HEITZMAN SIONS
  • No Sweat Sions 2025
  • No Sweat Sions Bright Future 2025
  • No Sweat Sions Winter 2025
  • No Sweat Sions Update 2025
  • No Sweat Sions January 2025
  • No Sweat Sions Summer 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • Spring 2024
  • January 2024
  • 2024 Breeding Season
  • Late Summer 23
  • Summer 2023
  • Spring 2023
  • 2023 BREEDERS
  • DECEMBER 2022
  • FALL 2022
  • SUMMER 2022
  • 2022 MATINGS
  • 2022 BREEDERS
  • Fall 2021
  • Nov/Dec 2021
  • Oct/Nov '21 SIONS
  • Aug/Sept '21 SIONS
  • June 2021 SIONS
  • 2021 RACING & BREEDING
  • SUMMER 2021 UPDATE
  • 2021 BREEDERS
  • 2021-2022 STATUS REPORT
  • 2020-2021 UPDATE
  • Nov/Dec 2020
  • UPDATE NO SWEAT SION PHOTOS
  • SIONS
  • Welcome
  • 2019 Breeders
  • 2019 Breeders
  • 2018 Breeders
  • 2017 Breeding Program
    • No Sweat
    • 2017 Cocks
    • 2017 Hens
    • 2017 Stock Birds
  • Racing Pigeons
  • 2017 Key Breeding Pairs
  • The Heitzman Story
  • About
  • Contact
  • Pigeon Gallery
  • 2016 Pigeon Stories
  • Pigeon Stories
  • Adventures
  • Archaeology
  • Edward W. Hawkins
  • Writing & Reviews
  • Chesteen
  • New Page
  • 2020-2021 UPDATE
  • UPDATE NO SWEAT SION PHOTOS
  • Great New Discovery
Picture
Picture
Hello and Welcome.  Did someone say, SIONS?   Are you interested in knowing about SIONS?  Would you like to learn a great deal about SIONS?  Would you enjoy hearing the truth about SIONS? Keep scrolling down.  You are at the right place.  

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
The word "SION" is pronounced "CEE-ON."  The Sion Racing Pigeons remain the single greatest family of long-distance racing pigeons in history, They were one of the main families of racing pigeons which sent messages in World War Two helping to save the lives of USA soldiers in combat. The Sions today bred by No Sweat can be traced directly back to those WW2 homing pigeons which were shipped to China and to to England to help out allies. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Earl Lowell "Robbie" Robbins, Jr. is a best selling Kentucky author. He has been writing under the pen name "No Sweat" for over 50 years. He was dubbed "No Sweat"  while working as a master diver and guide  for a dive-shop owner on Singer Island, Florida, due to his ways with large sharks of which he contended on a daily basis.  
Picture
AU-2025-KY-25091 BLUE BAR WHITE FLIGHT COCK. "LANCE." MAY 3,2025. Bred from "SUMMERTIME" and "THE MALTESE FALCON." PHOTO TAKEN THE WEEK BEFORE BEING SHIPPED TO MIAMI, FLORIDA TO ENTER THE FLORIDA DERBY PIGEON RACE. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Lance prepping shipping box holding the entries headed to THE 2025 HOOSIER CLASSIC.
NO SWEAT SIONS ENJOYING A RAINSTORM MAY 1, 2025.
​








​
​Thank you for your interest in Sion Racing Pigeons. Please continue. You have only scratched the surface of what lies beyond. This pigeon website has now had over five million "hits." For good reason.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Picture
"LANCE"  AU-25-KY-2009 BBWFL YC. BRED FROM "SUMMERTIME" and "THE MALTESE FALCON."  PHOTO TAKEN APRIL 28,2025. Note the wonderful body & wing structure Lance owns for racing long-distance.








 "LANCE" on MAY 3, 2025, a few days prior to being shipped to Miami, Florida to enter THE FLORIDA DERBY PIGEON RACE.. 
NO SWEAT carefully judging AU-25-KY-25050 Blue Bar Hen "GOOD MORNING HEARTACHE." Which he will enter in THE FLORIDA DERBY.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Thank you for visiting this website. Please take the time to see all the many photos and text. I have tried to create an exceptional website. Always feel free to contact me. I enjoy making new pigeon friends. "NO SWEAT" 
​------------------

Picture
Picture
Picture
Some of the dark brick red hens I breed like the one you see to the left have flown exceptionally well. Several have come back from 600 miles. A special few, 700 miles. From Ocala, Florida back to Richmond, Kentucky.  An incedible long distance for a YOUNG BIRD. These particular dark red hens. I term, "my little red doves."  
​---------------------------------------------------------------
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
I enjoy a smart racer which exhumes in an  "athletic appearace."  A bird which handles like a dream. I breed many such racers every year. Nothing pleases me more than to share that love with others. A person beginning in the sport or returning back. Someone searching for birds which will improve what they have. I have had racing pigeons for 68 years. Wonderful experiences and stories. A true blessing.
Picture
Picture
Picture
This blue bar cock sitting his day-shift on two eggs about to hatch. Ready to peck or slap with his wings. Protecting his babies even before they hatch. See in his eye that threatening look. He may as well be a ravenous wolf. I can't help but admire such birds. Yesterday, I held my camera up close to one hen which was guarding over her babies as I took a photo. As I placed my small camera back into my pocket she came out of her nest box, jumped on my shoulder and pecked my cheek--then went back into her nest guarding once again back over her babies, giving me a stare--"Don't you ever dare do that again!"  Funny thing about photographing pigeons in lofts. Some pigeons will almost pose for you every time you get out a camera. While others will do all they can--ducking and weaving-- never wanting to be photographed. 
​--------------------------------------------------------------- 
Picture

Racing pigeons are smart. Can talk without speaking. Look at this hen. Owning a dulcet smile. Plainly saying. "Thank heavens. Spring is finally in the air." The great joy being with racing pigeons is not so much controlling them as it is sharing life with them. Being a bird brain is not an insult. It is a compliment.
​---------------------------------------------------------------
Picture
TYPICAL 2025 YOUNG BIRDS. NO SWEAT SIONS. APRIL 29, 2025. TODAY. Some of the only racing pigeons in North America which are of an orignal and distinct family created by the one man who has cared for them 68 years.
Picture
Picture
Picture
21074 "JW" BLUE BAR OLD COCK. NO SWEAT SION.  EYE SHOWN IN ABOVE PHOTO.  HEAD SHOWN IN BELOW PHOTO. One of No Sweat's prized 2025 breeders.  No Sweat will have a 2025 young bird out of 21074 entered in THE FLORIDA DERBY. 21074 was bred from "HARD CORE" SBC,  12439--- 620 Mile YOUNG BIRD  & "BLACK MAGIC WOMAN" BBH, 18149--- an exceptional racer throughout in VICTORIA FALLS race series. In 2025, "JW" is being mated to one of my finest old line Sion hens: AU-2017-ARPU-26080  BBH.
Picture
Picture

Thank you for visiting this site. I sincerely hope it is entertaining and educational. If you are serious about seeing the finest Sions which have ever existed --- continue on to the end--- you are at the right place. You'll own no choice but to agree after getting there. All my life I have been committed to Sions. I have attempted to photograph many of my 2025 breeders for you. Give you a real feel and sense of what I have. Give each of them a careful look. I love Sions. It is that simple. This site should help to prove that. They are incredible long distance racers. Gorgeous to boot. No other racing pigeons own such a rich history. Over the past 68 years I have developed my own family within them. Year upon year of selective breeding. Always seeking the very best. THE NO SWEAT SIONS. "NO SWEAT" has been my pen name for over 50 years. If you have time. Also. Look at:  NO SWEAT SIONS SUMMER 2024. Additionally: THE HEITZMAN STORY BY NO SWEAT. 
                                                                EMAIL ADDRESS:   
​                                                           [email protected].
                                                             HOME: 859-624-8113
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

​  The photo below is of myself and my wife, Chesteen.  We have been married since Noah built the ark. This photo was taken by me as were walking back from the Keeneland Thoroughbred Race Track on BlUEGRASS STAKES Day, April, 2025.

Picture
Picture
Photo to the left.  Chesteen and "No Sweat."  April 21,1967.  Standing in No Sweat's "back yard." Beside No Sweat's loft in Irvine, Kentucky. Which John McQuithy, Jonesboro, Indiana built. In their hands. Two Sions bred by Charles Heitzman. Racing from this modest loft. For 7 seasons. No Sweat flew against The Lexington Kentucky Racing Pigeon Club. Winning average speed every season. Never defeated from 300 miles or more. Before retiring. On the last 500 mile race. In which Charles Heitzman donated a large trophy. No Sweat sent 12 entries. Racing on the long end. 11 homed early the second day. No Sweat was the ONLY loft to report any birds. NO other fancier in the Lexington Kentucky Racing Pigeon Club got a single bird back. Chesteen was the race secretary during these years. In 1971, No Sweat was in SQUILL'S WHO'S WHO in England in racing. During that year No Sweat finished in the top ten in the top ten futurities spread across the USA---winning The Twin City Gold Band Fututity, The Waldo Hotchkiss Futurity, The North Texas Futurity, The New Orleans Futurity and The Conrad Mahr Futurity. The first year NO SWEAT entered SOUTH AFRICA he finished 41rst out of the original 10,000 entries sent to race. The last year NO SWEAT entered the VICTORIA FALLS. It was his small team of NO SWEAT SIONS which finished FIRST BEST TEAM USA. Defeating A-L-L the other fanciers in the entire USA for total points throughout the long race series. Recently, his Sions set long distance records at 1,000KM in China. Also, winning FIRST PLACE in that country's largest ONE LOFT RACES in Denmark and Trinidad. One of the best wins for the Heitzman Sions came in winning the prestigeous open-water race world-recognized:  THE DERBY ARONA-TENERIFE Island Race. Again, proving the remarkable racing powers of the Sions.
​---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Picture
In 1978, NO SWEAT became the first person ever to win ALL 3 of the largest racing pigeon shows in North America in the same year. A feat no fancier had ever dreamed to accomplish. He remains the youngest fancier ever to have  won the National Racing Pigeon Show in White Plains, New York. He won BEST IN SHOW seven straight years at The Southern Racing PIgeon Show which then had more entries than any show in the USA. No Sweat has judged nearly every major show in the United States multiple times. Appreciating performance and beauty. Undertanding. A great racer can be both. The distinct  trademark of the NO SWEAT SIONS.

