Rudi Oliviers (Kumtich) wins 1st National Ace Pigeon Barcelona 2024-2025

Last season, the pigeons of Rudi Oliviers from Kumtich in Brabant performed at a high level. He won 1st Provincial Marseille with his new powerhouse, "De Jac," and thanks to his new system with the hens, achieved an 18th National Ace Pigeon in the extreme long distance yearlings in just his second year. So, this is only the second season he's tried this, and the results are paying off.

Besides this, Barcelona remains his favorite race, both in the past and present. He has already achieved several superb results there, and now, in 2024-2025, Rudi is proud to present his new superstar, "De Leon." This pigeon has won 20th and 24th National Barcelona in two years and will continue to develop his talent in the breeding loft. These are tough choices for the racing loft, but breeding is also important. "De Leon," together with "De Ruben," will set the new course for the coming years.

The other pigeons in the racing loft are often linked to either "De Vos" BE 14-2322604. This top pigeon won an 18th National Perpignan and a 25th National Barcelona, ​​and his grandchildren, in particular, are doing exceptionally well as breeders. Both the top hen "Frauke" and "De Fekke" are grandchildren of this top pigeon.

The latest introduction comes from Antoon & Luci Van der Wegen via the Herbots family. They have now demonstrated their talent in 2025, and the provincial winner from Marseille is a 100% Van der Wegen pigeon. The first pigeon from Perpignan, "De Fekke," is a cross between Van der Wegen pigeons and his "De Vos" line.

Top season 2025

1st Provincial Marseille 189p (5th National 1,812p) with "De Jac" 
1st National Ace Pigeon Barcelona 2024-2025 with "De Leon" 
7th National Champion Extreme Long Distance Yearlings KBDB 
9th National Bourges 17,189 yearlings 
14th National Agen 5,314 yearlings with "Frauke" 
18th National Ace Pigeon Extreme Long Distance Yearlings KBDB 2025 with "Frauke" 
20th National Barcelona 5,819 old birds with "De Leon" 
37th National Perpignan 3,522 old birds with "De Fekke" 
70th National Barcelona 5,819 old birds 
84th National Perpignan 3,522 old birds 
90th National Bourges 18,634 old birds

Widower System

The widowers are raced here on classic widowhood, and after the tough moulting period, Rudi lets them out once in the winter. He's not a fan of locking up the pigeons for an entire winter. From mid-December onwards, the racing pigeons are paired and they raise a round of youngsters. The yearlings are released back out when their hens are about to lay so I can easily acclimate them. From then on, they also go out at least once a week once they're well-accustomed to their loft. Once the youngsters are grown, this rhythm gradually increases. By the end of March, the widowers are easily flying an hour a day, and at the end of March, they are paired with their hens for another three days. If the weather is good, I combine this with some training flights, but in bad weather, I do the same, but without the flights.

The widowers always train once a day, in the morning. In spring, this is usually around 9 a.m. and in summer, around 7 a.m. The group always flies at the same time, creating momentum. The advantage of widowers is that when they're in top form, they're a joy to watch.

The first sprint races follow in April, and a few middle-distance races in May. After that, the team is divided into groups that he prepared during the winter. Rudi works loft by loft towards one long-distance or extreme long-distance race. This is easier than constantly having to disturb the pigeons in the loft. The yearlings usually fly two or three national races of around 650-700km, and the two-year-olds fly Limoges, Valence, and Marseille. The three-year-olds usually fly two international races. I only keep the pigeons that perform really well in Barcelona at home and no longer race them in Perpignan. The Barcelona team usually flies a national race of 500-550km in early June and then gets a rest until Barcelona.

I give the pigeons their hens on the day of basketing starting in the afternoon, and for Barcelona this happens even earlier. They're in the baskets long enough anyway, so that's no problem. They also get fed several times in their nest boxes that day, and peanuts are never far away during those last few days.

Upon returning home, they get their hens until the morning of the next day after the long-distance races. The pigeons that return then get 2-3 days of rest before training with the group again. This gives them enough time to prepare for the next race.

For years, I've been using Versele-Laga feed in combination with Anthoons mixtures. I make a mixture of Versele-Laga Breeding with Anthoons Sport Hi Tech and Sport Energy. The pigeons are given a paratyphoid treatment in both the autumn and spring, but without vaccination. I only vaccinate the yearlings and old pigeons against paramyxo herpes and smallpox.

Top performers of the 2025 season

BE 23-2041857 "De Jac" Chequered Cock 
1st Provincial Marseille 189p (5th National 1,812p)

Father BE 20-2139264 Son Ronnie – 100% A & L Van der Wegen 
Son of “719/16” Ronnie is a direct A & L Van der Wegen and the line of “Witpen Barcelona” 10th Nat Barcelona + 36th Nat Narbonne x “881/12” direct A & L Van der Wegen and is the line of “Lucia” 15th Nat Perpignan and “Beer” 1st Nat Marseille.

Mother BE 20-2137748 Chequered – 100% A & L Van der Wegen
Daughter of “800/13” Grandson Euro, direct A & L Van der Wegen and “Euro” won 32nd Nat Pau + 35th Nat St. Vincent x “215/14” direct A & L Van der Wegen is the line of “De Barca” won 71st Nat Barcelona 24,139 p.

BE 20-2048567 “De Leon” Checkered Cock
1st National Ace Pigeon Barcelona 2024-2025

1ste Barcelona ’24 357p – 4de Prov 782p – 24 Nat 6.310p
2de Barcelona ’25 148p – 4de Prov 720p – 20 Nat 5.819p
2de Perpignan ’22 90p – 18 Prov 488p – 131 Nat 3.766p

Father BE 17-2144607 Brother Vos 
"Vos" won 18th Nat Perpignan 3,966p - 25th Nat Barcelona 7,874p – 209th Nat Barcelona 7,438p 
Son of "322/08" Brother Roger x "530/12" Daughter 3rd Nat Barcelona Dieter Ballman

Mother NL 18-1359479 Chequered – Janssens Hausoul 
½ sister of 70 + 91st National Narbonne 
Daughter of "NL 177-14" Chequered – Janssens Hausoul x "NL 170-14" Red

BE 18-2137075 “De Ruben” Cock

4 Nat. Ace Pigeon Barcelona 2021-2024
7 Int.Nat Ace Pigeon Barcelona 2021-2024
8 Nat. Ace Pigeon Barcelona 2021-2023

1 Barcelona ’21 147p ( 181 Nat 6,913p )
1 Barcelona ’22 311p ( 66 Nat 6,560p )
227 Nat Barcelona ’24 6,310p
284 Nat Barcelona ’23 6,533p 

Father BE 10-2013525 Son Gaston
Son of “302/08” Gaston Eric Herbots won 2 Prov. Ace Pigeon extreme long distance x “938/14” Daughter Vale Rob Nijs

Mother BE 17-2028024 Granddaughter Gaston
Daughter of “371/16” Gaston x “880/15” Daughter Barcelona Jan 1 Nat Barcelona Herbots brothers

The current Barcelona auction includes 2 children of “De Ruben”.

BE-25-2080775 “Daughter Ruben 775”

BE-25-2080753 “Daughter Ruben 753”