Willy Peeters (Nijlen) wins 2nd Nat. Argenton V against 9,401 youngsters

Nijlen - Willy Peeters from Nijlen put his loft on the map in pigeon racing last weekend. On the national flight from Argenton for young pigeons, his pigeon, the 6137943/24, achieved a brilliant 2nd place against an impressive field of 9,401 youngsters from all over Belgium.

Provinciaaltje

The winning pigeon, now renamed "Provincaaltje," is a dark checkered hen with a few white feathers. Willy proudly talks about his achievement and the development of his young hen. "She was among my favourites from the very beginning because she is so affectionate," he says. "Provincaaltje", however, performed unevenly in the various preparatory flights with some nice performances but also some late homecomings. The preparatory performances of "Provincaaltje" are as follows:
3x Quievrain (272/1,025b and 190/1,598b)
2x Noyon (197/939b and 209/849b)
1x Melun (missed)
2x Sermaises (236/1,277b and 1x missed)
Fay-aux-Loges (only home the day after)

This last flight put her in the B team, so she did not participate in Bourges, Sancoins and Argenton. "After her performances at Quievrain and Pont-Sainte-Maxence, I decided to enter her again for Melun," Willy said. However, after changing from La Souterraine to Argenton, he decided to let her compete there - with the now famous result:
Club: 1/717b
Provincial: 1/2,222b
Zone: 1/1,386b
National: 2/9,401b

System

Willy Peeters keeps careful track of the management of his pigeons. "I own 12 breeding couples and 7 widowers. My game system for the youngsters is on the sliding door and the widowers fly on classical widowhood," he explains. His youngsters (25 from the first round and 25 from the second round) are darkened from March to 21 June and lighted from 1 July. After the second Noyon, the sexes are separated. "Once reared, the pigeons are no longer driven unless they do not train or train inadequately," he adds.

Nutrition & Medical Care

Nutrition has also been considered: "I use Vanrobaeys feed. During the race period I give sports mix and the last three feedings they get Top Energy. On returning home I add electrolytes to the water, and the first day after returning home they get Purification Cassaert as food."

Medically, Willy keeps it simple. "Besides the mandatory vaccinations, I only go to the vet in case of disappointing results or deterioration," he says. "However, manure samples are occasionally brought in for checking. Every month, two to three days of blind vaccination against Trichomonas is done."

With this approach and care for his pigeons, Willy Peeters has proved that he knows what it takes to compete at the top of pigeon racing. His "Provincaaltje" put the name of his pigeon loft on the map last weekend from Argenton.
Willy, congratulations again from the whole Herbots team!

Maarten Herbots