Veulemans – Perilleux (Vissenaken) achieve a double victory from Issoudun.

In the final national race of the year, the Brabant-based partnership of Veulemans–Perilleux from Vissenaken claimed provincial victories in both the old bird and young bird categories. This was the first national race for the young birds, and they achieved an impressive run of results with eight finishes in the national top 100.

Both their first old bird and their 3rd and 4th young birds share the same sire, "Ramson"; the other birds are primarily Willem De Bruijn pigeons crossed with their own established bloodlines. Only their first bird is a 100% Willem De Bruijn pigeon.

Issoudun Prov. 1,276 young birds: 1, 5, 6, 11, 12, 14, 18, 22, 28, 35, 39, 49, 52, 65, 77… 
Issoudun Nat. 7,527 young birds: 6, 11, 16, 36, 49, 58, 69, 100, 136, 191, 223, 273, 317, 390… 
Issoudun Prov. 170 old birds: 1, 4, 14… (5/6) 
Issoudun Nat. 1,227 old birds: 32, 58, 106… (4/6)

System

For this race, the old birds were basketed while sitting on a seven-day-old youngster. They had been raced on the widowhood system earlier in the season but were paired up specifically for the final national races. The yearlings flew Argenton and Châteauroux on the nest, while the old birds flew Châteauroux and Issoudun. When racing on the nest, these hens usually have free exercise in the afternoon. Naturally, their base fitness is already optimal from having raced all season, but we certainly keep them active. When we take the young birds for a training toss on Wednesdays, we bring the hens along as well to ensure they get some extra miles in.

The young birds were darkened from early March until July 1st. A month later, we began using artificial lighting to extend their daylight hours. We had to separate the sexes earlier than usual this year because the birds were pairing up very strongly; one week we would have to leave one hen at home to lay her eggs, and the next week, a different one. That isn't ideal during the build-up phase, so we separated the sexes in mid-July.

So, on Wednesdays, they get an extra training flight, and we separate them in the afternoon when Toon gets home from work. On Thursdays, they are simply basketed without any special motivation methods.

During July and August—when Toon is on leave—we were able to train them in the morning, but from September onwards, we switched back to afternoon training. They are also let out on Sundays; they go out together, and once they are all back inside, we separate them again.

In preparation, they flew Momignies and Soissons several times before moving on to the middle-distance races. The first middle-distance race was certainly not an easy one; afterwards, they flew Soissons and Melun again, followed by Issoudun. Things were going very well in the final weeks—even leading up to that disastrous Toury race. It’s a shame, but that’s pigeon racing for you.

The open fronts on the lofts make the young birds feel better and healthier; it’s essentially like a large, open-air aviary with plenty of fresh air. Since making that change, our young birds generally fall ill less often. We don't treat them with medication for trichomoniasis; we simply use "yellow drops." Regarding nutrition, we use a single mixture—one they had custom-blended—which we feed to the old cocks, old hens, and young birds alike, every single day. It is very simple and perfectly manageable. The only extra items they receive in the morning are a blend of 'Ochtendmix' (morning mix), grit, P40 pellets, cat kibble, and titbits/treat seeds. Over the past year, they were vaccinated against PMV-Rota, Herpes, Paratyphoid, and Pox (two doses for PMV-Rota).

Issoudun Winners

BE 26-2026338 Blue Cock 

1st Prov. Issoudun 1,276 birds (6th Nat. 7,527 birds)

Father: NL 22-8459045 Indigo – Willem De Bruijn
Nest brother of "046" (sire of 4th Nat. Vierzon 16,892 birds)
Son of "309/17" Indiaan x "078/16" Sister Murphy’s Law.

Mother: NL 22-8459110 Seablois – Willem De Bruijn
Daughter of "480/18" Seabiscuit (winner of 1st Nat. S2 Fontenay 14,442 birds) x "585/19" Miss Blois (winner of 1st Nat. S2 Blois 11,576 birds).

BE 26-2026062 Checkered Hen

5th Prov. Issoudun 1,276 birds (11th Nat. 7,527 birds)

Father BE 25-4066611 Chequer – Tom Van Gaver

Mother BE 16-2297693 Skystar 
Super breeding hen and already dam of 5th Nat. Argenton 23,268 birds
Daughter of base breeder “B-52”

BE 26-2026040 Checkered Hen

6th Prov. Issoudun 1,276 birds (16th Nat. 7,527 birds)
Also won 21st Melun 1,915 birds.

Full sister won 36th Nat. Issoudun 7,527 birds in the same race.

Father: BE 20-2010717 'Ramson' 
top racer with 6 finishes in the top 1% and 35th Nat. Ace Pigeon Heavy Middle Distance KBDB 2021

Mother: BE 22-2105285 'Blauw' (50% Willem De Bruijn) 
Won 3rd Soissons 1,000 birds, 5th Nat. Tulle 7,813 birds, 8th Soissons 811 birds, 9th Argenton 2,247 birds, and 35th Nat. Souillac 6,085 birds.

BE 23-2042340 Checkered Hen

1st Provincial Issoudun (170 birds) / 32nd National (1,227 birds)
previously won 3 x 1st in sprint races.

Father: BE 20-2010717 'Ramson' 
top racer with 6 finishes in the top 1% and 35th Nat. Ace Pigeon Heavy Middle Distance KBDB 2021

Mother BE 19-2002416 'Iron Melita' 
Won 2nd National Tulle 5,067 birds and 55th National Châteauroux 24,617 birds

Olav and Toon, heartfelt congratulations on this outstanding achievement from the entire HERBOTS TEAM.

Kim Buelens