10
Specimens
At just 14 years old, Theo began his journey in the world of racing pigeons. At first as an amateur, then increasingly seriously and competitively.
This constantly led him to introduce pigeons of the highest quality, which allowed him to improve his own results as well as those of the many fanciers who, very frequently, requested his pigeons.
In recent years, his most important acquisitions have been made from the most successful and prestigious lofts on the world stage. Among these, the most notable are W. A. De Bruijn (from whom he purchased, among others, five grandchildren of “Murphey’s Law”) and the Leideman Brothers.
Theo de Kruijk was one of the first racing pigeon enthusiasts to launch the name “Grizzle pigeons” in the 1980s, on the advice of the well-known American breeder John Sampson.
He owned an extraordinary collection of grizzle pigeons from the Janssen and Tournier lines, originating from important breeders such as Arie van der Hoek, Dick Verwey, and his father-in-law Frans van der Kruk, winner of the National Orleans 1997 against more than 100,000 pigeons.
Theo developed his “Grizzle” line by crossing the Tourniers, the pure Janssens of Tist Eyssen, and the famous Verbarten pigeons of Jan Ouwerkerk. He became famous as a young pigeon specialist, achieving great results at national level and winning races with tens of thousands of participants.
Thanks to his success, he held seminars in the United Kingdom and helped promote pigeon racing in the United States, collaborating with important figures in the sector and with the Herbots family.
The Grizzle line was extremely successful in China, especially in the Pioneer Club, winning major prizes and leading to a long-term contract with a Chinese breeder. Theo stopped racing and focused on breeding, exporting pigeons all over the world and helping other breeders with consultancy based on the Herbovet and Herbots philosophy.
Even in recent years, his line has continued to be successful, with provincial victories and numerous first prizes won by pigeons descended from his. Theo continues to improve the Grizzle line by introducing important new bloodlines, with the aim of further strengthening his breeding strain.
The founder, and most important member of the grizzle family, is without a doubt “Grizzle Daddy”, a fantastic racer and an almost infallible breeder. With the children and grandchildren of this true champion, more than 30 first prizes have been won in all the countries where they were sent (for example the Netherlands, England, Scotland, Taiwan, China, Italy and many others), including:
3 x National winners
1° Provincial prizes
1° Combine prizes
1° Federal prizes
1° Club prizes
The pigeons that form the foundation of Theo’s current families, in addition to “Grizzle Daddy” and his descendants included in the breeding team, are: “Murphey’s Law”, “Uranus”, “Hurricane”, “Olympic Schanulleke”, “Kristof”, “Titan”, “James”, “Zidane” from W. A. De Bruijn, “Harry” from Hooymans, and many pigeons from the Leideman Brothers.
Some of Theo’s pigeons that achieved excellent results include:
“Grizzle Daddy”
1° Prov. Peronne 158 p
2° Prov. Peronne 3,914 p
2° Prov. Peronne 12,032 p
“Grizzle Frans”
Son of “Grizzle Daddy” and winner of:
1° Breuil le Vert 212 p – 7° 2,771 p
1° Breuil le Vert 247 p – 7° 7,037 p
1° Pt. St Maxense 110 p – 4° 2,346 p
1° Chantilly 123 p
1° Menen 315 p – 6° 4,990 p
2° Arras 234 p – 4° 11,209 p
2° Morlincourt 183 p
2° Laon 143 p
“Coloured One”
Son of “Grizzle Daddy” and winner of:
2° Interprov. Bourges 7,202 p
1° Prov. Orleans 117 p
1° Prov. Strombeek 1,151 p
1° Prov. Strombeek 313 p
6° ACE Pigeon Young Holland W.H.Z.B.
“Grizzle Gert”
Son of “Grizzle Daddy” and winner of:
1° Menen 408 p
1° Prov. Chimay 231 p
1° Prov. Hensies 271 p
1° Prov. Hensies 3,140 p
1° Hensies 6,946 p
“Golden Grizzle”
Grandson of “Grizzle Daddy” and winner of:
1° Nanteuil 871 p
1° Ablis 616 p
2° Nanteuil 3,947 p
7° NAT. NPO Teletekst 6,936 p
24° NAT. Ablis 4,243 p
“Grizzle Sixteen”
Granddaughter of “Grizzle Daddy” and winner of:
1° Peronne 84 p
1° Chantilly 182 p
1° Arras 434 p
1° Peronne 3,184 p – 5° 7,670 p
2° Strombeek 374 p
“Ashley’s Wish”
Great-grandson of “Young Grizzle”, son of “Grizzle Daddy”, raced in the loft of Steven Lapinski, winning:
1° Bovingdon 2010 5,223 p (winner of the “Five Times a Lady Trophy”)
1° National ACE Pigeon cock
“Mike’s Memory”
Raced in the loft of Jockey Robertson, winning:
1° National Maidstone 2012
