Kevin Hurst
( 7 items )
An introduction to Kevin Hurst.
Written by Derek
Kevin Hurst has been a highly successful fancier for nigh on forty year, his list of achievements both racing and breeding rate at the very pinnacle of our sport.
Fanciers have often remarked at his uncanny knack of repeatedly selecting champion producers with an unequalled record of breeding champion racers and champion breeders not only throughout the UK but also in Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Australia, Malta and the Far East. He was, I believe, the very first British fancier to work as a professional Loft Manager abroad.
Initially in Kuwait, this was followed by three years in Saudi Arabia working for a member of the Saudi Royal Family. He then moved to the United Arab Emirates were he lived for several years, employed as the Loft Manager for a member of the Dubai Royal Family. Who says the racing pigeon sport is only for the working class!
Included in his many successes and achievements are:
1st Federation Champion in the UK ten times, winning 1st Champion Federation Old Birds, 1st Champion Federation Long Distance (France), 1st Champion Federation Young Birds, 1st Federation Ace Pigeon Old Birds etc.
1st Champion Overall in Dubai, United Arab Emirates plus many outstanding results including taking the positions 1st to 34th in one race against 2,510 birds.
In addition to these he has written and published two best selling books on the racing pigeon sport ‘British 1sts’ and the latest one, released only last year, is ‘East 2 West’. It describes in detail his own very successful racing and breeding systems used not only by himself with great success in the UK and the Middle East but many other top fanciers who have followed his methods with outstanding success.
Kevin is also the fancier responsible for first introducing the Adrie Van de Rhee birds to the UK back in 1995, when a close friendship with Adrie was formed. These are the birds taking the UK by storm at the moment and their popularity rose dramatically following Kevin’s dispersal sale of all his proven Van de Rhee breeders in 2004. I think it is a fair assessment to say that almost all the Van de Rhee winners in the UK to date, originate through the birds Kevin Hurst introduced to the British fancy.
Now living in Thailand, retired from racing in the UK, he is in demand in several countries for his pigeon sport related articles and PR work, therefore we here at ‘racing pigeon.com’ are highly delighted to welcome Kevin on board with us!