Picture


--------------------------------------------------
For over 55 years No Sweat has authored a steady stream of articles on racing pigeons covering every subject imaginable. Both fiction and non-fiction. His articles have appeared in: THE POCKET RACING PIGEON, AMERICAN PIGEON JOURNAL, AMERICAN RACING PIGEON NEWS, THE RACING PIGEON BULLETIN, THE BRITISH RACING PIGEON,THE BRITISH RACING PIGEON PICTORIAL, THE RACING PIGEON DIGEST, THE CANADIAN PIGEON INTERNATIONAL and THE NATIONAL PIGEON QUARTERLY.
​------------------------------------------------
​------------------------------------------------
An American Legion Post once asked permission from No Sweat to re-print an article which he had created for The Racing Pigeon Bulletin, titled, CHER AMI. No Sweat granted the permission. That article was published in a national American Legion journal. One in which the famed radio personality, PAUL HARVEY found interesting. Paul Harvey loved the article and soon asked No Sweat could he use it on his national radio show. Mr. Harvey used the article in his classic style in which in the end the hero of the story was the little blue checker, CHER AMI. This all originating from No Sweat.  At another time. The nationally popular radio show "BOB & TOM" selected to call No Sweat---to be interviewed live across the nation---regarding racing pigeons. That particular interview lasted for nearly an hour.  Having everyone throughout the nation learning about racing pigeons. And often laughing over No Sweat's humor often involving them. 
​----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

​*There has NEVER been a fancier in history which has been so successful in nationally showing racing pigeons----- internationally successful in racing his own family of pigeons---and throughout -- also managing to photograph and write as much varied material about racing pigeons---- all this combined----as ----NO SWEAT. 
​-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Picture
Picture



​ Earl Lowell "Robbie"  /  "No Sweat" Robbins, Jr.,  BA, MA anthropology, sociology, collegiate Long-distance swimmer, archaeologist, Best Selling Kentucky Author, avid scuba-diver & underwater photographer, Richmond, Kentucky, is that one solitary fancier alive in the world today. Which has devoted himself -- 68 straight years -- to keeping the old line of Sions pure. As true as they were since created by Paul Sion in France over 120 years ago.  NO SWEAT remains steadfast in his experiences and knowledge. Understanding.  Devoted. That keeping a great family together--solidly intact--through years of careful selective breeding--- is by far the smartest choice to make when working with racing pigeons. In 2025, he will be entering the two premiere races in North America:  THE FLORIDA DERBY  &   THE HOOSIER. This is a loft which has won over 1,500 first places in every kind of competition.  NO SWEAT today is recognized throughout the world as the singular Sion master. His name synonomous with Sions. His family of Sions are not only beautiful. But are also astounding long distance racers. Four different times he has had young birds return from 700 miles. This being long distance world records for young birds. No Sweat believes. The homing instinct itself. To be the most important quality a racing pigeon should own. In China his Sions defeated 3,000 enties at 1,000 KM.  If you would like to learn more about No Sweat after reviewing this site.
​

                                   Please. Take the time to look at: 

                                 "NO SWEAT SIONS SUMMER 2024"  
                                                             &
                              "THE HEITZMAN STORY BY NO SWEAT" 

​
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

                            NO SWEAT ALWAYS WELCOMES INQUIRES
                                                 
                            EMAIL ADDRESS:   [email protected] 
​
                               CELL PHONE NUMBER: 859-582-0503

 
​     

Picture
Picture
To the left. A "Black-eyed Sion." One of No Sweat's 2025 Breeders.  No Sweat explains. I have a few of these "black-eye" Sions within my colony. Rarely for sale. They are not truly or actually black eyes. Although. When looked at in certain light.  They do appear  to be the color of black.  Usually. They are a dark purple or maroon color. Sometimes, chestnut. Some. Owning dark emerald green colors inside. So often. These are very valuable breeders.  Paul Sion himself bred several like this. He highly prized them as well. When No Sweat breeds these darker eyed Sions with others he usually selects a mate with a lighter eye. Thus helping to give a rich, mixed eye in the progeny which follows. 

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
When Noah was on the ark. He sent a red NO SWEAT SION hen. She returned with a stick in her mouth.
Picture
Picture
"MISS FEROCIOUS" AU-2020-ARPU-86751. POWDER BLUE BAR HEN. NO SWEAT SION. Photographed to the left and the next three photos which follow. Miss Ferocious is one of the best breeders NO SWEAT has in 2025. She is perfctly mated. A young bird from her will be going to THE FLORIDA DERBY. She ranks as one of the very top hens which NO SWEAT is working with in 2025. Her bloodlines have been consistently good at international racing. She is an incredible mother. Will come off her nest and attack you if you give her a stare. Thus, her name. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Lance has developed a "good eye" for the birds. For a special few this comes naturally. Others may go a lifetime and never know a good bird from one worth but little. Lance understands maintaining excellent health with a colony of racers which is vitally important.  He has learned that a good fancier must possess an eye for detail.  Carefully observing the smallest of matters with the birds and the lofts every day. The above photo shows Lance with two young birds bred in 2025 which are being entered into THE FLORIDA DERBY.  Appropriately enough,  the blue bar white flight cock has been named "LANCE."  If this bird races as well as Lance has swam in competition---LOOK OUT! 

The above photo is of Lance Robbins, No Sweat's grandson. Soon to graduate from Eastern Kentucky University where he earned and maintained a full academic ride. Lance is an incredible swimmer and surfer as well as a certified diver. Makes dives nearly every day much of the entire summer in southern Florida. He has been around The family of No Sweat SIONS for over 20 years.  This past year Lance did all but everything a fancier had to do to keep the No Sweat Sions especially healthy and happy. The two young birds you see him with are the "second round" of young birds bred by a great racer which exceled in South Africa, a  blue hen named "SUMMERTIME."  And her blue bar mate  "THE MALTESE FALCON."  These two February hatches will be entered in the best race in the USA this year, THE FLORIDA DERBY.  That race attracts No Sweat as it appears a "clean race" which is honest, transparent and attractive to the best racing men from not only across North America but also from all over the world. THE NO SWEAT SION LOFTS welcome the very best of competiton. You see Lance with a white flight in the photo.  That bird is now named after him "LANCE."  No Sweat expects it races well when going up against thousands of the best. Note the incredible wing structure which "LANCE" owns. Typical of many of the NO SWEAT SIONS. They are at their best when racing longer distances. That is when the true quality of a great racing pigeon best shines.
Picture
Picture
I am careul in making decisions when I ship a young bird to a major race. This is myself and the 2025 YB  BBWFL cock  named "LANCE."  Soon to be shipped to THE FLORIDA DERBY. 
Picture
No Sweat and Lance at The 151rst Kentucky Derby. May 3, 2025.

Picture
Picture
Few realize that No Sweat has maintained Sions longer than anyone who has ever lived. He has photographed more Sions than anyone. More Sions than any top 50 Sion fanciers combined. No Sweat takes REAL photos of his Sions. These are not photo-shop pictures which you see in pigeon ads and on pigeon auction websites. Fake stuff. Please take the time to look at all the photos of his 2025 Breeders.  All of these photos were taken in the past few months by No Sweat. No Sweat entered the 2025 breeding season with 80 pair of Sions. As you may denote. A great many of those 160 Sions are depicted in these photos. The birds are not always standing like statues. Real pigeons do not spend their lives standing like statues. Real pigeons do all the things that real pigeons do. Few fanciers realize. Through photography of pigeons itself--a fancier can learn a great deal about pigeons.  No Sweat hopes that you enjoy his photos. The photos are aimed at showing you the superior quality of racers which are signature of THE NO SWEAT SIONS. Of mention. Charles Heitzman loved No Sweat's pigeon photography. Those old photos you might see of Heitzman's Sions were likely taken by No Sweat. It was No Sweat who did most of Heitzman's pigeon photography beginning in the 1960's up until Heitzman's death.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
"SNAKE"    2024-30763  BLUE BAR COCK.   NO SWEAT SION.   Of 1,000 young bird Sions which were bred by No Sweat in 2024, he ranks "SNAKE"  as one of his best. Now, in 2025, a permanent breeder. SNAKE has an exceptional body, feather, wing and eye. Alpha personality. Simply A fantastic NO SWEAT SION. The next several photos will show you more of SNAKE. It is breeders such as SNAKE which are paving the future for the heart of the finest  SIONS which can compete and win against the best in the world---TODAY.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
This photo and the one below are that of my Blue Cock named "SNAKE,"30763,  and his 2025 mate---a gorgeous Blue Bar hen  banded, 24061. I consider this mating one of my finest in 2025. A perfect "balancing act."
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
24061 BLUE BAR HEN. NO SWEAT SION. One photo above and two photos below. In 2025, she is mated to "SNAKE," 30763, BBC. They are a perfect match. Balance. Beautiful blend. Possessing long-distance blood. In all likliehood. No Sweat will leave this mating together for several years.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
You could go all over the world. You could carefully inspect any and every loft claiming to own any of the "OLD 51"  red cock blood.  Heitzman's MOST famous red. Possibly. His most famous Sion. Period. If you did spend your life looking for that blood. You would eventually learn. Be extremely satisfied. KNOWING. That no place on earth has "OLD 51"  more true. More solid. Than does THE NO SWEAT SION LOFTS. The OLD 51 blood resided in KENTUCKY.  TODAY. It remains so.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
One year I had four young birds all come back from 620 miles on the second day of toss.  They were a silver cock I named HARD CORE.  A blue check hen, named "LONG WINGS."  A red velvet cock, "RESOLVE." And a blue bar pencil tick-eye hen, "CHATTANOOGA."  I mated HARD CORE to LONGWINGS. I mated RESOLVE TO CHATTANOOGA.  From these matings I bred  different colors. Among the offspring, I bred several red checks. I mated a red check cock out of HARD CORE and LONGWINGS to a red check hen out of RESOLVE and CHATTANOOGA.  These two babies had flown back from 500 miles.  I named them  "THE RED PAIR."   From the RED PAIR I bred 32 babies. Many proved outstanding long distnce racers. Most went to Japan. With some of the babies I mated together. Full brother and siste. Insuring special long distance blood.  Look at the photo to the left, See such  a mating I had in 2019. I share this information. So that you better understand and appreciate what you see. Looking at many of my reds which I have as 2025 breeders. The Red Pair is reliable, long distance blood. When selectively bred. Can produce specimens of great beauty.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
2166 Red Check Hen.  No Sweat Sion. Photos of her above and below. 2166 is probably the last bird in all my lofts which some stranger would select as the best bird. But heavens. What a mistake that would be. She is bred out of my famous "RED PAIR."  A typically small-bodied pigeon from the mating. All four of her grandparents flew 600 miles as young birds. 2166 has had 20 full brothers and sisters which have flown back from 500 or 600 miles as YOUNG BIRDS.  This year. I am mating her to a dark red check cock which is also bred from "THE RED PAIR."  The 2025 babies which come from tis mating will have in their pedigree all 8 great grandparents which flew 500 or 600 miles as young birds. Few if any fanciers in North America can boast having young birds with such outstanding long-distance blood. I plan to enter a small red hen out of this 2025 mating in THE HOOSIER.  
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
32089 Dark Red Check Cock. No Sweat Sion. 2 photos above & 2 photos below--showing him.  Bred straight from "THE RED PAIR.  32089 is a wonderful cock which I have mated to 2166 Red Check Hen in 2025.  With this mating I am concentrating on quality long-distance blood.
Picture
Picture
Picture
A 2025 NO SWEAT LOFTS MATING:   32089 Dark Red Check Cock &  2166 Red Check Hen.  Both birds bred from "THE RED PAIR."  A full brother and sister mating.  I will be entering one of their babies in THE HOOSIER.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
What is remarkable about The No Sweat Sions.  Is. When you see or hold one.  You actually hold the lives of three men.  Paul Sion, Charles Heitzman, and NO SWEAT. Three different men who each devoted their lives to this one family of racing pigeons. When you hold a No Sweat Sion you hold time itself. 120 years. In all the sport there is no family of racers owning such a rich history. One having won as many races. NONE. The No Sweat Sions own all the best values of everything SION. These NO SWEAT SIONS are the finest Sions in the world today. These are not Sions resting on the past laurels of Sions in the past. Or the near past. These are the Sions of TODAY. The FUTURE.  Welcoming and anxious to compete against the best in the world at any distance and over any terrain. Allow your eyes to judge for themselves. If you know one inch about a Sion  --- you will be in heaven. 

