Stefan Steenbergen (Herk-de-Stad) takes the first 5 places provincially at Argenton young pigeons.

A major feat was pulled off in Limburg during the national race from Argenton for young pigeons. The first 5 places for one and the same colony: Stefan Steenbergen clocked the 5 best young pigeons at the provincial level against 1,218 young pigeons. All these pigeons flew in the national top 50, just like his 6 pigeons that achieved 7th place provincially. This follows his impressive performance at Bourges as well, with 1st and 2nd Provincial Bourges yearlings and 6 pigeons in the national top 75 with the young pigeons. Indeed, Stefan's team is in tip-top shape. For the time being, Stefan has the best 2 young pigeons at the national level after 2 national races. It will be an exciting battle over the next 2 weeks, but we are certain that this team is ready for it. 

Argenton Prov 1,218 young : 1,2,3,4,5,7,20,28,30,50,51,54,… 34/46

Argenton Nat 15,769 young : 29,40,41,42,43,50,263,… 26/46

Bourges Nat 5,316 old : 26,91,154,182,191,191,… 8/10

Bourges Nat 9,070 yearlings : 7,11,87,144,164,217,242,285,… 17/24
 ( 1 + 2 Provincial 783 yearlings )

Bourges Nat 16,705 young : 9,10,30,35,57,74,144,162,186,209,212,245,297,…. 36/57

Young pigeon system

The young pigeons are darkened and artificially lit starting from the longest day. He maintains this until the end of the season. The young pigeons are always entered for the national races, and when he goes, he does so with the entire loft.

The pigeons train once a day and are raced via the sliding door. They do not train on the day of basketing. There were 3 weeks between Bourges and Argenton; they were given a rest during one of them, the week after they flew Soissons, and now after Argenton they were given a rest again. They stayed together after Argenton until Sunday afternoon. Normally I do this for a shorter time, but because the pigeons had another tough race in their wings, I let them stay together longer. Before basketing, I usually let them stay together during the day for 1 or 1.5 hours. I prefer not to do this on the day of basketing. The pigeons know this all too well and are already nervous enough; I prefer to keep the pigeons calm rather than drive them crazy.

In terms of feeding, I give my own custom-made mixture from the company Natural. I use Steenbergen I and Steenbergen Boost for the old pigeons, and for the young pigeons it is mainly Rui Maxi; once they start racing in the middle distance, I give them 4 feedings of Steenbergen Boost.

Top pigeons Argenton

The first 2 pigeons are brother and sister, and the 3rd was bred from the grandfather of the 1st and 2nd pigeons. So it is incredible how this family continues to breed. The contribution of the pigeons from Platteeuw pigeons has also been a bullseye here. The 1st nominated pigeon for Argenton had not missed a beat until Argenton and also won 35th National at Bourges this season. The first 2 pigeons are therefore brother and sister and are currently in 1st and 2nd place after 2 national races, and are fully in the running for national ace pigeon.

BE 26-5011713 Cock

1 Prov Argenton 1.218p – 29 Nat 15.769p
1 Angerville 152p – 10 Combine 3.110p
9 Nat Bourges 16.705p

BE 26-5011791 Hen

2 Prov Argenton 1.218p – 40 Nat 15.769p
30 Nat Bourges 16.705p

Father BE 24-5037178 Xantos 
Won himself 4th Nat Bourges 26,549p – 15th Nat Vierzon 16,892p – 37th Prov Chateauroux 1,079p 
18th Nat Ace Pigeon Heavy Middle Distance Young Birds KBDB 2024 
Son of “616/18” Noah x “475/17” Inbred Kannibaal Dirk Van Dyck

Mother BE 20-5074263 Leo’s 263 
Daughter of “NL 698/18” 100% Leo Heremans x “459/18” Leo’s 459 100% Leo Heremans

BE 26-5011732 Hen

3 Prov Argenton 1.218p – 41 Nat 15.769p
26 Sourdun 773p
125 Angerville 3.110p

Father BE 18-5062616 Noah
Full brother of “Moonraker” Winner OLR Krakus Poland Final
Son of “NL 919/15” Inbred Limoges De Rauw Sablon via J.D.Poortvliet x “NL 909/15” Line Olympic Niels Dirk Van Dyck

Mother BE 24-3024414 Platteeuw 414 – Platteeuw Pigeons
½ sister of top hens “Pamela” – “Birgit” 3-4-11-19-27-43-47-72-77 National
Daughter of “580/19” Manolo Birgit x “356/21” Nest sister Alysee won 11-19-47-77 National

BE 26-5011822 Hen

4 Prov Argenton 1.218p – 42 Nat 15.769p
3 Soissons 522p
29 Soissons 571p
29 Soissons 1.433p

Father BE 24-5037890 Brother Olympic Luna
"Olympic Luna" won 4th National Olympiad Pigeon All Round Maastricht 2024
Brother of “801/23” is father of 1st National (z) La Chatre 1,389p (4th National 7,634p) and 4th Provincial Sancoins 2,203p (8th National 15,830p)
Son of “698/19” Mister Iron Sky x “638/18” Walter’s 638.

Mother BE 24-5040975 Inbred Ghost. 
Daughter of “793/15” Ghost super breeder x “821/22” Ghost Golden Lady won 1st Provincial Argenton 992 – 3rd National 8,343p and is a daughter of Ghost.