2006ANNUAL REPORT
2006 ANNUAL REPORT
As I write this in the final days of December 2006, much has happened since this site was launched about this time last year. By any measure, much progress has occurred with the Smith Family Lofts since our modest beginning. In 2006, birds banded with SFL USA have distinguished themselves in numerous contests from local, to regional, even all the way to National One Loft Races.
One bird we are especially proud of this year is the pigeon "Big Deal" AU 06 SFLUSA 139 BB, this bird won 3rd Place in the Flamingo 200 mile race, and then placed equal 1st in the 350 mile race ! Had there been an average speed prize in 2006, then "BIG DEAL" would have won that too !!
There were also a number of outstanding breeding candidates which were acquired this year, in the quest to build one of America's greatest performance based families ! Some were accomplished with little fanfare after years of research and sometimes negotiation. Contrary to what some may understand, SFL owns a number of very distinct and genetically different family lines, that we have been working on for a number of generations. Many of these have origins among the very top Dutch fanciers, but not all. As stated on the web site, SFL is always looking for superior stock, regardless of the name placed on a pedigree, in our quest to produce absolute racing perfection.
As an 2006 example, a partner uncovered and acquired for SFL, one of those fabulous once in a lifetime things, all of the key champion breeders representing the life's work of a retiring fancier, who was motivated in part, to see his life's work contribute to the building of America's greatest performance based family. Details of this transaction are being kept under wraps while we attempt to acquire some additional key children which were sold over the years, and to allow the owner time to announce a going out business sale and auction. This family is very special in that they were kept very quiet, while the owner picked the pockets of the other race participants in One Loft and Futurity races, just generations of money winners to money winners, simply fantastic family, are now owned by SFL.
Some other special birds and families will be featured on this site in the coming year, some in the form of sneak peeks, such as the big cash winner in 2006 the "Big Deal", guest appearances from some resident breeding champions like the "Duke", the "1st Family" line, the "Falcon" line, "Mister Perfect", and others so check back often.
The most public family of closely related birds which we have enjoyed and shared details with the American fancy, are the Ludo Claessens. Recently someone asked if the reason why I was attracted to the Ludo's was because of their beauty and good looks ? Had this question come from a junior member or someone new to the sport, perhaps I would not have been so agitated and annoyed by the question. If your goal, is to produce one of America's greatest performance based families, a major part of your efforts better be directed towards finding the best foundation breeding specimens available, anywhere on the planet, period.
So a great place to start, might just be with the World's Greatest Middle Distance Champion ? So, you start making your inquires starting in Brussels and end up in Hong Kong, and guess what the name that is at the top of every list ? Ludo Claessen. And this process I have gone through every year since 2002, and it holds true today in 2006. So it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone, that we chose Ludo's as an important family base, and so we are not only maintaining a colony of these rare birds, we made significant additions in 2006.
A critical difference in the approach taking place at SFL USA, when looking for new breeding solutions, has been the transition to more proven racers and breeders directly from the Master's and owner themselves, and away from unproven offspring from famous imported racers. We contend here at SFL USA, that quite simply the closer you are to the race winner, the closer you are to the winning genes.
So we are naturally quite pleased that Mr. Claessen will be sending another of his prize winning birds to America. He chose from his breeding loft, the 8 x prize winner "Bont 509" to be his choice of mate for the prize winning hen "Zus Red Quinty", so soon another Ludo bird will be leaving the Mother Loft and joining the American Colony. We look forward to this pairing, and we are sure, that the Ludo birds will continue to make an important and significant contribution to the success of the SFL here in America. Check out the Imports section, for additional information on "Bont 509"
While all these and other exciting situations were unfolding all year long, the number of breeding boxes and square footage of building space has been significantly increasing, with even more construction underway, and the number of breeding pairs, staff and partners, working on the lofts and caring for the birds has also increased.
In conclusion, much has been accomplished, but also much is needed to be done. I want to thank everyone who is helping to make this monumental task a reality. As we look forward to 2007, there is much optimism as we plan for additional racing opportunities all around the country, with the roll out of our National Testing Program in 2007 !
Yours In the Sport,
Warren Smith
Owner / Breeder
AN EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY OF PREMIERE RACING PIGEONS