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
2166. The small red check hen you see to the left is bred from my noted "RED PAIR."  The "RED PAIR"  produced 32  young birds. 20 which flew  500 or 600 miles as YOUNG BIRDS.  The two reds consisting of the  "Red Pair" both flew 500 miles as YOUNG BIRDS. A-L-L four parents of the  "RED PAIR" flew 600 miles as YOUNG BIRDS. They were "HARD CORE" SILVER BAR MEALY COCK, "LONGWINGS" BLUE CHECK HEN, "RESOLVE" RED Check COCK &"CHATTANOOGA" BLUE BAR PENCIL TICK-EYE HEN. You can locate photos and information about these four 600 mile young birds by thoroughly exploring my website. 2166 when mted to her full brother, 32089, will sometimes "throw" a recessive red. Seen in her nestbox directly behind her is one of her recessive reds. This bloodline is pure old Sion. They race incredibly well as YOUNG BIRDS at phenominal longer distances. Some coming back from 700 miloes as a Young Bird. WORLD-RECORD stuff. One of the babies I bred from  THE RED PAIR, "128,"  a tiny blue check hen. 50 miles first toss. Second toss one month later from 500 miles. Homed back early the second morning. Fifteen minutes later, her nestmate, another blue check, came as well.

Picture
AU-2011-KY-33  BLUE BAR TK. EYE HEN. "THE OCALA HEN"  /  "33."  700 MILE YOUNG BIRD. SION.  BRED BY EARL LOWELL  "ROBBIE" / "NO SWEAT"  ROBBINS, JR.  "33"  WAS  RELEASED IN OCALA, FLORIDA ON DECEMBER 28, 2011. RETURNING HOME JANUARY 7, 2012 TO RICHMOND, KENTUCKY. SHE WAS 10 MONTHS OLD.  OF THE 50 YOUNG BIRDS RELEASED SHE WAS THE ONLY BIRD TO RETURN.  700 AIR MILES IS WORLD RECORD LONG DISTANCE FOR A YOUNG BIRD RACING PIGEON.  "33" OWNS A DARK VIOLET EYE. SHE IS LINE-BRED TO PAUL SION'S BLUE BAR (ONE) WHITE FLIGHT COCK "LE-ROI." 33'S CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN HAVED PROVED TO BE OUTSTANDING LONG-DISTANCE RACERS. WINNING IN SOUTH AFRICA & VICTORIA FALLS. CONSISTENTLY DEFEATING THE BEST KNOWN RACERS IN THE WORLD. THIS BLOOD NOW RUNS THROUGHOUT THE NO SWEAT SION COLONY. YOU MAY STOP AND SAY TO YOURSELF. HECK. A BIRD TAKING TEN DAYS TO COME HOME FROM 700 MILES IS NO BIG THING.  I RESPOND. PLEASE GO OUT TO YOUR LOFTS. GET ALL THE YOUNG BIRDS YOU OWN. RELEASE THEM FROM 700 AIR MILES. SEE HOW MANY COME BACK HOME.  KNOW. I HAVE TAKEN GROUPS OF YOUNG BIRDS 700 AIR MILES FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES.  EACH TIME. I GOT YOUNG BIRDS BACK. ONCE. GETTING FOUR YOUNG BIRDS BACK ON THE THIRD DAY.  TAIL WIND AND PERFECT WEATHER THE ENTIRE TIME.  GETTING YOUNG BIRDS BACK FROM 700 AIR MILES IS ONE OF THE GREATEST THRILLS. NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES THEM.  CHARLES HEITZMAN AND I SAT ON THE STEPS OF HIS MAIN RACING LOFT ONE DAY A FEW YEARS BEFORE HE DIED. HEITZMAN TOLD ME.  IF YOU WANT TO HAVE SUCCESS.  THEN BREED FROM YOUNG BIRDS WHICH HAVE CAME BACK FROM 500 MILES.  NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES.  YOU SEE. YOU TRULY LEARN THE QUALITY OF A BIRD'S HOMING INSTINCT WHEN YOU DO THIS. DESPITE ANY RHETORIC TO THE CONTRARY.  THE HOMING INSTINCT ITSELF. IS. BY FAR. THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO LOOK FOR IN SUPERIOR RACING PIGEONS. SO OFTEN.  A BIRD TODAY. WHICH MIGHT GET LUCKY AND HAPPEN TO WIN A 300 MILE ONE LOFT RACE. CAN WIND UP MEANING VERY LITTLE. OR NOTHING AT ALL. SIMPLY LUCK. BUT WHEN A YOUNG BIRD RETURNS HOME FROM 700 MILES. YOU CAN GO TO SLEEP. KNOWING. LUCK HAD VERY LITTLE PLAY IN SUCH. YOU KNOW. THAT YOUNG BIRD IS SPECIAL.
Picture
Picture
27910 BLUE BAR COCK. Is a grandson of "WATTLE."  I have 27910 mated to 27974 BBH  "CHAT'S DAUGHTER"  in 2025.  One of their young birds will be entered in THE FLORIDA DERBY. "WATTLE" flew 400,500 and 600 in 3 weeks. A prolific breeder. Featured in one of my You Tube videos. One of the most interesting eyes of any Sion I have ever bred. All class.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
A good life is all about balance.  Especially so for a long distance racing pigeon. Of which the NO SWEAT SIONS are esteemed. As such I am giving you these four photos. Including this one to the left----and the next three which follow. Hoping to educate.  Show you. What you want to look for. When selecting a breeder. In hopes of breeding long distance babies from him.  This specimen is one of my 2024 yearling blue bar cocks. Note his stance. Allow your eyes to view how his wings relate to his body. Note what is known as "back cover."  I am giving you photos at four different angles so that you may gain an idea of "balance."  This being only from the standpoint of appearance. You must also handle the bird. Also study the balance the body. Regarding pectorial muscle development. Keel. Vents.  The feel of the total weight of the bird. How the pigeon lays in your hands. Fanciers mention "balance." But rarely attempt to show and discuss this. I hope this helps. Remember it well. But. Balance is one matter. And important. Foremost--- the homing instinct itself. Without that. You can have all the balance in the world and it will mean nothing. Without a great homing instinct--which no fancier can see. That is why. Why I have specialized in long distance. It is long distance which reveals and explains everything if you are seeking great pigeons.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
"TUFT" & her mate in 2025. I will have a young blue hen out of this pair racing in THE FLORIDA DERBY.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
 IF YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN A TRUE FAMILY OF RACING PIGEONS THEN YOU ARE IN FOR A TREAT.  THESE ARE THE NO SWEAT SIONS. FAMOUS FOR LONG DISTANCE AND BEAUTY.  PLEASE.  TAKE TIME.  TO LOOK AT MY LATEST YOU TUBE VIDEO.  GO TO THE NET AND TYPE IN THESE EXACT WORDS:     HEITZMAN SIONS NO SWEAT LOFTS JANUARY 31, 2025 YOU TUBE.  After you do that please take the time to look at my website story:    THE HEITZMAN STORY BY NO SWEAT.  Also:   NO SWEAT SIONS SUMMER 2024.
Picture
ONE OF THE GORGEOUS DARK REDS IN THE NO SWEAT SION FAMILY. MANY OF THE REDS ARE LINE-BRED BACK TO CHARLES HEITZMAN'S FAMOUS RED CHECK COCK "OLD 51."  OLD 51 WENT BACK 32 TIMES IN HIS PEDIGREE TO HEITZMAN'S ORIGINAL PAUL SION PAIR. TWO RED CHECKS BANDED 1033 AND 1104. YOU CAN STILL SEE THE GREATNESS OF "OLD 51" IN MANY OF THE NO SWEAT REDS. "OLD 51" WAS THE MOST NOTED AND FAMOUS RACING PIGEON IN THE USA FOR OVER 25 YEARS. HEITZMAN USED "OLD 51"'S PICTURE IN HIS ADVERTISEMENTS, CALENDERS, CHRISTMAS CARDS, BREEDING BROCHURES---AS WELL AS IN HIS FAMOUS BOOK ON SIONS. "OLD 51" WAS BANDED:  AU 51  KY 51051.  THUS. HIS NAME.  HEITZMAN MAINTAINED A BANDING SYSTEM. JUST BY LOOKING AT THE BAND.  YOU COULD SEE. IN 1951. THIS WAS THE 51RST YOUNG BIRD HEITZMAN BRED THAT YEAR.

THE CLASSIC POWDER SILVER OLD COCK DEPICTED BELOW. TYPICAL NO SWEAT SION. MANY OF NO SWEAT'S SILVERS ARE DIRECTLY FRON THE BEST OF THE ORIGINAL PAUL SION BLOOD. PAUL SION'S "OLD GRIS FAMILY." PAUL SION AND CHARLES HEITZMAN LOVED SILVERS. MANY OF NO SWEAT'S SILVERS GO BACK TO TWO OUTSTANDING SILVERS WHICH NO SWEAT BRED:  "HARD CORE"  AU-2010-CENT-12439. A SMALL, SILVER MEALY COCK. BRED FROM A FULL BROTHER--SISTER MATING. FIRST OUT OF 145 BIRDS BACK FROM 615 MILES AS A YOUNG BIRD.  AND "300." A BEAUTIFUL, POWDER SILER COCK OWNING LIGHT EYES. SIX TIMES 500 MILES AND FIVE TIMES 600 MILES, NORMALLY. WHEN HANDLING ONE OF NO SWEAT'S SILVERS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE BIRD'S WING AND SEE THE COLOR OF GREY IN THE FEATHERS. YOU KNOW. THAT SILVER PROBABLY HAS "HARD CORE" IN ITS BLOOD.  IF YOU HAVE A VERY LIGHT SILVER WITH LIGHT FEATHERS. YOU CAN GUESS. THAT SILVER  LIKELY OWNS "300" IN ITS BLOOD.
Picture

