Loft David Vermassen (Gavere) has a super season with a 1st National Souillac as a reward !
24 Dec 2020
To illustrate what kind of top loft we’re visiting we like to give you first a short view on the won titles out of the recent past :
- 1 Belgian Selection Cat. H old birds Olympiad Poznan 2011
- 1 General Champion KBDB 2013
- 1 Provincial Ace bird Extreme Long Distance 1998
- 1 Provincial marathon 2005
- 1 General Champion OVV interprovincial 2020
- 1 General Champion OVV youngsters 2020
- 1 national Gueret old 2010
- 1 national Brive year birds 2013
- 1 national Souillac old 2020
- 2 Belgian Selection Olympiad Ostend Middle Distance 2006
- 3 national champion greater middle distance KBDB 2008
- 3 national champion greater middle distance KBDB 2009
- 4 national ace bird greater middle distance KBDB 2005
- 4 national champion year birds KBDB 2005
- 3 general champion Cureghem Centre 2013
- 5 national ace bird greater middle distance KBDB 2010
- 6 general champion KBDB 2018
- 12 zonal victories from Chateauroux to Cahors
- 24 provincial victories from Orléans to Cahors
This is only an anthology out of all the victories on races and rankings that Nadine, David and Denis won in their typical driven style.
The chickens don’t fall out of the sky roasted
How it all started? Well, with a dream of a young guy that David was to race the pigeons. He was supported in doing this and got all the opportunities necessary at home to realize this. It seemed rather quickly that talent was present and David ranked himself very fast within the top of the races. But it also became soon a family contamination. His mother, Nadine, went very strong into the same flow and this is how it became a family happening.
Let’s go back to 2020, Nadine (67y), David (45y) and Denis (68y and partner to Nadine) can look back with a lot of satisfaction to their marvellous season of 2020. Which threatened to be a course with a lot of hiccups due to the Covid19-issues it became a super season for them. Not they were very astonished that their pigeons could do this, but is was waiting with a frightened heart what the postponed start and very busy calendar that followed would do with their racing team.
Pay for work is at place at this threesome, or in other words ‘the chickens don’t fall out of the sky roasted’. David shifts a lot of honour towards Nadine and Denis. ‘I almost don’t interfere anymore in the care’ is what David tells. He is still present at the arrival of the pigeons, he is still involved when things on the lofts need to be adjusted, he is still occasionally present on the busy moments (coupling of the pigeons and so on…) but quasi the entire care is in hands of Nadine and Denis. It is for both of them a full time day job.
Next to the training, the observing, the tossing, the administrative updating, the basketing and so on… Nadine and Denis clean each day for 2 hours to get everything cleaned. Sometimes it is an effort to do but most of the time a recreation.
They like to do this as both are possessed with pigeon sport and none of them avoid any effort to bring their pigeon in optimal conditions to the starting point. On top of this they are all a bit perfectionists which results in a very strict care and the full installation is very neat and clean. That the season of 2020 was a top season for them was a huge satisfaction for all the efforts they make day in day out for their hobby.
Out- and inside loft for widowers
Where it is good living for a pigeon…
It has to be cosy for a pigeon living on their lofts. The installation is worked on into perfection. The racing pigeons reside on spacious garden lofts where everything is worked on with a technical eye. The breeding pigeons reside in nice spacious lofts annex aviary and on top of this they also have very spacious aviaries for the hens, stuck ones and so on…Everything neat and clear organized to make the work as efficient as possible.
They have 51 breeding couples that are spread over a few lofts. They don’t breed in boxes as this feels too much limiting for pigeons and don’t feel the stimulant of the others. They couple early and the 1st and 2nd round are being raced on their own lofts. The 1st round are about 120 youngster and the 2nd round about 90 youngsters. The 1st and 2nd round never come together and are being raced separately as well.
They race with 44 cocks (old and yearlings) on the classic widowhood system (with a home staying partner). A team of 28 hens (old and yearlings) are also being raced on the classic widowhood system.
So it isn’t that striking that taking care of such a team of pigeons into details is a nice occupation for Nadine and Denis.
Outside and inside of the loft for racing hens and youngbirds
When they started racing pigeons they got mainly pigeons from strong regional fanciers. A modest strain was being bred out of them which gave very nice results. A strong quality injection came in this period in 1999-2000 with the input of the ‘Bonte Crack’. This pigeon came directly from the lofts from Freddy Vandenheede (the current tandem Freddy&Jacques Vandenheede) and was out of the iron strong old base Albert & Paola / Antigoon & Krijt. Accomplished with pigeons from Christine De Bruycker from Liedekerke (especially pigeons from Marcel Aelbrecht) this was a hit in the rose. More recently they got successful pigeons from Johan De Vroe from Moortsele. A few new ones are being tested at the moment.
And with success for both parties pigeons were exchanged with the tandem Murez-Marichal (Wadelincourt) and Andre Allemeersch (Pottes).
