Anthony Maes – Waregem 1st National Champion Great Middle distance old & yearbirds 2021

Waregem: "This is only possible if you have pure class under your roof", as someone who knows all about it put it when the results of the past seasons of Anthony Maes from Waregem were put under the microscope. Let's be honest...the list of achievements is more than impressive: 

In the period 2007-2021, there were 43 provincial victories and the following nominations in the national KBDB championships: 

1st Nat. Champion KBDB middle distance 2021
1st Nat. Ace KBDB long distance 2019 - "Bonte Crack".
1st Nat. Argenton 21,644 b. – SeroSero
2nd Nat. Ace KBDB long distance 2021   
5th Nat. Ace KBDB middle distance 2021  
8th Nat. Ace KBDB middle distance 2015  
12th Nat. Ace Ace Pigeon KBDB middle distance 2020  
15th Nat. Ace KBDB middle distance 2020 

Who says Anthony, must also mention his sympathetic wife Chantal because together they are responsible for the ins and outs of this nationally renowned top colony. Although... honesty obliges us to say that Chantal is the "workhorse" on the loft. Anthony runs a wholesale business in vegetables and fruit. This means very little free time and then Anthony is of course more than happy that he can fall back on Chantal who has really mastered the pigeon business. Every day, Chantal spends five to six hours to get everything in order and to give their winged friends the best possible care. Anthony is very grateful to Chantal, without her this would not be possible. 

Since pigeon racing is mostly about the champion birds, we like to put some basic pigeons in the spotlight. 

 "Den Bonte Crack", the 1st national ace bird KBDB Fond 2019 

"Den Bonten Crack" (B17-3033516) was not a youngster of the 1st or 2nd round but crawled out of the egg later in the year. As a yearling this cock was already in the spotlight with 3rd Nat. Chateauroux 13,098d. - 86th Nat. Argenton 19,859b. and 44th Nat. (z) Chateauroux 8080b. . But just when the train was going full speed, the bird flu broke out. Exactly 5 weeks on the bank and this in full season, a drama for the passionate pigeon couple. A cross could be made over all their championships. Perhaps a stroke of luck, because in 2019 "Den Bonten Crack" still appeared at the proverbial kick-off of the season and again he impressed like no other and won the coveted ace title with a coefficient of 0.3914% over 3 long distance flights

Limoges II nat. 2 / 9,661 b. (prov. : 2 / 1,947 b. and reg. : 1 / 367 b.)
Limoges I nat. 12 / 13,569 b. (prov. : 11 / 2,614 b. and reg. : 3 / 408 b.) 
Libourne nat. 13 / 4,605 b. (prov. : 4 / 953 d. and reg. : 2 / 154 d.)

Anthony what can you tell about "Den Bonten Crack" ? "Not much...it was a pigeon with a special charisma...such a guy who was always in shape and the warmer the weather, the better he flew...unbelievable. He is of the middle-aged type and was never "worn out" when he went to the drop-board after a heavy long distance race. I can't tell you anything special except that he was always the first one inside when we called in our widowers after their daily training. 
Before every race he only got his nesting dish, just like all the other widowers. Also for his last long distance race, there was no extra motivation... no... do as we always did !".

When we take a closer look at the pedigree of "Den Bonten Crack" we see that his father "De Crack" (3006002/14) was a flight topper himself with a 1st provincial from Bourges and in the meantime he has become one of the current stock pigeons of the Maes colony. We see in him as grandfather also the stock breeder "Den Bonten Provinciaal". For the rest we see the old strains of Jacques Catteeuw, Charles Matthijs and André Debeouf. The mother of "Den Bonten Crack" listens to the name "Bontje Staf" (3073396/11) and is a full sister of the father of "Serosero". This pigeon originates directly from Chris Debacker and mainly goes back to the old strain of Gaby Vandenabeele with among others descendants from "Bieke" via Rik Cools. 