JUST FOR A MOMENT. HAVE YOU EVER STOPPED.  TO ASK YOURSELF?  IF ALL THESE NEW AND GREAT CROSSES.  IF THESE FANTASTIC PIGEONS YOU KEEP FALLING FOR? A NEW NAME APPEARS EVERY TEN SECONDS.  IF THESE BIRDS.  IF THEY WERE ACTUALLY.  AND GENUINELY.  ANY GOOD.  WORTH A HOOT.  THEN.  THEN WHY IS IT?  WHY IS IT SO GREAT MANY OF THEM CONTINUE TO BE LOST?  WHY IS IT.  WHY IS IT THAT HARDLY ANY OF THEM CAN FLY 300 MILES ON THE DAY?   WHY IS IT?  WHY IS IT THAT THESE SO-CALLED  "SPEED BIRDS" IN TRUTH NEVER SET ANY SPEED RECORDS.  WHY IS IT THESE CROSSED UP SPEEDSTERS AT BEST ARE VERY AVERAGE OR BELOW AVERAGE IN RACING? THESE CROSSED UP PIGEONS ARE NOT.  I REPEAT.  ARE NOT FLYING ANY FASTER.  IN FACT.  THEY ARE NOT FLYING AS WELL AS DID THE BIRDS FROM OLD ESTABLISHED SOLID FAMILIES. DO SOME HOMEWORK. CHECK THE SPEED RECORDS.  LISTED IN THE BACK OF THE AMERICAN RACING PIGEON UNION YEARBOOK.  CAREFULLY NOTE THE SPEEDS OF BIG RACES WITH THOUSANDS OF BIRDS.  TRY TO USE YOUR BRAIN. NOT ONE YARD PER MINUTE FASTER. NOPE.  HAVE YOU STOPPED TO THINK ABOUT ANY OF THIS STUFF?  ARE YOU NOT INTELLIGENT TO REALIZE.  THAT YOU ARE CONSTANTLY BEING BOMBARDED BY PROFESSIONAL PIGEON SALES CON ARTIST?   "HONEST ABES."  WHICH WILL TELL YOU ANYTHING.  TELL YOU THAT INBREEDING IS BAD.  WHEN THEY KNOW THAT IS NOT TRUE.  TELL YOU.  ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS HELP YOU.  WHEN ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS SMILE.  AND CAREFULLY TAKE YOUR MONEY AND PUT IT IN THEIR POCKET.  THE ONLY THING FLYING FASTER.  IS THE MONEY OUT OF YOUR POCKET.  ALMOST ALWAYS.  FOR SHORT RANGE PIGEONS.  PIGEONS WHICH FOLLOW EACH OTHER.  PIGEONS WHICH HAVE POOR HOMING INSTINCTS.  PIGEONS WHICH WOULD FOLLOW A SPARROW. IF THE SPARROW CAME ALONG. HAVE YOU EVER STOPPED TO THINK ABOUT ANY OF THAT STUFF? AND THAT. FANCIERS. IS THE GARBAGE-STUFF. YOU HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO. YOU HAVE HAD IT CRAMMED DOWN YOUR THROATS. AND HAVE BEEN FALLING FOR. FOR THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES.  IT IS NO WONDER.  FINDING GENUINE GOOD RACING PIGEONS FROM A TRUE FAMILY THESE DAYS IS. RARE. RARE INDEED. YOU SHOULD KNOW.  AN APPLE DOES NOT FALL FROM A TREE. THEN.  IF YOU HAVE A CHAMPION?  WHY?  WHY ON GOD'S GOOD EARTH?  WHY WOULD YOU BE SO DUMB TO RUIN A BLESSING WHEN IT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO YOU?  WHY WOULD YOU ALLOW A PIGEON HUCKSTER-FLIM-FLAM ARTIST.  TO INFLUENCE AND DESTROY YOUR COMMON GOOD SENSE?  ARE YOU THAT DESPERATE TO BELIVE SOMETHING?  THAT SEEMS SO SIMPLE AND EASY?  ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS JOIN THE SUBLIME? ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CROSS PIGEONS?  AND YOU TOO. CAN FOLLOW THE HERD. RIGHT OFF THE CLIFF. ONLY TO ASK YOURSELF YEARS LATER. WHY ON EARTH WAS I SO ABSENT OF THOUGHT? 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
This photo and next two are of one of my older silver bar cocks. 18189. "He is six years of age. Medium size. Excellent confirmation. A blend of "300"  and  "HARD CORE."  Long distance blood.  He is an excellent breeder and father. He owns what I call a "yellow eye."  You will find this among some of my silvers. He is pure old line Sion. If you went back in time and visited Paul Sion in France you would have seen this bird.   

Picture
Picture
Picture
This photo. And the next few. Of a RED CHECK HEN.  Classic NO SWEAT SION. 30744. One of my older red hens. Very small bodied pigeon. More of a checker pattern than being a velvet pattern in color.  Bred from my "RED PAIR."  Both her parents flew 500 miles as YOUNG BIRDS.  A-L-L for of her grandparents flew 600 miles as YOUNG BIRDS:  "HARD CORE," "LONGWINGS," "RESOLVE," & "CHATTANOOGA."  30744 is bred for long distance. Many of the young birds which I have gotten back from 600 and 700 miles were small hens. Much like her. Among my reds I have a wide variety of types of eyes. She has one of the more rare intricate "grey eyes" which you don't find in many of my reds. An eye which she somewhat  inherited from "HARD CORE." But his eye was lighter, etc.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

                              I ask.  How many fanciers who claim to have Sions are actually entering them in the biggest races in the world TODAY?  I can tell you.  ONE.  Why?  Because all of these other self-claiming Sion experts--- know full well.  If they dug into their pockets and spent $1,000 cash good money to enter a single bird.  Then.  They might as well take that same money shred it up and throw it off the highest bridge they can find.  They know that. They truly and actually know all this. Yes. They do. These "Sion" birds they are advertising and hawking off to you in all their various "circus stuff" antics.  These characters full well know. In their hearts. That these birds they have--they are worthless as serious racers. They are lucky if they can find their perch. They know that. Still. They will say anything to scam you into believing. "Heavens.  Heck fire.  Look there.  A Sion." These charletons say their birds are descended down from pure stuff. They are from great pigeons bred down from many years ago. They are as "pure" as the driven snow.  But what these con artist do not say is that they know. If you blow your money on their birds. For heaven's sake---Don't actually expect them to race well. Are you crazy?  Just how dumb can you be? Do not waste your money in believing.  Actually and truly believing.  That anything you get from these characters would ever begin to fly.  They will NOT say that. They are not about to tell you the truth. For all the obvious reasons. They are after your money. Plain and simple. Sell you something cheap. And in return. You wind up getting nothing. Amen. Brother Ben. Your education has been another exercise in a get-rich-dream gone sour. I smiled the other day. A fancier told me he had got birds from John Garzoli. And that Garzoli had imported his birds straight from Paul Sion. I did not inform him. Paul Sion died in 1946. Long before John Garzoli ever bought any Sions. I just smiled. I hear this kind of stuff all the time. One fancier told me that Paul Sion and his son Robert, hid their birds in a cave all throughout the war. Would go to the cave and care for them a few times a week. Hiding them from the Germans. I smiled again. That story had originiated by me from a fictional creation and was published in The Racing Pigeon Digest many years prior. Again. I just smiled. Why ruin a wonderful ignortnt moment. The world abounds with Sion exerts. Half of them not even knowing how to correctly pronounce the word.

 CAREFULLY NOTE:
                              In 2025. The family of the NO SWEAT SIONS. YES. They will be entering into the two biggest and most prestigeous young bird races in North America: THE FLORIDA DERBY  and  THE HOOSIER.  Why?  Because these are actual racing birds.  True racers. Racers of TODAY and the FUTURE. Excelling at longer distances.  A family of Sions. Which. On any given day. Can race against the very best in all the world. At any distances. At any speeds. And WIN. That my dear fancier friends are THE NO SWEAT SIONS. Not all this other "stuff" you see while window shopping on the net. There are "Sions"---and then---there are "NO SWEAT SIONS."  The differences between all the others and what NO SWEAT SIONS actually are---vastly different. With one you have a dire-wishful-hope. With the No Sweat Sions---you have solid expectations.     
Picture
37727  and 37774  (double banded) The blue bar young hen you see to the left is a five month old hen bred from SUMMERTIME  and  THE MALTESE FALCON. She is nearly a clone of SUMMERTIME when SUMMERTIME was also this same age. Summertime flew ewxtremely well in SOUTH AFRICA as did her full sister in THE VICTORIA FALLS.

Picture
Picture
37727 & 37774 (double banded)  BBH. Two photos above and three photos belowTAKEN OF HER AT 6 MONTHS OF AGE WHILE SHE MATED TO HER NESTAMTE AND FULL BOTHER.  NOW, APRIL 25, 2025, SITTING ON TWO HEALTHY BABIES SCHEDULED TO ENTER THE fLORIDA DERBY.  37727  is a daughter of "SUMMERTIME"  and  "THE MALTESE FALCON." 

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
The pair of blue bars above will be breeding babies in 2025 which will be racing in THE FLORIDA DERBY  and   THE HOOSIER. The blue bar cock to the left is AU 2021 ARPU 101914.
Picture

THE STRAWBERRY MEALY COCK DEPICTED BELOW IS LINE-BRED BACK TO PAUL SION'S MOST FAMOUS RACER "LE ROUSELETTE."  ALSO A STRAWBERRY MEALY. WINNING 34 FIRST IN RACING. THEIR RESEMBLENCE OVER SO MANY YEARS IS REMARKABLE. ATTESTING TO THE CAREFUL BREEDINGS BY NO SWEAT AND THE STRENGTH OF THE SION GENES.
Picture
Picture
Picture
This photo of this mealy cock, AU-2022-KY-2235, is the father of the strawberry mealy cock, AU-2024-AA-30790,  shown just above. You will see close similarities between them. But if you look closely you will also see slight differences. Owning an "eye" for slight differences is crucial in being excellent when smartly employing  selective breeding over a span of 68 years.  This is why THE NO SWEAT SIONS are of the quality they are today. Below in another photo shows the pedigree of 2235,
Picture
Picture
The mly.YH
to the left.  just before being shipped to:












 THE THE 2025 HOOSIER CLASSIC PIGEON RACE. Photo taken May 3, 2025. She is full of the blood you see in the pedigree. A classic NO SWEAT SION.

Picture
​Being a serious author takes a great deal of time. passion and devotion. Physically and mentally. Being a fancier who uderstands genetics and desires to create a winning family of beautiful long distance racers also requires these things.  You can have a simple camera and one man can take wonderful pictures with that camera while the next cannot begin to do so. You can hand a person a gun and one man may be able to hit something far away while the next man misses every shot. It is this way in life with so many things, especially with racing pigeons. I have always owned a love and passion for racing pigeons. Since the time of my being a very small boy I have been mesmorized by them. That passion has brought me to where I am today. They are much my life and dreams. Any bird bred by No Sweat has the No Sweat stamp. My books own my "voice."  My Sions own "No Sweat."
Picture

​                          WELCOME!  Thank you for taking the time to visit.  BLESSINGS. I hope you will enjoy exploring my HEITZMAN SIONS website.

