Roger Engelen wins 1st and 39th Provincial Bourges I against 4,057 yearlings

Dessel - Roger Engelen claimed the 1st provincial prize this past weekend in the season’s first national race from Bourges, competing against 4,057 yearlings. He also clocked another early bird placing 39th. Nationally, this translates to the 21st position against 17,189 yearlings.

Start to the 2025 Season

Roger Engelen has kicked off the 2025 season with an impressive series of results. Here are some highlights:
Momignies (approx. 150 km)
- 1029 pigeons: 5-20-21-25-37-41-43-44-48-64-70-73-87-108-112-248-249 → 17/25 prizes
- 1760 pigeons: 8-9-15-37-39-40-46-49-72-76-77-80-81-84-101-102-133-148-150-154-157-187-189-191-216-245-250-347-511-512-534-556 → 32/41 prizes
- 892 pigeons: 2-12-13-16-25-29-31-32-34-46-50-51-62-80-83-209-210 → 17/25 prizes
- 1566 pigeons: 4-5-7-23-25-26-31-34-54-58-59-62-63-66-79-80-106-119-120-122-124-152-154-156-178-188-203-207-298-449-450-472-492 → 32/40 prizes
- 482 pigeons: 1-14-36-68-69 → 5/9 prizes

Soissons (approx. 237 km)
- 628 pigeons: 4-7-8-14-35-49-57-58-85-118-126-166 → 12/21 prizes
- 726 pigeons: 9-14-23-24-25-30-31-41-43-66-68-70-80-86-101-128-158-159-182-199 → 20/32 prizes
- 1057 pigeons: 7-11-12-22-57-80-92-95-144-202-215-288 → 12/22 prizes
- 1428 pigeons: 7-8-16-25-32-33-35-36-74-75-113-131-146-177-214-224-234-243-246-247-307-310-325-331 → 23/28 prizes

Melun (approx. 336 km)
- 706 pigeons: 1-3-51-69-73-77-83-99-120-136 → 10/17 prizes
- 1304 pigeons: 1-11-15-25-80-90-107-135-136-139-144-148-153-156-191-205-238-252-269-387 → 22/29 prizes

Toury (approx. 360 km)
- 455 pigeons: 7-13-15-26-32-34-48-88-90-99-141 → 11/19 prizes

Bourges (approx. 470 km)
- 395 pigeons: 1-4-12-25-31-42-63-87-120 → 9/11 prizes

NL24-8464708: 1st Prov. Bourges I

System and Approach

Roger races total widowhood with 25 cocks and 22 hens, flying races from sprint to national middle distance. The breeding pairs are coupled around December 10, with racers being recoupled around March 10. The breeders raise 3 rounds of youngsters yearly, producing around 100 young birds.

Feeding is adjusted according to the race schedule: a moulting mix early in the week, and a heavier race mix approaching basketing day. He combines mixtures from Beyers and Van Tilburg.

Palmares

Olympiad pigeon (speed) in 2009
Olympiad pigeon (long distance) in 2015
1st National Ace Pigeon Middle Distance in 2017
3rd National Champion 1st and 2nd nominated Middle Distance in 2021

Conclusion

With this victory at Bourges I and an impressive list of results, Roger Engelen confirms right away from the start of the season.

Maarten Herbots