Jos Thone

 

Range:

Distance

Origins:

Jos Thone

General Usage:

An excellent distance line well suited to the longer, tougher races. They cross well with Janssens to produce general distance racers.

Characteristics:

Great variation in handling characteristics, especially at younger ages where weak backs and loose/wide vents are common. Very loose wing structure. The line is slow maturing and many (but not all) of the poor handling youngsters will mature at a year or more to handle reasonably well. This is one of those lines where you better be selecting by the basket and avoid culling in the hand. The line tends to be extremely intelligent and very territorial. Medium size.

I met Jos Thone at the AU Convention in San Francisco in 1996 and was immediately struck by the intensity with which he has approached pigeon racing. His methods are as thorough and as well thought out as any I have seen. Jos is from As, Belgium and has established a phenominal distance record, particularly in the famed Barcelona race (682 miles). Some of the Barcelona highlights include:

  • 1st International Barcelona Yearling 1993
    1st International Barcelona Yearling 1994
    1st, 2nd Euregio (Semi-International) Barcelona 1994
    1st Belgium Barcelona hen 1995
    2nd International Barcelona hen 1995
    1st International Barcellona 1996 vs 20,191 pigeons.

Key pigeons in this family are:

  • "Auction Cock" 5314289-BELG-93 DC cock. Purchased at the '96 AU San Francisco auction, this cock is sired by a half brother to "Poco Diego" (1st international Barcelona yearling '93 and 1st Belgium Barcelona hen '95) and out of "Anne" (3rd Provincial Ace Pigeon). "Anne" is a grand daughter of "Diego Armando Barcelona" who placed four straight years in the top International positions of Barcelona (14th, 9th, 622nd, 295th International in '85, '86, '87 and '88).
  • "Farmington" 17535-AU-97-RMR BB hen. Winner of the '97 Farminton Classis (a three race one loft futurity). Bred by Brad Hoggan of River Heights, Utah off a son of "Dikke Bertha" and "337". A nice handling hen.
  • "337" 5305337-BELG-96 BB hen. Mother of "Farmington" and a direct daughter of 9th International hen Marseille '96. This hen has "Diego Armando Barcelona" on its sire's side and a brother on the dam's side.
  • "AU Hen" 5078299-BELG-96 BBWF hen. A great grand daughter of "Diego Armando Barcelona", this hen was called as the pick of the '96 AU auction by Jim Cain. Very nice handling hen with superb wing structure. She is owned by Jim and housed here where she is mated with various Thone cocks. We split the babies.