                           I am a best selling Kentucky author. Authored eight books. Thousands of articles.

                         My first novel is titled THESE PRECIOUS DAYS BY NO SWEAT. My latest novel is "UNCLE MOSES AND ED HAWKINS BY NO SWEAT."  Located on Amazon. My pigeon articles and stories have been appearing in pigeon journals all over the world for 60 years.

                         My pen name is "NO SWEAT."  I am 74 years old.  Just celebrated my 52nd wedding anniversary with Chesteen. Been together 60 years. Nancy our only child, an English teacher.  Have two grandsons. We raised. Good as they come. Lance and Barrett. Lance has been helping with the birds since he was a baby. 

                       I have had Sions going on 68 straight years.  Won over 1,500 first places. All levels of competition.

                        I appreciate your interest and friendship. Sions have been my life. My name is synonomous with Sions.  I have developed my own family.  "THE NO SWEAT SIONS."  Known for winning at superior long distnces. Also, beauty.

                      If you are interested in great racing pigeons you are at the right place. Particularly. Superior long distances. That is where you will find your finest racing pigeons. Birds with the strongest homing instincts. 

                    Sions are the greatest pigeons linking the past to the future.  No other racing pigeon owns such a rich and continuing history. SIONS helped to win World War One and Two. American and British soldiers landing on the Normandy Beach had SIONS helping them. Heitzman Sions helped China against Japan during WW2. Many of the Chinese today highly adore Heitzman Sions.

                   NO SWEAT Sions continue to win One Loft Races. Dependable. Racers owning earned reputations. Everyone has heard of Sions. Beautiful long distance racers which finish the tougher races. 
 
                    Long distance racers. Where true quality surfaces. Winning races today over the world. NOT YESTERDAY. BUT TODAY. Racers paving the future.

                  In 2024. NO SWEAT SIONS won the largest one loft races in Denmark and Trinidad.

                   In the last five years. No Sweat SIONS were "BEST TEAM USA" in Victoria Falls, Africa. Beating every "big name" in America.    

                  These Sions finished in the top 100 in South Africa every time they raced.

                  These Sions set long distance records in China. Winning over tough terrain at 700 KM and 1,000 KM.

                  Today. They are consistently winning in Japan.

                  These Heitzman Sions---a Heitzman Sion blue bar cock--won the greatest long distance race over open water. The Teneriffe Island Race. 

                  Recently. Winning THE BIG APPLE Race in New York. Also a 3,500 entry concourse race in Maryland.

                  They finished 15th in the smash race prior to the HOOSIER fire. That being the last time they flew there.

                 A medical doctor in Pennsylvania told by his club memebers my Sions would not win. He won the first race he flew with a silver young cock . And continued to win. 

                A new fancier in 2024, outside St. Louis. Informed by his local "experts."  My Sions would not win. He won their first four races.  

                I smile. Observing.  In Indiana, Texas, Tennesee, and more. Watching "experts" eat their words. 

                New fanciers should learn the truth about Sions. How fine they really are. Hearty. Beautiful. Mature quick. Live long. 

                The NO SWEAT SIONS have been coming back from 500 and 600 air miles year after year. They are based on the very best Sions which Charles Heitzman owned. I have devoted my life honoring Charles Heitzman and Paul Sion. These just happen to be THE REAL SIONS.  These are the Sions which Heitzman devoted his life in maintaining. The same birds.

                FOUR different years. These Sions came back from 700 air miles. From the middle of Florida to Richmond, Kentucky. Each time. World Record long distance racing for YOUNG BIRDS. Many of the breeders I own today. Have this 700 mile YOUNG BIRD blood. My good blue hen "SUMMERTIME"  being one of them.

               The NO SWEAT SIONS are based entirely on the Heitzman Sions. Charles Heitzman imported his Sions directly from Mons. Paul Sion in France. After Charles Heitzman died. I became their flag bearer. The flagship for Sions. Like VAN LOON.  I believe in maintaining a solid family. Based on performance. Understanding. Line breeding. Appreciating a good thing when you have it. Working with the best. To make it better.

                Sions have been winning at all distances over all terrains at all speeds for over 100 years. A racing history un-matched. Never a family of racing pigeons their equals. They are the future. I will enter THE FLORIDA DERBY  as well as The Hoosier with my family Sions this year. Sions love great and honest competition. 

               Please take the time to inspect these recent photos.  What you see. Are Sions I have now. Basis of what I will be breeding from in 2025.  Superior quality.  

              Note. In 1971. I flew in the top ten futurity races in North America. I won three of those. Setting a money winning record in The Twin City Gold Band Futurity. In the other seven races. I finished in the top ten.That year. I was selected for WHO's WHO in England. That was over 50 years ago. I have improved every year since. 

               I maintain a family of racing pigeons. I may well be the only fancier in North America who does this.  I remain "OLD SCHOOL."  Pure old line Sions. Honest Sions. I take pride in being "on top" of every small matter.  Careful selective breeding. Always improving. Understanding genetics. Aiming at the finset racer possible. Appreciating what I have. Knowing a good thing when I have it. You may hear some "expert" fancier claim he does not like families. Why? Becausae he does not have a family. He can't find a family. Not a true family. Unless he finds NO SWEAT. The reason families rarely exist?  Becaue fanciers today.  Do not want to put in the life time it takes to develop a great family of racing pigeons. Or. Possess the abilities. Today. Everything is "go go go."  Don't blink. Fanciers will believe anything they hear. Rarely. Do they know. Or hear. What is true. So many fanciers sell "beautiful pedigrees."  Instead of solid pigeons. Maybe. One day. They will have a one loft race just for pedigrees? Pigeons crossed every which way from sundown.

            There are "big--shots-experts" in the pigeon world which will tell you anything. They are always "helping you."  Exactly like used car salesmen. Politicians. Making endless videos every day ---  always "helping you."  Motive being--to help GET YOUR money into their pocket in one manner or the other. Claiming crosses are the best birds. Present you with their selected facts which they only want to show. ADVERTISE  they have the best birds in the WORLD. If you take the time to research-study--you find---they don't have birds which finish in races. Same people telling you they handle and inspect and judge over a million pigeons a year. When there is only 500,000 minutes to a year. They know. Fanciers rarely  check what they say. It goes on and on. Lance, my grandson, helps me with the birds all the time. He loves them. He said. He would like to be a success in the sport one day.  I told him. It would never happen. That he was, too honest.

            Can you stop to imagine. If in any one loft race any place in the world just happened to have one-half of its entries being NO SWEAT SIONS---what the results would be for every training toss and race therein? You see. Stuff like this is never thought of. Never mentioned. When I fly against 10,000 or 5,000 entries. My family of Sions are the only family to be entered. I race against all the crosses. Let that settle in your head just in numerical advantages and dis-advantges. Yet, you see the results. How this FAMILY of Sions somehow emerges despite the odds from all of those crosses. Odds well over 1,000 to one. Can you begin to imagine?  If everything was "even-Stephen" on a level playing field? How much these Sions would prevail--totally dominate. 

            I am one of those old fanciers who has given his life to racing pigeons. I have heard and seen it all:  Professional-slick advertisements. Photo-shop pigeons. ABE LINCOLN fact setters. Pretending Mr. "Nice guy" cons. Excited  fanciers who know all the secrets. Fanciers on "the inside track." Tap dancers. Singers. Circus Acts. Fanciers standing on their heads and spitting out ten dollar gold coins to grab your attention. Gorgeous pedigrees framable. Move over Mona Lisa. You name it. Simply Incredible. Fanciers blind.    

              I am always happy to speak with anyone about Sions. I can talk all day about Charles Heitzman. I honestly try to answer any question you own. I enjoy meeting and making new friends. I am best reached by emails. I always answer any email sent.

              Those few of you still alive today which knew Charles Heitzman remember.  He always ended his letters and advertisements with the slogan "FROM THE BEST COME THE BEST."  And. As you have heard.  "THE APPLE DOES NOT FALL FAR FROM THE TREE."  There is a  greart deal of wisdom in these sayings. No wonder. I believe in maintaining a family. 

           Inspect these recent photos of my 2025 breeders. Birds speak for themselves. 

                                             THANK YOU---BLESSINGS


                         Earl Lowell "Robbie"  /  "No Sweat" Robbins, Jr.
                                                  207 Longview Drive
                                           Richmond, Kentucky  40475
                                         HOME PHONE:  859-624-8113
                                         CELL PHONE: 606-782-4988
                                         WORK PHONE: 859-582-0503
                                       * BEST PHONE: 859-582-0503
                                          Email: [email protected]
​                                          WEBSITE : HEITZMAN SIONS 

                           **PLEASE REVIEW:  
                                                              " NO SWEAT SIONS SUMMER 2024"
                                                                                        &
                                                               "THE HEITZMAN STORY BY NO SWEAT" 
 

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
In 2025. This pair will have babies racing in THE FLORIDA DERBY.  Also THE HOOSIER.

The NO SWEAT LOFTS RACE IN THE BIGGEST RACES IN THE WORLD TODAY. THIS LOFT IS FAR FROM CONTENT ADVERTISING SIONS OF YESTERYEAR AND HISTORY.  STUFF. THIS IS THE ONE SION LOFT WELCOMING THE BEST COMPETITION TO BE FOUND AT ANY DISTANCE THROUGHOUT HE WORLD. T-O-D-A-Y!