"Pappillon" (3002971/13), on a lonely level

Sometimes you have a phenomenon on your racing loft. One that is better than all the rest. One that simply flies the rest home. Anthony had to deal with such a phenomenon with 'Pappillon' (3002971/13). As a summer youngster of 2013, she came to take her chances for the first time in 2015. And how... In the preparatory speed and middle distance flights, she already achieved a top 100 listing twice: 64th Clermont 8,382d. and 79th Fontenay 9,261d. 
But what she conjured up after that was really phenomenal. In four weeks time this wonder of the air succeeded in winning no less than two provincial victories in addition to a second and a fourteenth place.

- 17/05/15 Tours provincial 5,697 b.: 2nd (0.0351%)
- 30/05/15 Bourges I provincial 2,365 b.: 1st (0.0423%)
- 06/06/15 Châteauroux I provincial 3,078 b.: 1st (0.0325%)
- 13/06/15 Guéret provincial 1,769 b.: 14th (0.7914%)

When you can and may experience this in a pigeon career then you live on a cloud for a moment. Then you think you are unbeatable. But then you realise very quickly that maybe this is really exceptional. Chantal and Anthony fully realised this. Playing by agreement could have made 'Pappillon' immortal. But they would not be the first to see a phenomenon die on the fields of honour. Everything was weighed and a sensible decision was made. Pappillon' was allowed to go to the breeding loft in the hope that her genes would bring an equally great phenomenon into the world. Anthony concludes that especially in the 2nd generation good breeding results are achieved. 

Pappillon' on the father's side descends from "Broer Sonja" (BE04-3144281), a gifted breeder who is, among others, father of the provincial winner 'De Bordeaux'. In his pedigree we see Valère Vandepoele. "Beauty 847" (BE11-3168847) is the mother of this top bird. She has in her veins the noble blood of 'Den Turbo' of Gaby Vandenabeele and 'Sonja' of Charles Matthys.

"Sero sero" (3079100/13)... the national winner of Argenton 

There are several cracks housed in Waregem. One of those exceptional cracks is "Sero Sero" (3079100/13 - the third provincial ace heavy middle distance 2015) . "Sero Sero" is the living proof that beauty and top performance can be perfectly combined. Just enjoy his impressive palmares:

1 National Argenton 9,255d.  - Fastest Old and Yearlings 496 km 2016    
4 National Chateauroux 21,515b.    467 km 2014
28 National Chateauroux 25,126b.    467 km 2016
31 National Argenton 12,187d.    496 km 2015

Beside these national top rankings this fantastic cock won following provincial top prizes. Each time on other flights than above !

3 Provincial Gueret 1,769d.    515 km 2015
6 Provincial Tours 1,416d.    435 km 2015
7 Provincial Tours 5,697d.    435km 2015
23 Provincial Fonteany 9,261d.    308km 2015
39 Provincial Argenton 2,644d.    496 km 2016

Father of this stunner 'Staf junior' is a son of 'Staf' who succeeded in winning the third provincial ace middle distance yearlings with Chris De Backer himself. Mother is 'Katy'. She descends from a special breeding couple in the house of Anthony and Chantal, namely 'Superkweker 806' x 'Sonja'.

Thanks to Chantal and Anthony

Not only on their own loft, but also on numerous other lofts, the Maes pigeons score like no other. Some top references are:

Roger & Jurgen Vervaeke (Deerlijk)
"Den Bliksem": 1st National and 1st Nat. Ace pigeon KBDB big middle distance 2019. 
Father is a half-brother "SeroSero".

Roger Velle (Koksijde)
1st Nat. Chateauroux 8,640b.  - Fastest out of 21,843b.
Grandson of stock breeder "Bonten Provinciaal".

Jo & Raf Herbots (Halle-Booienhoven)
1st Olympiad bird 2019 Poznan

Daughter "Magic Veenstra".

Team Debo (Vichte)
3rd Nat. ace KBDB great middle distance 2021
Father is a grandson "Superkweker" & "Rapido".

Gommaire Verbruggen (Kaggevinne)
6th Nat. Ace pigeon KBDB very long distance 2020
Father is a son of "SeroSero" & grandson of the breeding pair: "Superkweker" x "Sonja".

10th Nat. Ace pigeon KBDB very long distance 2020
Father is a son "SeroSero" & grandson "Bonte Provinciaal".

At the moment a unique group of original Anthony Maes pigeons is offered on internet sale Pigeon Bids. Direct children from proven toppers!