De Bock - De Smeyter (Kluisbergen) wins La Soutteraine yearlings East Flanders

Figuratively, the ink of our pen was not yet dry when we could already dip it back into the ink for yet another provincial win for the tandem from Berchem-Kluisbergen with the national race from La Soutteraine.

Everyone knew in advance that all flights from the weekend of 20-22 June were not going to be a walk in the park. Boiling temperatures were predicted over the entire flight line and the wind looked in favour for a while (tail wind) but pretty soon it turned out that this would be anything but an advantageous argument.

With a flight from Pau released on Friday and the pigeons coming home drop by drop, it was clear that it would be hard work on all flights and that the top would be reserved for really good pigeons in the right condition.

The flights from Valence and La Soutteraine that were on the agenda were also expected by the players to be a bit softer than the day before but this also clearly proved not to be the case.

The French baking oven, with temperatures above 30 degrees, prevailed over the light south-east wind that was supposed to blow in its favour in the final kilometres.

‘To be continued’

With these words we concluded our publication last week when we highlighted the provincial victory at Bourges of the tandem of Jelle and Joost. It is a little easier written than executed, although....when pigeons that can do it are in the right form then a lot can be done. When we asked Jelle, just after this new provincial win, if anything had changed about the system..he replied ‘same system as last week’ with a smile added. The panache had been there for several weeks and this approach was left unchanged to keep the pigeons in this condition for as long as possible...and with another provincial win as a result.

By way of filling in the pages, here is the approach as it is this season on the lofts in Berchem:

Until last season, the cocks and hens were played on total widowhood. The successes were certainly there and yet the cocks were often inferior to the hens. The hens proved to be much more regular in their results and more steadfast. The necessary conclusions were drawn from this and the decision was taken to play them from this season on with a partner staying at home to try to get the cocks more and better motivated. The first observations are certainly encouraging and the cocks are more motivated than when they came home and their partner was not there. We started with 32 cocks (which have been winter breeding) and 39 hens paired in such a way that they could be basketed on the first Bourges national with a young in the nest. The run-up in the season's work was characterised by hard, bitten flights with surely some (already well flown) stragglers, hurt pigeons etc. It was not a flawless start although the results did not show it. All pigeons were darkened until 2 weeks before Bourges to give them full light afterwards.  Bourges national was no fluke for East Flanders and at national level the top pigeons were in other provinces. Before basketing the pigeons are not shown anything (no dish, no partner) with the aim of basketing the pigeons as calmly as possible.  The reward is waiting for them when they get home and they quickly realise this. When they arrive home, they are first allowed to half-bake, eat and drink and are later left with their partner. Usually, with a normal flight, they are allowed to be with their partner until evening and then they are separated again. In between, the pigeons are not driven with their own transport. Normally, they go into the basket every week, and depending on the intensity of the flight that has been flown or the weather conditions, sometimes even a middle-distance flight is inserted. The flight rhythm is high enough that there is no need to drive between races.Training during the season is also limited to one training session a day and Jelle also sees the training sessions becoming shorter as the season progresses...partly due to the weekly races they do. Care consists of the Versele-Laga range of feed and by-products. When they return home, they are given protein-rich feed (protein-rich breeding mix) and then a combination of Champion sport mix and Super mix in the following days. On Wednesday and Thursday, energy mix is fed.At the beginning of the week the pigeons are given Intestinal Top and Respitop to keep the intestinal function at the right level. Towards basketing, Formolie and Formmix are given.  Medically, Pascal Lanneau visits regularly to perform examinations and intervene where necessary

Naira (BE24-4144796) beats the entire East Flanders bunch !

At 13.54 hrs and with a minute speed of 1,217.21 metres per minute for a distance of 529 km, hen Naira beat the entire East Flemish pack (1,240 old birds and 1,737 yearlings were basketed. With this exploit, she also snatched the 6th national from 5,288 yearlings, perpetuating her legacy. Normally she also wins 1st prize National Zone.

She is a beautiful blue whitetip hen of very noble pedigree.

Her father is a grandson of Joël Verschoot's world-famous Armando. The son of Armando was then paired with a daughter of Tom and Marnik Van Gaver's 1st national Jarnac or a pairing of top class x top class.Her mother in turn is then a granddaughter Nai of Marc and Geert Pollin coupled with top hen Umi who is a largely Willem De Bruijn pigeon.
A pedigree to lick your thumbs and fingers off!

At the risk of repeating ourselves, we dare to be more careful in writing ‘to be continued’...but when a team is in top condition, strange things can happen.  We well remember the oft-used saying ‘I may even basket my drinking pot, it will also fly prize’...perhaps this loft is now in such a position.

In any case, what is already in as a harvest is in !

Congratulations from the Herbots team !

Geert Dhaenens