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
A note concerning the majority of my reds. Most of my reds are what I term as "clean reds." That is to say. Very few have any black markings upon them.  This is the end result of many years of my selective breeding. As for well over twenty straight generations now.  I have rarely bred the "black gene" pigeon  ( blue bars, pencils, blue checks & black checks)  with any "red gene" pigeons (red checks, silver bars, mealies). In short. I have not been mixing those color genes together.  In so doing. I have almost erased any reds which will produce babies which will have black markings on them.  What I do wind up getting now. On ocassion. Will be a recessive red.  I may breed a red which may be of any  various shades of red. Some being more purple-ish in color. Some being a bit almost "yellow-ish" in color. Some, even a shade of pink. And often. These reds will have some manner of diffused  white colrations on them. Sometimes. A white tail, etc. Generally these reds which are recessive will have lighter colored eyes. I rarely if ever breed a recessive red which will have darker eyes. Often. I am asked. By some inquiring fancier. "Do you have any of those reds or silvers with the heavy black ticking or markings on them?  Sions which Heitzman sometimes had."  My answer is -- as I have earlier mentioned-explained. You see. Heitzman sold birds on a regular basis. Many young birds were sold every year. Hundreds. Heitzman would mate his birds on February 14 every year. And depending on the circumstances and also the specific pair he would raise 2 or 3 rounds from each pair before seperating them for the following year.  Many fanciers would ask him for two or four babies. That was very common. Insisting. That the young birds they bought---- were "evenly divided" as males and females. As Heitzman did not want to make mistakes. He so often mated a black gene male which was either a blue bar, blue check or black check --- to a red gene female--- which was a red check or silver bar.  Heitzman was well aware. Well educated. (He owned the largest pigeon libary in the world).  Knowing. Any baby coming from such matings.  Any and all. 100% of the time.  Any baby the color of its black gene father would always be a HEN. And. Any young bird-baby from that mating which was the color of the mother would always be a COCK.  This being the "opposite-color-sex-linked-gene law" true for all pigeons. Always accurate. In this. Heitzman could simply look at the color of a baby from such a mating and know accurately 100% of the time the exact sex of that baby. In doing this. Heitzman made no mistakes. When guarenteeing a customer a pair of birds which were a male and a female. What happend in all of this. What genetically was happening over so many years. As Heitzman practiced this methodology for 40 years. Was a long period of mixing the color genes together. As my dear old friend, CLYDE GALLOWAY, who was an authortity on the colors of pigeons--having written a popular book on the subject---said to me:  "Robbie, mating pigeons is like mixing paints."  He was simply referring to the colors. And in this. To some degree. He was correct.  So. That is the why. The why. You saw those old Sions sometimes carrying those black markings.  And those black markings were dominant once established.  And why. Today. You rarely see any black markings among my own family of "NO SWEAT SIONS"  in reds or silvers.  They are "clean" of those black markings. Simply because. For the past 50 years. I have been breeding away from such. Keeping the reds together. Not introducing black genes to them. Not "mixing paints" togeher.  I have my reasons why I do this. I have been breeding toward a diffusion, strengthening and darkening of red.  A noted and distinct---- "more red" than anyone who has ever worked with Sions. There is discussion. That birds which are of the red gene do not have feathers as strong as those of the black gene. I have observed this popular belief---- yes to be accurate and true. The quality and strength of a feather is entirely a genetic trait based on so many things, including coloration. If you "work with" reds and silvers which have superior feathering. You can go to bed at nights. Knowing. The babies they will breed. Will also have the same strong feathering.  In this. A fancier must always keep a keen-sharp eye. Pay attention. Examine. Careful observances. Breed intelligent-accordingly. From year to year. Otherwise. You can eventually lose "feather quaity" in any color. If you haphazardly breed. Paying little attention. From year to year. As to what is going on with your birds. You can lose all manner of qualities, including feather quality. The NO SWEAT SIONS which are reds take great pride in the quality of feathering they possess.

Picture
This pair of 2025  babies shown here I bred from two silver bars. As you will see. One of the babies happens to be a blue bar.  Any time you mate two silver bars you will breed on pigeons of the bar pattern. If one of those happens to be a blue bar it will ALWAYS be a hen. Any time you mate two red gene pigeons together and they happen to produce a baby which is of the black gene--it will always be a HEN.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
To the left. 1606 "MY FAVORITE"  and  1606 "GOLD." TUFT'S Parents. I bred 1606 out of two different un-banded blue bars. Heaven never created a better two. 1606  was my favorite bird I bred that year of some 550 young birds.  8689's parents were 1692 and 35. This goes back on to my 700 mile YOUNG BIRD blood and more.
Picture
AU-2020-86750 BLUE BAR HEN. Also name banded. "TUFT." As a baby severly pecked by an invading cock. Causing the feather to grow as it has. TUFT  is one of the best bred hens I have in 2025. Her babies have raced fantsstic. In hand, dead perfect. She is bred from 1606 "MY FAVORITE"  BBC and 155 "GOLD." One of the finest pairs I ever bred and mated together in my life. I have TUFT mated to AU-20-86969 BBC in 2025. Possibly the single best mating I have. 85969 is the son of 1692 and 155. Two outstanding breeders.
Picture
This young blue, AU-2025-KY-25050, hen I bred in April, 2025 will be entered in "THE FLORIDA DERBY."   She was bred out of my great blue hen named "TUFT." and  86969 BBC

Picture
Picture
Picture
To the left is one of my gorgeous, long- distance blue bar cock, 86969. A classic NO SWEAT SION cock.  He is "TUFT'S"  2025 mate.  One of their 2025 young birds will be racing in THE FLORIDA DERBY.
Picture
2025 YOUNG BIRDS.  NO SWEAT SIONS. NOTE.  This is what maintaining an excellent F-A-M-I-L-Y of the finest Sions in the world is all about. LONG DISTANCE RACERS. GORGEOUS.  PURE OLD LINE PAUL SIONS.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
2019--34049.  BLUE BAR HEN,  Mother of "SHADOW"  BB HEN. 2025. Entered into the Florida Derby. Two photos above, one photo below. And absolute outstanding hen.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
2020-86750 "TUFT"  BBH  and 2020-86969 BBC. Possibly the single best potential mating in 2025 for THE NO SWEAT SION colony.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
27910. Also double banded with older aluminum band. 27910 is a grandson of "WATTLE"  BBC. Earlier discussed on this website. 27810 is a perfect pigeon. Probably the finest cock I own. Certainly one of the top five. He is mated to "CHAT'S DAUGHTER"  in 2025. He is EXACTLY what Charles Heitzman most prized.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
86750 BBH  "TUFT. One Photo of her above and one below. In 2025, she is mated to 86969.
Picture
Picture
Picture
2017--45654 BBC. One photo above.
​Pure old line Sion. He is mated to "CHAT'S DAUGHTER" in 2025.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
The red hen above and the red hen below are closely related.  Both red hens are bred back down from "THE RED PAIR."  Sometimes these young birds are not as "pretty"  or "showy"  as most of my reds. But certainly. The babies which are bred from them are EXTREMELY reliable and consistent in racing at all distances.  Particularly at longer distances. I have made sure to keep this blood running throughout.  Always keeping a close eye on the best ones which emerge. At a glance and not referring to pedigrees I can spot the birds which are red in color in my loft looking like direct babies which I bred from "THE RED PAIR."  You  see that "type" in these two hens. Having much more of a "common look" in their faces. Generally, a more pronounced checker pattern. Instead of a vlevet color pattern. One bird I bred from  THE SLICK RED PAIR was a tiny blue check hen.  50 miles on her first toss. Second toss 500 miles. First bird home early second day.  Fifteen minutes later another small blue check hen came. Her nestmate. These are wonderful, old line true Sions going back to Heitzman's original red pair of Sions, 1033 and 1104. If you look at photos of 1033 and 1104.  You will see these same reds.
Picture

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
101969 BLUE BAR Tick-EYE HEN. NO SWEAT SION. "CHAT'S DAUGHTER." Two photos above & one photo below.  A direct daughter of my famed blue bar pencil tick-eye hen "CHATTANOOGA." 101969 is one of my most valuable breeders in 2025. Simply a perfect pigeon with royal blood. One of the darkest colored blue bars I have. She lays dead-perfect in your hands. Incredible feathering. A model pigeon from which to breed. Sions today come no finer. She will have a 2025 young bird bred from her racing in THE FLORIDA DERBY. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
45654 Blue Bar Cock. NO SWEAT SION.  Two Photos above & one photo below.  45654 is mated to 101969 BB Tk. Hen "CHAT'S DAUGHTER" in 2025.  They will have a Young Bird racing in THE FLORIDA DERBY.  45654 owns an incredible rich eye. He is exactly the kind of Sion which Charles Heitzman would love to have when selecting a top breeder. 45654 has had several close relatives race exceedingly well in SOUTH AFRICA & VICTORIA FALLS. Mated to "CHAT'S DAUGHTER---I believe they will produce outstanding racers.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
​No Sweat is the fancier who inherited the largest racing pigeon library in the world. As such it has given him a knowledge regarding racing homers few if any could rival. He is also the same fancier who now owns the heart of the very best of the Sions once cherished by Charles Heitzman, Jeffersontown, Kentucky. You can read about their life-long relationship by going to the net:  THE HEITZMAN STORY BY NO SWEAT. Additionally. If you visit the American racing pigeon museum in Oklahoma you will see Charles Heitzman and No Sweat in a photo on the wall.

Among  so many photographs, articles and letters involving Paul and Robert Sion, Lew Curtis and Charles Heitzman and countless more Sion fanciers. No Sweat has a better grasp as to "all things Sion" than anyone alive today.

In general. He explains, when Paul Sion first began to form his family of racers---basically with Wegges-- there was in the early years much diversity among the birds. In time Paul Sion managed to mold the birds into a family which shared common characteristics. But certainly. Not in a strong way.

Fanciers visiting Paul Sion's four-story loft would sometimes write articles about their visits. Describing what they saw. Dr. Anderson in Scotland being one. Prior to World War Two. It could be said. Paul Sion had more birds which were of the red gene than black. He did in fact have a good number of red checks, mealies and silvers.

Paul Sion happened to like silvers. if you simply asked him about color. The Paul Sions were strong birds, vibrant and smart. Very racy. In appearance. Somewhat on the large side. But in hand. Often not as they appeared.

The best birds ever to e sold by Paul Sion went to the United States. Paul explained. Americans simply were willing to pay more for his birds than any one else. 

Some of his very best went to Lew Curtis. "LE-ROI"  BBWFL COCK, etc. Also to Charles Heitzman. Both men made several importations. Those Sions which they imported did in fact range in sizes and colors. Some small. Some large. A few, gangly. Deep keels. Long necks. Long legs. Round heads. Snipe faces.

Paul Sion and his son had to give up their Sions prior to WW2. In fear of being caught by the Germans. Shot as spies. They went about giving their birds to the French Resistence in the southern half of France. 

For nearly 7 years thse Sions were gone from Paul and Robert. Paul died in 1946 at his magnificent home in Tourcoing, France.  Robert later went about collecting some of their birds back from The French Resistence. He also had birds given to him from other fanciers who had had their birds prior the war. All of this helping to re-establish the original Sions.

Robert Sion was eventually successful racing his father's birds again. He won several major races. But it was never like it had been prior to the war. He wrote letters to Heitzman discussing this. Which today No Sweat keeps in his home.

​ Robert did what most fanciers would have done. When he went to those  different French Resistence lofts which had their birds. He selected birds which most appealed to him. Birds which handled well and were appealing to his eye.

But in doing this. Robert inadvertantly lost some of the keen homing instincts which so many of the other Sions his father had bred once possessed. In many instances, those birds were not handsome. Owning a common appearance. Even lacking in confirmation.

Paul Sion was first and most interested in performance. It just so happened. Sometimes. A fine looking specimen would perform outstandingly. But certainly. Not always. This matter had a great "play" on the quality of the Sions which Robert wound up breeding and selling.

Many of the birds coming to America via of him. John Garzoli and other fanciers bought Sions bred by Robert Sion after the war. Many raced well. Many were great. Still. A certain "racing edge" had been lost from what the Sions had once been prior to the war. 

These later Sions often not racing as well. Many being more "showy" in appearance for all the reasons mentioned. Apple-bodied. Wedge-heads. Large specimens.

​With Charles Heitzman. He did not attempt to create a distinct family of Sions. At no time in his life did he ever do such. Heitzman primarily wanted to keep Sions "pure."  Keep what he knew Paul Sion or Robert Sion had originally sent to him--straight. Be delightfully open and honest about it. Heitzman never stopped to take the time to change the birds overall appearances. That was never on his plate. But attaching his name to them certainly was. "HEITZMAN SIONS."

