Third Time's the Charm... But Only If They Keep Coming, Frederick Says with a Smile During Our Visit In the past, Frederick celebrated a 1st National Brive (while still based in Zwijnaarde) and a 1st National Bergerac (from Aarsele). Last Saturday, the lofts in Aarsele once again hit the jackpot on the Perigueux II race, claiming 1st and 4th National in the old birds category, with the fastest pigeon of the entire release.

A Fancier Must Know How to Lose

It is an old saying, but one that remains absolutely true. Pigeon racing is a sport where everyone loves to win, but where you must also learn how to lose. These are not computers; they are living creatures of flesh and blood. No matter how motivated you are or how much effort you put into your management, nature will always have its say in the final outcome. Frederick had already experienced several frustrating moments during the current season. He knew he had the quality in his loft to achieve outstanding results, but when the pigeons are not in top form, getting them to perform at their best is far from easy. Frederick is a true competitor, and losing never comes easily. The determination that defines him can also work against him when things are not going his way. During those moments, he is not afraid to vent his frustration, often joking that, "I'm going to set my loft on fire." But experience has also taught him that fortunes can change very quickly. Last week, his pigeons trained better than they had at any point during the season. They flew with enthusiasm, enjoyed themselves, and showed real spirit in the air. Even so, Frederick refused to get carried away. It was the final long-distance race of an exceptionally difficult season, one marked by heavy losses and setbacks across the country. Calling this season brutal would be no exaggeration. It was therefore a wonderful surprise when a two-year-old cock dropped onto the landing board and immediately secured a place among the race leaders, followed closely by another pigeon that would eventually finish 4th National. There were still some anxious moments while waiting for the pigeons from the longer distances to arrive, but as time passed, it became clear that another magnificent national victory had been secured in Aarsele.

A Step Back in Time

When Frederick was still "little Frederick," pigeons were already part of his life. He trained as a butcher and later became a master butcher, establishing a successful butcher's shop in Zwijnaarde together with his wife, Anja. They worked incredibly hard, and in the meantime welcomed twin daughters into their family. Frederick was almost always at home, making pigeon racing the perfect hobby. It quickly became clear that he was not in the sport simply for enjoyment—he wanted to compete at the very highest level. He was passionate about the pigeons of Noël Lippens (first from Ingelmunster and later from Tielt). These pigeons were renowned for their performances on races between 500 and 1,000 kilometres, especially under tough racing conditions. Another fancier who raced the same bloodline was Antoine Van Landuyt from Vinkt (Deinze). Antoine remains something of a mentor to Frederick, and his opinion is still sought whenever pigeons are evaluated. In the past, Antoine achieved outstanding success with the philosophy of "strict but fair, a small basket and a big knife," meaning relentless selection based on both racing performance and the quality of the pigeon in the hand. For many years, Antoine acted as Frederick's chief selector at the end of each season, carrying out the final hands-on evaluation to decide which pigeons would stay and which would be removed from the team. The foundation of Frederick's family of pigeons is therefore built around the bloodlines of Noël Lippens, Antoine Van Landuyt, a number from Gaby Vandenabeele, Eric Vermander (with whom he regularly breeds in partnership), Bourlard of Harveng, and a handful of carefully selected individual pigeons that have been introduced into the family. When conditions are genuinely demanding, these pigeons are consistently among the leaders. Hard work is simply part of their nature. A few years ago, Frederick and Anja closed their butcher's shop in Zwijnaarde and moved into Frederick's beautifully renovated parental home in Aarsele. The spacious garden provided ample room for new lofts, and before long, impressive results began to follow. Frederick reduced his working hours, while Anja also became actively involved in caring for the pigeons. The first major reward came with the National victory from Bergerac in 2024, and this has now been followed by another outstanding National triumph on Perigueux II.

Olise Defeats the Entire Field

The winner was named Olise, after the French dribbling sensation who is currently shining at Bayern Munich. He is a small-type cock, almost resembling a hen in appearance, but he possesses every quality a champion should have when you hold him in your hand. He comes from an outstanding family and is the half-brother (same sire) of the 1st National Bergerac winner. His sire is a grandson of Cancellara, originating from Antoine Van Landuyt. Cancellara himself raced for Noël Lippens, winning 1st Provincial on long-distance races on three occasions. His dam is Astrid, a 100% pigeon from Frederick's original family and a daughter of Edinson, who achieved three top-75 National finishes, including an outstanding 5th National Perpignan. The pedigree also features the exceptional racer and breeder Mirage, as well as the outstanding hen Lore. Before this National victory, Olise had already won 145th National Perigueux, 314th National Argenton and 41st at Orléans. Now he crowned his career with the fastest pigeon of all 6,249 competitors over 678 kilometres, recording a velocity of 1,186 metres per minute. He was clocked at 6:22 p.m., and at 6:33 p.m. Tieke Dybala 604 arrived, securing 4th National. Tieke Dybala is a son of Tieke Dybala, a pigeon that previously won 8th Provincial Bourges and 16th National Libourne. Keep an eye on this pigeon in the future—it certainly has plenty of potential.

How Do You Prepare a National Winner?

It almost sounds like a recipe, but this is how Frederick manages his pigeons in Aarsele. The breeding pigeons and racing pigeons are paired at the beginning of December and raise one round of youngsters. Youngsters are also bred from the racing team. After breeding, the birds are separated again and are briefly reunited at the start of the season before training begins. As youngsters, Frederick tries to educate them thoroughly. Some years this goes better than others, but the more experience they gain as young birds, the quicker they prove themselves as yearlings. Only cocks are raced on the widowhood system. The racing pigeons are vaccinated against paratyphoid before the racing season, while the breeders receive the same vaccination before the breeding season. The pigeons are checked by the veterinarian, but Frederick certainly does not wear out the doorstep of the veterinary practice. He works together with Vincent Schroeder and Degutab. The widowhood cocks train for one hour and are always fed before training. In the morning they receive a heavier mixture, while in the evening they are given a lighter one. Frederick feeds Beyers Sport Light and Beyers Long Distance mixtures. The day before basketing for Perigueux II, Frederick gave the pigeons a short training toss from Templeuve. Upon their return, they were briefly allowed to see their hens. It is a very traditional widowhood system, one that has produced outstanding results in the past and has now once again been rewarded with a third National victory. After so much hard work and dedication, it is immensely satisfying to see those efforts rewarded.

Congratulations from the entire Herbots team!

Geert Dhaenens

"Olise Périgueux"
BE24-3005436
1st National Périgueux 2,663 old birds
Fastest of 6,249b.

"Tyke Dybala"
4th National Périgueux old birds
BE24-3005604

Dhaenens Geert