Surinx-Pletsers (Nieuwerkerken) 1st Sourdun (gewest Midden) 2,892 pigeons.

We shouldn't introduce them...and we are talking about Hilaire Surinx and Nadia Pletsers. Since decades they belong to the top of the Limburg pigeon sport and last weekend they underlined this by winning the 1st prize Sourdun (Region Midden) against 2,892 old and yearling pigeons basketed by 170 fanciers. 

It was their widower ‘B24-5011630’ who placed his ring number at the top of the result with 1406 m/m. ‘Yes... a widower...’ replied Hilaire immediately ‘it's the first time - since we've lived here - that I've played a group of cocks on ’pure widowhood", i.e. with hens staying at home. Out of a group of 70 cocks, I selected 28 of them and I must admit that they more than pleasantly surprised me. This is how they won the past few weekends:

22/03 Mettet (74 km) : 
246 Yrl. : 2, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 25, ..  (14/24)
29/03 Chimay (110 km) : 
333 Yrl. : 2, 33, …     1157 Yrl. : 3,    (11/24)
05/04 Chimay (110 km) : 
491 Yrl. : 9, 18, 20, 26, 48, …. 1613 Yrl. : 20, 56, 58, 64, 102, 116, ..(16/23)
12/04 Vervins (147 km) : 
475 Yrl. : 1, 11, 13, 16, 18, 23, 28, 41, … 
1766 Yrl. : 2, 22, 26, 30, 35, 58, 67, 88, 113, 135, … (14/23)
26/04 Laon (182 km) : 
1522 Yrl. : 20, 35, 45, 68, 98, 118, 125, 146, ….
03/05 Sourdun (292 km) 
1207 Yrl. : 1, 6, 19, 67, 88, 108, 118, 
2892 O + Yrl. : 1, 8, 27, 148, 190, 192, 222, 224, 233, 248, (19/28)

The intention is that they will now head towards national races and hopefully they can continue these performances in that field as well.

Preparation and system widowers

The widowers did not do winter breeding but were left together for 4 to 5 days before the start of the season. After this period, some pairs had already formed but as they were not all paired yet, they were left together again after a short separation for about 4 to 5 days. Then most of the cocks were paired and the few that were not paired yet were taken from the loft. 

There was no more preparation and from the first flight those widowers stormed home as if the devil was on their heels. 

The widowers train in the morning at 7 a.m. and are very generously fed afterwards. If there is still some food in the feeder in the evening, I add an extra portion of candy seed. 

Only in the last 3 weeks they have been motivated a little extra during basketing. They first get their nest dish for about 5 minutes, then I release the hens but as soon as it flies into the living tray, the widower is already taken away. 

On returning home, the homecoming widower is allowed to cuddle his hen for a good hour.

Medically, I have already sat in Raf Herbots' waiting room, but with my widowers, everything was tip-top and the medicine cabinet remained closed for this group. 

The loft does have a heating plate on it that is on ‘on’ day and night. During the winter period, the loft housing the widowers was adjusted a little so that there was more light. Maybe it's all details, but details that help determine the ‘forme of the moment’. 

The winner