Heitzman was not interested in selectively breeding to mold an entire group of birds into an exact type. Like Paul Sion. Heitzman was most interested in performance. In truth. Neither of these men actually developed a solid and distinct true family of racers. This becomes obvious. When studyig the vast amout of information now possessed by No Sweat.

As such. There was a great range in colors and sizes among the Sions which Heitzman bred. But never were there any grizzles. Solid blacks, solid yellows, etc. The only two solid whites he ever bred both came from two light red check matings. Heitzman dubbed them "albinos." Some of Heitzman's Sions were like the original Sions---large. And for some. Almost sparrows. The clors ranged. Heitzman usually had a ton of red checkers at any time of the year. Most being medim-colored or lighter-colored red checkers. Yes. He had brick reds. But they were few.

It was very rare for Heitzman to own or breed from any bird with what he termed "a pearl eye." Heitzman detested a light eye. Preferring a dark red eye among all eye colors.

There have been so many different Sion fanciers over the past 120 years. NONE have accomplished  what No Sweat has performed. 700 mile YOUNG BIRDS. Actually creating HIS  own true family within the Sions. 

A distinct family sharing common physical traits. A recognizable unit of pigeons. No Sweat has slight diversity among his family. Still. They are a true family. As within any family of racing pigeons. Van Loons, etc. No Sweat Sions are generally characterized to be medium in size, exceptional wings, soft feather, closed backs, tight vents, excellent balance. Racers bred for long distances.    
Picture

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
AU-2021-ARPU-101931, SBC.  Outstanding body. Tight vents. Closed back. Fantastic wing. Alert. Quick. Smart. Excelent eye. 101931  is bred from silver hen "FATTY."  Fatty was bred from two silvers:  "300" Powder SBC, 5 times 600 miles. And a silver hen bred from "HARD CORE" SBC, 620 MI. YOUNG BIRD. And "LONG WINGS" BLUE CHECK HEN, 620 MI. YOUNG BIRD.  Note. Fatty was long my favorite silver hen. She got her name because she was always the first to come to the feed tray. She was not a big hen. She was gorgeous. 101931 is my favorite son I ever raised out of her. A prolific breeder in the NO SWEAT SION colony in 2025.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
A 2025 mealy young hen which will be entered in THE HOOSIER. Typical NO SWEAT SION.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
WAR LADY  &  MORNING STAR'S first two babies in 2025.  One is going to the FLORIDA DERBY.  The other may wind up going to THE HOOSIER. Photo taken April 21, 2025.
Picture
WAR LADY & MORNING STAR'S BABIES. PHOTO TAKEN APRIL 28, 2025.
Picture
WAR LADY & MORNING STAR'S BABIES.
AU-2025-ARPU-100668 Silver Bar & AU-2025-ARPU-100669 Silver Bar
​Photo Taken May 3, 2025. At least one them will be entered in THE FLORIDA DERBY PIGEON RACE, MIAMI, FLORIDA. 
             
                        

Picture
War Lady & Morning Star's fist round babies in 2025. Photo taken May 8, 2025. Scroll back up. You will see how these two babies have developed. In 16 more days. They will be shipped to Miami, Florida. To race in THE FLORIDA DERBY. All that is required of them. Is to beat thousands upon thousands of the finest racing pigeons throughout North America and the world.
Picture
WAR LADY & MORNING STAR'S first round babies in 2025. Photo taken MAY 11, 2025. One is a cock and one is a hen. The hen has been named  "WAR BRIDE."  Both will race in the 2025 FLORIDA DERBY PIGEON RACE IN MIAMI, FLORIDA.
Picture
"MORNING STAR" 2327.  Mated to  "WAR LADY" in 2025.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
"MORNING STAR."  2327.  SILVER BAR COCK. NO SWEAT SION.  2025 mate to  "WAR LADY."  Sitting on their first round of babies. Hatched April 15, 2025.
Picture
Picture
NO SWEAT. 
​INSPECTING THE BABIES.  FROM  WAR LADY and MORNING STAR. 

Picture
Picture
Picture
THE NO SWEAT LOFTS MAINTAIN THREE MAIN COLORS:  BLUE BARS, SILVER BARS AND REDS. PERFORMANCE AT LONGER DISTANCES  IS THE FIRST PRORITY.  THEN, BEAUTY. THE NO SWEAT SIONS OWN CLOSED BACKS, TIGHT VENTS AND EXCELLENT BALANCE. 
Picture
FOR THE PAST 25 YEARS THE NO SWEAT LOFTS HAVE BRED OUTSTANDING BRICK RED SIONS WINNING AT 600 MILES AND FARTHER. IN CHINA. THEY WON A 1,000 KM RACE 3,500 ENTRIES. NO SWEAT HAS HAD SEVERAL OF REDS COME BACK FROM 700 AIR MILES AS YOUNG BIRDS. WORLD-RECORD LONG DISTANCE FOR A YOUNG BIRD.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
LANCE ROBBINS. NO SWEAT'S GRANDSON. HAS BEEN A GOD-SEND WORKING WITH THE NO SWEAT SIONS FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS. LANCE IS A RECOGNIZED SWIMMER, SCUBA DIVER, SURFER, SPELUNKER AND MORE. HE RECEIVED A "FULL ACADEMIC-MULTI SCHOLARSHIPS RIDE" THROUGHOUT COLLEGE. INSTEAD OF OWING MONEY WHEN HE GRADUATES. THE UNIVERSITY PAID HIM AN ADDITIONAL $10,000 TO ATTEND.  
Picture
WHEN YOU SEE A TRUE FAMILY OF RACING PIGEONS YOU WILL SEE A SIMILARITY IN THEIR FACES. THEY WILL OWN THE BASIC SAME SIZE. HANDLE MUCH ALIKE. EVEN SAME DISPOSITIONS. THE NO SWEAT SION FAMILY MAY BE THE ONLY TRUE FAMILY OF RACERS TODAY IN NORTH AMERICA CREATED BY THE ORIGINAL FANCIER HIMSELF. REMARKABLY. THIS FAMILY CONSISTENTLY WINS MAJOR RACES ACROSS THE USA AND WORLD TODAY. PROOF OF THE VALUE OF A SOLID FAMILY MAINTAINED BY SOMEONE WHO ACTUALLY KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

Picture
Picture
Many of THE NO SWEAT SIONS tace back to the greatest Sion ever exported by Paul Sion. A blue white flight cock named, "LE-ROI."  Lew Curtis and Charles Heitzman owned incredible success with racers bred down from Le-Roi. Particularly racing longer distances. 
Picture

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
24-30724   BLUE BAR HEN.  NO SWEAT SION.  30724 was one of my favorite hens which I bred in 2024. Everything about her is perfect. She is a classic NO SWEAT SION bred for long distance. Physiclly and blood-line.  In 2025, a permanent stock hen. She is also shown on the  next four photos.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
THE NO SWEAT LOFTS ARE LOCATED ON FIVE ACERS IN RICHMOND, KENTUCKY.  LAND  OWNING AN OPEN FIELD, CREEK AND WOODS.  NO SWEAT IS ALLOWING THE ENTIRE AREA TO RETURN BACK TO NATURE. THE NO SWEAT WILDLIFE SANCTUARY. A SERENE AREA. FOREVER. FOR ALL PLANTS, BIRDS AND LIVING CREATURES.
Picture
THE PHOTO ABOVE IS AN "OPERATIONS ROOM." WHERE NO SWEAT WORKS WITH HIS SIONS. THE BIG PLASTIC BAGS ARE FULL OF PINE NEEDLES. USED FOR NESTING MATERIALS. THE WICKER BASKETS WERE ALL THE PROPERTY OF CHARLES HEITZMAN AT ONE TIME.

Picture

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
NO SWEAT AND HIS GRANDSON, LANCE. THE HARSH WINTER, JANUARY, 2025. TEPERATURES OFTEN DROPPING BELOW ZERO.
Picture

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
The photo above and also to the left are of the same yearling blue bar cock. AU-24-AA-37724 and  AU-2024-AA-37725 (double banded).  named  BOGART""  Hatched October, 2024. He is bred from "SUMMERTIME"  and  "THE MALTESE FALCON."  He is mated to his sister nestmate. 37727 and 37774 (double banded)  "SWEET SUMMER SWEAT." I plan to enter their babies in either the Florida Derby or The Hoosier.  Like VAN LOON.  I smile when some know-it-all fancier deters from a family. As for line-breeding and inbreeding. Of course, that is by far the smartest way to breed. You always want to breed toward a great champion. Be as smart as you can to try to improve that great champion. Not destroy everything about it by crossing with some other family or god-knows-what cross of pigeons. There is absolutely NO scientific basis or long, true,  record-keeping of anyone actually devoted to breeding pigeons----- whetein ---anything----- even remotely begins to show--------- that a family of pigeons is not the smartest way to work with birds. Yet, so much circus-stuff, used-car lot, sales-ploy rhetoric remains in the air. Horribly influencing an entire new generation of fanciers. The same fools whop wonder??? Why their crosses do no good in races.....

Picture
The photo above is that of my blue bar hen named "SUMMERTIME." Bred by NO SWEAT. A pure SION. Heavily line-bred to the famous Sion cock named "LE-ROI."  SUMMERTIME was entered by me in SOUTH AFRICA at the height of the SOUTH AFRICA RACE program. That year there were nearly 10,000 entries from all over the world. The best. She finished 41rst on their last and most important long distance race. Almost the first bird home from all of the USA entries. Summertime is bred down from my line of long-distance Sions which have flown 700 air miles as a YOUNG BIRD.  That happens to be WORLD-RECORD long distance for a YOUNG BIRD. A feat which I have accomplished four different times with a combination of 20 YOUNG BIRDS. SUMMERTIME had a full sister which flew in THE VICTORIA FALLS Race. Several different tosses and or races---that blue hen led every single bird from the USA. In one race, finishing 6th in the entire world.  These are line-bred and in-bred Sions of which I have been breeding for 68 years.  A true FAMILY of racing pigeons. The single best and most beautiful, long distance Sions and racing pigeons now in the entire world. Allow your eyes to judge for themselves. SUMMERTIME is now back home and a breeder for me in 2025. I have her mated to a blue bar cock with light violet eyes named  "THE MALTESE FALCON."
Picture
"THE MALTESE FALCON"

Picture
"THE MALTESE FALCON."  2025.  AT TWO YEARS OF AGE.  "SUMMERTIME'S"  2024 & 20225 mate.
Picture
SUMMERTIME at 6 years of age.

Picture
Picture
This is the second round of babies out of SUMMERTIME and THE MALTESE FALCON in 2025.  Both will be entered in the 2025 FLORIDA DERBY. This photo and the immediate one below are of the same two birds at different ages in their development.