When ‘Black Hawk’ won with a lot of bravery the 1st National Brive in 2013 against 6,842 year birds this pigeon wasn’t sold and placed on the breeding loft. This was, as it is the case many times with a top racer, a golden move. He seemed to be immediately direct and indirect a superb breeder. Coupled to several different hens this resulted in children and grandchildren who raced very strong on the short, middle and long distance races. Also in the pedigree of the national winner Souillac we find this success strain on fathers’ side.
Enjoying your passion day in day out
When your hobby has become a passion, then no effort is too big or too much. How do you take care of such a team and how do you take care that everything is in order perfectly? Nadine and Denis fill their entire day by doing this, they go into it together, stimulate each other to get the best out of the pigeons, can wine to each other once in a while but succeed to put down top results.
The lofts are all being cleaned on a daily base. On none of the lofts you find straw or rosters or anything at the bottom. On a yearly base, from top down a huge clean and disinfection with Virkon S and/or Dettol.
The widow cocks breed before the start of the season and can raise one youngster. The racing hens don’t breed during the season. The widow cocks come together once more during 5 days before the season and are being trained in this phase. At that moment they race once a day. Later this season and when the weather gets better this will be twice a day..
At basketing the cocks never get to see their hen, only a nestdish. At arrival their partners stays on the loft according the time of the season and the intensity of the race. The cocks are being fed separately in their box and drink out a common drinking pot. As soon as the greater middle distance and long distance races are up they are being basketed normally in teams every two weeks.
The hens train once a day and are all being locked up in their box. In this box they get separately food and drinks. Before basketing they get to see their partner during half an hour and at arrival for about 2 hours. The hens are being raced normally on a weekly base and race mainly the middle distance and greater middle distance races.
The youngsters train once a day (1st and 2nd round separately). They are being trained in small steps (3 km, 8km,15 km….) and are, from the moment the first short distance races are finished, being raced on widowhood (sliding doors).
They don’t choose to feed one brand. A few brands are being bought and these are being mixed to one mixture. The feeding (the widow cocks and hens separately by spoon, the youngster in a common trunk) goes from heavy food at arrival, to feed a few days later lighter in between the races, to the feeding up towards the races of the last 5 meals before a race. Some supplements of fine seeds, fresh grit are being given as an extra.
With a lot of satisfaction the pigeons are being kept in a good base health with Daflor. At arrival there are always electrolytes in the drinking pot.
In a medical way they have Piet Blancke as guidance. Their pigeons were vaccinated in 2020 against paratyphoid, twice paramyxo-rota and (with a brush) against the small pocks virus. They go on a regular base for a check-up and interfere when necessary. Before the season of 202 their pigeons were treated against trichomoniases but didn’t need any cure for problems of heads or airways.
Selection of the youngsters is mostly waiting for the end of the season. Youngsters that are being raced on the sliding doors system can show themselves all of a sudden by changing circumstances while they didn’t show themselves before. The results, pedigree and build are being placed next to each other and selected on base of this all.
Hens on widowhood, who are being raced week after week, have a selection along the way and the widow cocks are being selected by the results of the national program.
Helmsmanship
A lot of ways lead to Rome…Season of 2020 was a special one. A postponed start where the pigeons needed to be slowed down against nature. In Gavere they darkened the cocks and hens until the beginning of June. The youngsters were also being darkened until the longest day. As they heard that here and there the pigeons were being enlightened they started to do this as well. But, where they expected a boost the result went down all of a sudden. The enlighting was being stopped due to this from one day onto the other…a week later top results were won with a 1st National as coronation. Another proof that a fancier need to be his own captain on his own loft, observe his pigeons, adjust where necessary and interfere quickly…and this is what they do at the Vermassen team, this is proven by the results of the past season and out of the past.
What also is a huge satisfaction for Nadine, Denis and David is the fact that a few strong references on other lofts can be showed such as at Murez-Marechal, Andre Allemeersch, Allemeersch-Van Parijs, Team De Ridder, Jo Bauters, and so on…..
1st national Souillac as icing on the cake
Many are called, a few are chosen…everybody dreams about an ace bird or a national victory….but realizing isn’t for many. They already experienced the wining of a national victory twice and their urge was big. The pigeons did well, they won very easily first prizes and the opportunity that a pigeon would win the head prize was possible.
Before the arrival of the old and yearling pigeons on Souillac the youngsters were on a race and came in very badly. So bad that Nadine, David and Denis were a bit discouraged. They were already waiting for pigeons in races that came in smoothly and then the courage can drop towards your shoes…Nadine and Denis searched for comfort in some coffee and a piece of pie when all of a sudden a pigeon dropped as a flash on the sputnik. Not expecting this was a pigeon from Souillac, they said mocking ‘and then they even drop on the wrong sputnik’…until the screen showed Souillac and all their hair on their arms came straight up. They knew immediately that this must be a real early pigeon and this was being confirmed afterwards with a national victory old birds (6,668b) and fastest against the entire platoon (14,182b).
