly big?

Eddy Roentgen: I can tell you and show you very clearly: We had 72 young pigeons, and after they were in the basket 13 times, there are still 69 left. We don't darken and we don't expose. Even if the feather condition is no longer particularly good, the pigeon has to show itself. She just needs to come home. You see the training trailer there. The boys come in there in the winter and learn to eat and drink there. Because on the RV flights they don't even learn to drink anymore. Because the time between the onset and the release the next morning is far too short.

TaubenMarkt: How is your pigeon population? accommodated?

Eddy Roentgen: We saw the old one just as we were passing by Saw hit. This is where the breeding pigeons are located. And here we go now see is the traveling loft with an annex for the females. He's still from the previously known impact construction company Friedhelm Kock from Aldenhoven. They are not modern ones technical equipment installed, such as: E.g. radiant heaters, heaters, Underfloor heating, ionizers, fans, extraction systems, etc. with exception a yearling compartment with manure belts. Of course there is power for the antennas and installed the light.

TaubenMarkt: So that the reader can understand the process Loft control with the long distance pigeons becomes clearer. Started as a boy, then Yearling, then old pigeon; how many training flights and how far?

Eddy Roentgen: So we're basically moving out of that Breeding pigeons and lay some eggs from pairs from the traveling team um, so they flew excellently. The number of boys and their treatment I just told you. Before the RV preflights begin, we do three private ones Training flights. There is no such thing as sorting out boys. With the year olds is it's different. You have to take the flights up to 900 km and get two prizes fly. Or once lace. Unfortunately, pigeons with two tails have to be taken away Blow. Because you can't use them in the long distance either. We have found that they are not getting better.

TaubenMarkt: And what about the selection? the old pigeons?

Eddy Roentgen: There is none. The pigeon has yes has shown over the years that she can do it. An old pigeon can't come that early. We have pigeons here from 2017 that are participating successfully. One part goes three times with, after Pau, St. Vincent and Perpignan, five pigeons placed three times in 2023 and all five three times price. Pigeons for Barcelona and Perpignan only go twice with.

TaubenMarkt: Please a few words about travel methods and Training.

Eddy Roentgen: All racing pigeons fly after “total widowhood”. They are mated in March, but only once. They breed and then the RV flights begin. They go to these as training pigeons and, if possible, should have flown twice 500 km or at least 2,500 km before the Pau flight, the first long-distance flight. The problem for the long distance is that the RVs often only reach 350 km. Occasionally I can give pigeons away from home or from a private provider.

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Travel services 2023 Roentgen and Son:

1. International Long distance championship

2. Mediterranean Cup

5. Atlantic-Cup

3rd + 4th ace bird of the international flights

1. Heinz Seegmüller Memorial Prize

4. Herbert Falkenberg Honorary Prize

4. Engelbert Jennekens Memorial Award

Results 2023 in the national list:

Pau 8th, 18th, 119th prize.

Agen 19th, 24th, 39th, 52nd prize.

Barcelona 4th, 5th, 31st, 63rd prize.

St. Vincent 64th, 68th, 100th prize.

Perpignan 1st, 3rd, 16th, 23rd, 36th, 86th. Price.

5. King Euroregion 2023

3. Old + Yearling Euregio 2023

Fastest 2nd Perpignan Euregio + Zone 2 series

Travel services from 2013 (excerpt):

Int. Long distance championship 6/2013, 6/2014, 10/2018, 5/2019, 12/2022, 1/2023!

Over 30 placements in the top 20 in the national list since 2013!

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TaubenMarkt: The first long-distance flight is now underway at. How do you then choose the pigeons that should go with you?

Eddy Röntgen: We know our pigeons and theirs Results. The fast ones go on the first long-distance flights, others, Those who seem suitable to us go to Barcelona and Perpignan. One We don't put the Barcelona pigeon at 850 km. She should show her qualities Can fly 1,100 km.

Pigeon market: Now the pigeons are running into the market individual hitting compartments all mixed up. They also get them before flights all the same food. Other sports friends told me about the long distance it wouldn't be so accurate.

Eddy Roentgen: No, no, that's not true. That must I come back to the Freialdenhofen family, who are friends of ours. The Years ago, son Dirk Freialdenhofen had more than half a dozen Tested food compositions and had them tested. He is at the conclusion He decided that the food from Beyers Belgium suited him best. And that's what we've been doing ever since. Maybe not cheap, but it's worth it paid out, look at our travel results.

The pigeons that are going on the next flight are supplied with the high-fat racing mix four days in advance. After returning from the flight, the time of the electronic confirmation must be reported immediately by telephone. If the report occurs more than 15 minutes later, the pigeon's arrival time is set to the call time. And to be on the safe side, we also use rubber rings.

TaubenMarkt: Eddy, what the reader is doing today Also particularly interested is the administration of by-products, we hear:

Eddy Roentgen: Where I think very highly of them are Products from Röhnfried. We've been using them for years. Whenever the Pigeon comes home from a 1000 km flight, is in the Rotosal trough and Carnispeed. It rebuilds itself immediately. Then we give it over the food Immune booster, witch's beer in the potion. Advice every day over the winter; in the Mauser Taubengold from Röhnfried and Usnegano.

What is very important to us – veterinary care Care. A long-distance pigeon sat together for four to five days other pigeons in the basket. Immediate individual treatment takes place at home several days, fixed in the cell, administration in tablet form, under Advice from Dr. Peeters.

TaubenMarkt: Eddy, now I want these here too Address the question of all questions, at least from my point of view. How do I breed them? good pigeon, who with whom. What is your breeding strategy? According to which Criteria do you select the pigeons for breeding?

Eddy Roentgen: For this we need my son Dennis to accept. He knows all the pigeons, he never forgets a pigeon or theirs Ancestry. And he decides 90% of the pairings. We'll call him (Eddy Roentgen calls his son Dennis and briefly explains what it's about).

Dennis Rontgen: First we had the pigeons from Karlheinz Kanski and the pigeons we had from the Freialdenhofen family. We then crossed our old stock, the pigeons from Karlheinz Kanski, with the pigeons from Freialdenhofen. And great pigeons fell out of it. When putting together the pairs today, we pay attention to a closed value ring as well as the breeding grooves and speed lines that run across and lengthwise. The iris is said to contain a lot of black. All of our pigeons generally fulfill these expectations.

TaubenMarkt: Like all pigeon fanciers, you still want to have faster pigeons. How can you make this wish come true?

Eddy Roentgen: Always looking for the faster one Dove. But I think there is still potential in the shot. We flew in 2023 the birds better than the females. We had easterly winds all season long. The field is in the right location and has sun all day long. We will Maybe change something in the loft, maybe close it more with the females. I am convinced that a lot is still possible.

TaubenMarkt: I met a sports friend, Eddy Roentgen, who loves long-distance racing with heart and soul. He says that he has tears in his eyes when his pigeons come home from more than a thousand kilometers. TaubenMarkt/Die Sporttaube would like to thank you for the competent comments in this conversation and wish you a “Happy Flight 2024!”

X-ray and son

Hanapfel Strasse 24

52531 Übach-Palenberg

Tel.: 0049 1525 6242370 (WhatsApp)

Mail: d.roentgen@web.de

Source: TaubenMarkt/Die Sporttaube Author: Hans Brühl