Marsille Hadrien - AT Breeding Loft (Ophain) 1st National champion middle-distance KBDB old and yearlings

Ophain: National champion KBDB middle distance old and yearling birds 2022 is 24-year-old Hadrien Marsille from the Walloon Brabant village of Ophain. Hadrien is not at his experimental stage as the last 3 years he won a.o.
2nd Olympiad bird Cat A Team A - 2022 ("Olympic Blue Velvet")
2nd Olympiad bird Cat A Team B - 2022 ("Olympic Sweet Velvet")
1st National champion KBDB youth 2019, 2020 , 2021 and 2022
3rd World best pigeon Short distance 2020
3rd National champion KBDB ½ Fond old and yearling 2019
4th National champion Short distance old and yearling 2021
4th National ace pigeon Short distance youngsters 2020 
6th National ace ½ Fond yearling 2019
9th National champion ½ Fond old and yearling 2020 
9th National ace pigeon Short distance old 2021

But last season 2022, the main bird was shot by winning the KBDB national championship ½ Fond old and yearling pigeons. Champion becomes the fancier with the lowest coefficient on 5 middle distance flights with 1st and 2nd issued old/yearling pigeon. 

With following top results the national Championship was won: 

14/05    Orleans               1,736d.                 3 (1e nominated)             1e (2e nominated)
21/05    Toury                    815d.                    2e (1e nominated)           1e (2e nominated)
11/06    Toury                    538d.                    2e (1e nominated)           3e (2e nominated)
26/06    Toury                    250d.                    2e (1e nominated)           1e (2e nominated)
09/07    Toury                    743d.                    5e (1e nominated)           2e (2e nominated)

The national championship was won by 6 different pigeons. Herewith we publish you the pedigree charts so that you have a clear picture of which pigeons are making nice weather in Ophain.

Perfect collaboration
We should mention them in the same breath, Hadrien Marsille has been backed by the strong breeding loft of Thierry Aerts (AT-Breeding Loft) since 2014. A strong foundation based on a number of proven breeding couples. Some important stock pigeons are undoubtedly " Gold " - Gold Elisabeth (both go back to the Chris Hebberecht pigeons, the line of the "Axl" and the "Champ"). Then there are the descendants of Deno-Herbots pigeons, such as these from the breeding line of "Clyde" (1/2 Brother 1st Nat. Cahors) and "Barbara", "Christianne" and a brother and sister of the famous "Yvan" (Herbots Gebr.). The input of original Vandenabeele pigeons and PEC pigeons (line "Porsche 911") also more than achieved their goal. Especially worth mentioning is the successful contribution of original Marcel Wouters pigeons. Until last year, the breeding pigeons lived with Thierry Aerts, but due to a move, the breeding loft is now also located in Hadrien's garden. Hadrien says: "We have 8 breeding boxes and 24 fixed breeding couples. The cocks in the breeding boxes first get a new hen and then the hen with which they have already given good youngsters enters the breeding box. Normally every cock in a breeding box gets 3 to 5 different hens in its nest box during the year. Lots of breeding, lots of racing and strict selection...is a powerful formula to succeed in pigeon racing."

Racing system
Here the card of total widowhood is drawn and for this they have 36 pairs and a few spare hens ready to go. They are coupled in early February and allowed to brood for about 12 days. From the pairing period onwards, the pigeons are allowed back outside. Mid-March they start with the training flights, through three training flights, 2 x 20 km and then 45, the season gets underway. Afterwards they join the club. 
The pigeons are trained once a day in the morning. The hens go out first and they can train freely, if they tend to sit in the roof they are called inside. Afterwards the cocks follow, they are set free for one hour. Towards the end of the season it happens that they get an extra stimulus by taking them back on extra training when training the youngsters. More than once, this has resulted in an extra whiplash, boosting their performance again. 

Feeding and care system
The pigeons are fed the Beyers range and like in many places, they are fed up to basketing day. When they arrive home, they get a good energy mixture and afterwards a diet mixture, depending on the heaviness of the race, the next race and the weather conditions. This is called "feeding by feel". They prefer the Galaxy and Brillant mixtures. 
On the medical side, they sometimes dare to consult different vets, but it is not because they consult the man in the white smock that they go on medication. No, if not necessary, the medicine cabinet remains closed. Only if advised by the specialised vet will treatment be given. The by-products such as vitamins, electrolytes, etc., also come from the vet.

Motivation 
For Hadrien, besides the quality of the pigeon, the loft is very important. Not only in terms of ventilation, but also the possibility of motivation should not be underestimated, according to Hadrien. They have three sections, two for the cocks and one for the hens. For these three sections, they have one sputnik, which hangs on rails and can be moved as such. Sometimes a change of loft can work wonders, it ensures that the pigeons like to sit in their own place, their own territory, which does not always have to be their own nest box. Also an extra seat a private corner, it is all important and provides the motivation to get home faster. It is therefore up to the fancier to notice all this, observe it well and, if necessary, respond to it. 

The youngsters.
Every year, about 150 youngsters are bred for our own use. Most of the youngsters are races at short distance. Hadrien "One of the problems is that we live here not far from release sites where many Antwerp fanciers come to release their pigeons and this results in many losses every year. We try to limit the losses of the youngsters by releasing them in smaller groups. 
Youngsters are darkened and lightened afterwards and are cared for according to the same system as the old pigeons. 

Highlights racing season 2022 

1st National Champion KBDB ½ Fond old and yearbirds
1st National Champion Youth
10th National ace ½ Fond yearbirds (B21-2004993)
18th National Champion KBDB short distance young birds
19th National ace short distance KBDB young birds
22nd National Champion KBDB short distance old and yearbirds
22nd National ace KBDB Fond yearbirds
23rd National ace KBDB ½ Fond yearbirds  (B21-2004961) 

1st Interprov. Nevers 7,325b.
1st Interprov. Vierzon 5,486b.