It was 3-year old cock ‘Falco’ (BE17-4185304) that with an average speed of 1.219,96 m/m the 690km out of Souillac towards Gavere won as fastest against 14,182b. A super result on an honest nice race in a hard and hectic season
They basketed 10 old pigeons on Souillac and 6 of them won a national prize. Striking is that the 1st 4 arriving pigeons are all brothers to each other…or speaking of a performant pedigree.
Falco at fathers’ side a grandson to ‘Moreno’ who is a full brother to the national winner Brive. On mothers’ side the blood strain from the pigeons of Christine De Bruycker and the old strain from their own loft to be found. The past years he also won some very nice results (underneath a small selection out of his results)
Pont St Maxence 22/1,168b
Orléans 1/663d – 30/5,307b
Ecouen 10/1,051b
Bourges 9/308d - 263/19,133b
Vierzon 4/174d - 131/20,956b
Limoges 4/227d -191/13,569b
Argenton 6/183d – 292/15,235b
Tulle 6/113d – 105/6,206b
To be the fastest against the entire race out of Souillac in 2020!
That 2020 was a strong season also proofs the number of prizes of honour that were won (incl. small and big combinations in the region) namely 34 1st prizes with youngsters, yearling and old and this on races from Niergnies, Pont Ste Maxence, Sermaises, Ecouen, Orléans, Argenton, Limoges, Bourges, Souillac, Chateauroux or speaking of a loft allrounders.
We give as an anthology another overview of all won titles and the most important victories of the past years. It is an impressive list that emphasize the polyvalences of the pigeons. They are being tested strongly, get all the care necessary to set results at the top and do this from 100km to 800km. Pigeons that can easily race into the fine top with in 2020 a beautiful national victory on top of it.
A beautiful coronation from a lot of effort.
Congratulations from the Herbotsteam !
Geert Dhaenens
OLYMPIAD BIRDS :
‘ SUPERIEURKE” 2 Belgiand Selection Middle Distance Ostend in 2006
“OLYMPIC DREAMGIRL” 1 Belgian Selection Cat. H (old birds) Poznan in 2011.
SPECIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
1998 1° PROVINCIAL ACE BIRD GREATER MIDDLE DISTANCE (4222538-97 - Iron Lady)
2005 1° PROVINCIAL MARATHON (4052618-04)
4° NATIONAL ACE BIRD GREATER MIDDLE DISTANCE (4052618-04 – ‘superieurke)
3° PROVINCIAL ACE BIRD GREATER MIDDLE DISTANCE (4052618-04)
11° PROVINCIAL ACE BIRD GREATER MIDDLE DISTANCE (4052695-04 – ’t provinciaalke)
4° NATIONAL CHAMPION YEAR BIRDS
2008 3° NATIONAL CHAMPION GREATER MIDDLE DISTANCE
10° NATIONAL CHAMPION YEAR BIRDS
3° GENERAL CHAMPION EAST-FLANDERS
2009 3° NATIONAL CHAMPION GREATER MIDDLE DISTANCE
2010 5° NATIONAL ACE BIRD GREATER MIDDLE DISTANCE
2° PROVINCIAL ACE BIRD MIDDLE DISTANCE
5° PROVINCIAL ACE BIRD LONG DISTANCE
2012 3° GENERAL CHAMPION EAST-FLANDERS
2° PROVINCIAL ACE BIRD LONG DISTANCE
6° PROVINCIAL LONG DISTANCE CHAMPION
7° PROVINCIAL CHAMPION LONG DISTANCE YOUNG BIRDS
2013 1° GENERAL NATIONAL CHAMPION KBDB
3° GENERAL CHAMPION CUREGHEM CENTRE
2° CHAMPION CUREGHEM CENTRE OLD BIRDS
1° PROVINCIAL CHAMPION 1 AND 2 OLD&YEARLINGS
1° GENERAL CHAMPION AJD EAST-FLANDERS
2018 6° GENERAL NATIONAL CHAMPION KBDB
2019 1° PIETER DE KONICK TROPHY YEAR BIRDS
11° NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP EXTREME LONG DISTANCE AND LONG DISTANCE YL
2020 1° GENERAL CHAMPION OVV – INTERPROVINCIAL
1° CHAMPION OVV - YOUNGSTERS
3° ACE BIRD “ALLROUND” YOUNGSTERS – PROVINCIAL
NATIONAL VICTORIES
1° GUERET 2010 - 2970 old
1° BRIVE 2013 - 6842 yl
1° SOUILLAC 2020 - 6668 old (fastest against 14,182b)
ZONAL VICTORIES
1° ARGENTON 1999 - 685 old
1° CAHORS 2011 – 2635 old
1° ARGENTON 2011 - 6979 youngsters
1° BRIVE 2013 - 2906 yl
1° ISSOUDUN 2013 - 671 old
1° LA SOUTERAINE 2014 - 335 old
1° LA SOUTERAINE 2014 - 4610 youngsters
1° BOURGES 2016 - 1890 yl
1° CHATEAUROUX 2018 - 286 old
1° SOUILLAC 2020 - 2401 old
1° ARGENTON 2020 - 748 old
1° CHATEAUROUX 2020 297 old
Ventilation of the lofts