Picture
​AU2025KY25009 Blue Bar White Flight Cock.  "LANCE." February 14, 2025 hatch. 2nd round baby bred from SUMMERTIME and THE MALTESE FALCON.  Will be racing in THE FLORIDA DERBY. NO SWEAT SION. PHOTO TAKEN AT 6 WEEKS OF AGE.
Picture

​AU2025KY25010BLUE BAR HEN. FEBRUARY 14, 2025 Hatch. 2nd Round baby bred from SUMMERTIME & THE MALTESE FALCON. WILL BE RACING IN THE FLORIDA DERBY. NO SWEAT SION. PHOTO TAKEN AT 6 WEEKS OF AGE.
Picture
PHOTO OF LANCE HOLDING TWO BABIES JUST BANDED IN 2025.  PHOTO TAKEN APRIL 12, 2025. THE TWO BABIES HE IS HOLDING ARE OUT OF SUMMERTIME AND THE MALTESE FALCON.  THEY ARE THE "THIRD ROUND" out of the same pair thus far for 2025. Band numbers:   AU25KY25090  and  AU25KY 091.  To be entered in THE FLORIDA DERBY or THE HOOSIER.  There is much discussion as to the advantages or disadvantages of entering older or younger birds into one loft races. Logic would dictate. Older birds. But that has proven not necessarily true. There is also discussion regarding the best time to mate pigeons. My mentor, Charles Heitzman, strongly believed in following nature in all matters pigeons. Particularly when to breed. He would mate his birds on February 14. Valentine's Day. This giving him spring and early summer in which to raise 2-3 rounds out of each pair. In my 68 years with racing pigeons. I have learned. Yes. It is better to breed as such. Even well into the summer. I have noted. Those babies which are happily reaised in the warmer months are able to enjoy life. More than those exposed to colder conditions. Enjoynment leads to happiness. Happy pigeons promote healthy pigeons.  I believe. When constructing a loft. When working with pigeons. You must be "thinking pigeon."  Be a pigeon. Create and do those things which make a pigeon happy. Make your loft taller than everyone else. That is what a pigeon wants. Build large aviaries. That is what a pigeon wants. Allow your pigeons to be happy.  Not prisoners of your own design. Not do mokey-see-mokey-d stuff that all other fanciers do---- who never ponder such matters.  Having exceptionally healthy birds will always place you at an advantage.

Picture
Photo on the left is of SUMMERTIME.  Taken on April 25, 2025. This is SUMMERTIME sitting on her FOURTH ROUND of eggs thus far in 2025.
Picture
Picture
Picture

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
A 2024 late hatch out of SUMMERTIME and THE MALTESE FALCON. This hen is almost a clone of of her mother when her mother was this age.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
ABOVE PHOTO. "SUMMERTIME."  AU 2018 KY18160 BLUE BAR HEN.  SUMMERTIME'S GRANDMOTHER IS 2011-33. "THE OCALA HEN." SHE IS SHOWN ON THIS WEBSITE UPDATE.  THE OCALA HEN IS A DARK VIOLET EYE BLUE HEN. SHE WAS RELEASED WITH 50 YOUNG BIRDS IN OCALA FLORIDA. 700 MILES FROM NO SWEAT'S LOFTS.  TEN DAYS LATER 33 WAS THE ONLY YOUNG BIRD TO COME HOME. AS IT TURNED OUT 33 BECAME AN OUTSTANDING BREEDER. SUMMERTIME FINISHED 41RST IN THE SOUTH AFRICA RACE AGAINST THE 10,000 ORIGINAL ENTRIES.  HER FULL SISTER LED THE ENTIRE USA CONTINGENT-ENTRIES SEVERAL TIMES IN RELEASES AND RACES IN THE VICTORIA FALLS. SUMMERTIME WAS PURCHASED BACK AT GREAT COST FROM AFRICA AND TODAY IS ONE OF THE KEY BREEDERS FOR NO SWEAT IN 2025. THE DARK EYE BLUE HEN SHOWN BELOW IS A TYPICAL SION OF THIS LINAGE.  NO SWEAT BRED HER IN 2024. HER SISTER WENT TO TAIWAN. SHE IS NOW ALSO A 2025 BREEDER. MANY FANCIERS REMARK ABOUT THE GREATNESS OF "THE BLACK-EYED SIONS."  ACTUALLY. THEY ARE NOT TRUE BLACK COLORED EYES.  SOME ARE VERY DARK VIOLET EYES SOMETIMES OWNING BITS OF DARK EMERLD GREEN IN THEM. AND SOMETIMES.  THESE DARK-EYED SIONS ACTUALLY HAVE DARK-COLORED CHESTNUT EYES.  HEITZMAN LOVED THAT EYE. ESPECIALLY FOR BREEDING.    
Picture
Picture

Picture
Picture
Picture
LANCE HOLDING TWO 2025 EARLY HATCHES OUT OF SUMMERTIME AND THE MALTESE FALCON.  AU-2025-KY-25000  and  AU-25-KY-25001. BOTH BIRDS ARE NOW IN MIAMI. ENTERED IN THE FLORIDA DERBY.  THE YOUNG COCK IS NAMED  "CHANCO."   HIS NESTMATE HEN IS NAMED "MISS CHESTEEN."
Picture
"THE MALTESE FALCON." BLUE BAR COCK. VERY LIGHT VIOLET EYES. AU 23 KY 23036. NO SWEAT SION. OF THE 1,200 YOUNG BIRDS NO SWEAT BRED IN 2023, HE VALUES THIS BLUE BAR AS THE BEST. HE NAMED HIM AFTER THE FAMOUS STATUE IN THE HUMPHREY BOGART MOVIE. HIS FATHER IS A BLUE BAR COCK NAMED "ELVIS." 2015-50998.  THE MALTESE FALCON IS A PERFECT PIGEON. ALPHA PERONALITY. BECAUSE OF THE "BALANCING ACT" IMPORTANT IN SELECTING POTENTIAL BREEDERS. NO SWEAT WILL BE MATING THE MALTESE FALCON TO SUMMERTIME IN 2025. PLANS ARE. TWO OF THEIR BABIES WILL BE ENTERED IN THE FLORIDA DERBY., 
Picture

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
The photos above and below are of  "THE MALTESE FALCON."  In 2023, I bred 1,200 young bird Sions.   Of those I judged THE MALTESE FALCON" to be the singularly best bird.  He appears to be a big bird. But when you place him in your hand you hardly know that you have a pigeon at all.  He is perfectly constructed and owns a wonderful light pearl-type violet eye. He is one of the most dominant pigeons I have ever owned. I should glue some feathers on him and enter him in the world's greatest chicken fight. I bred 14 young birds out of him in 2024.  It is now the third week in March and he is sitting on his third round for this year in 2025.
Picture

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
"BOGART"   Blue Bar Cock.  Hatched October, 2024.  Bred from  "THE MALTESE FALCON"  and  "SUMMERTIME."  Bogart is almost identical yo his father.  At five months of age he is already mated. I plan to enter his babies in the HOOSIER. BOGART looks big in this photo. But he is not a big pigeon.  Actually, medium in size. When you hold him--you feel almost no weight at all. As though you are holding cotton. He is perfectly built. Closed back. Tight vents. 

Picture
THE CLASSY BLUE BAR ABOVE IS A DAUGHTER OUT OF MY CHAMPION LONG-DISTANCE SION NAMED "CHATTANOOGA."  2009-23007.  CHATANOOGA'S NESTMATE FINISHED 13th in the AU CONVENTION RACE. AS A YOUNG BIRD CHATTANOOGA WAS RELEASED AT 200 MILES FROM CHATTANOOGA, TN.  SHE WAS CAUGHT BY A COOPER HAWK IMMEDITELY UPON RELEASE. TWO DAYS LATER. HORRIBLY WOUNDED. SHE ARRIVED BACK TO THE NO SWEAT LOFTS. A YEAR LATER.  SHE WAS RELEASED FROM 620 MILES. SHE CAME BACK HOME ON THE SECOND DAY. UN-RECOGNIZABLE. TOTALLY DRENCHED IN TAR AND OIL. AFTER THAT. SHE WAS RETIRED AS A PERMANENT BREEDER. MANY OF HER DIRECT BABIES AND GRANDCHILDREN HAVE WON AT 500 AND 600 MILES ACROSS THE USA. Also, in Japan and China. THEIR HOMING INSTINCTS AND HEART BEING CONTINUED. IN THE NO SWEAT LOFTS. SOMETIMES. IF YOU NOTE A DARKER COLORED BLUE BAR. IT WILL OFTEN TRACE BACK TO CHATTANOOGA.
Picture
Picture
Picture

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
NO SWEAT BELIEVES IN BREEDING AS PERFECT A PIGEON AS POSSIBLE. LEAVING NO ADVANTAGES FOR COMPETITION.
Picture

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
CHESTEEN HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN INTREGAL PART OF THE NO SWEAT SIONS. FOR SEVERAL YEARS SHE SERVED AS THE RACE SECRETARY FOR THE LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY  RACING PIGEON CLUB. TWO TIME VALEDICTORIAN. RECEIVED HER MS DEGREE IN CHEMISTRY.
Picture

Picture
The blue bar hen to the left flew 500 miles as a YOUNG BIRD. So did 7 other full
siblings on the
​same year. 

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Thank you for taking the time to look at some of my 2025 breeders.  If you wish to contact me the best way is by email:   [email protected]    Those two blue checks in the photo behind me.  One is of a young hen. I took her 50 miles on her first toss.  Two weeks later I released her at 520 miles.  She was home early on the second day. Her nestmate came about fifteen minutes later. I bred them from two red checks. "THE RED PAIR."  They were bred from HARD CORE, LONGWINGS, RESOLVE and CHATTANOOGA.  THREE were 600 mile YOUNG BIRDS. CHATTANOOGA WAS A YEARLING. The other photo is that of one of my greatest breeders ever. "PEG LEG."  Unbanded. Blue check cock.  His blood lives all throughout my lofts from nearly 60 years ago. Blessings. "NO SWEAT"
                                   [email protected]
​   
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
No Sweat and Chesteen. April 10, 2025. Married  53 years. Went together for 7 years before marriage.  Grade school and high school and college sweethearts. Chesteen was valedictorian of Ravenna  Grade School and Valedictorian of Irvine High School. GIRLS STATE. Aacademic scholarships. She recieved her BS and MS in Chemistry. Became the first woman principal of a Middle School in eastern Kentucky. Retired after 37 years. Known for her smarts, red hair, good looks, big heart, charm and honesty.  Chesteen has always been at No Sweat's side in all matters. They have one daughter, Nancy, MA English. An English teacher. And two grandsons, Lance and Barrett. 4.0 students. Active with No Sweat's pigeons and much more. 

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Any fancier can go out to the lofts on a pleasant day to enjoy the birds. I have been with racing pigeons nearly 70 years. Passionately still love them. This recent photo is of my grandson and I. Down at the creek below the lofts we broke through the thick ice with an axe. Then dipped five gallon buckets to get water. Which we carried back up the hill. My Sions had been eating snow up until then. They were happy to get the water. We were happy as well. In like anything you love. You deal with all the adversities it owns. As long as I breathe the strength of Sions will breathe as well.   
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Proudly powered by Weebly