Christian Messiaen wins 1st Provincial Argenton against 2,014 yearlings in West Flanders

An impressive achievement for Christian Messiaen from Rumbeke, West Flanders: his yearling cock was the first to arrive from the provincial race out of Argenton, beating a strong field of 2,014 yearlings. A victory that is no coincidence, but the result of years of dedication and expertise in pigeon racing.
Besides this first prize winner  Christian managed to place 4 yearlings (1-22-83-84) in the top-100 of the provincial result, which underlines the great shape his racing team is in.

A lifelong passion

Christian Messiaen is no stranger in the pigeon sport. Active since 1978, he describes himself as a passionate fancier who leaves nothing to chance. “Everything revolves around the pigeons: care, selection and bloodlines. I’ve been working with top national lines for years.”

A top-bred yearling

The winning bird is a 2024 yearling cock from the third round. A beautiful, athletic pigeon with silky feathers and a perfectly closed body. Its pedigree speaks volumes:  
- Father: grandson of 'Sero Sero' (1st National Argenton - Anthony Maes) × daughter of 1st National Souillac (Platteeuw – Zillebeke)  
- Mother: daughter of 1st National Limoges (Gino Clique)

A combination of three national winners that clearly pays off. “He was the sixth pigeon I had entered for this race. Not my top favourite, but I had a good feeling, especially considering his type and bloodline.”

Building on Past Triumphs

Track Record of First-Class Winners

A glance at the impressive track record of Christian Messiaen confirms that this Belgian fancier has consistently reached the top. In major classics such as Barcelona, Perpignan, Agen, Souillac, and Limoges, he has claimed numerous 1st prizes at both local and provincial levels, regularly followed by strong national and international rankings. Pigeons like Brighton, Aurora, Missisipi, Florida, and Virginia are not only symbols of speed and navigational strength, but also the result of a meticulously developed family that thrives on the most demanding long-distance races. Below is a glimpse of that legacy.

Strong Narbonne Team in 2024

In the 2024 season, Christian Messiaen once again demonstrated his class with an outstanding team performance in the national Narbonne race on September 12. With no fewer than four yearlings in the national top 100 out of 4,983 competitors, his team delivered a masterclass in strength, consistency, and preparation. Birds BE22-3041068, BE22-3041015, BE22-3115902, and BE22-3115391 scored 27th, 79th, 70th, and 85th nationally, each also achieving top rankings at local, provincial, and zonal levels. These results underline the depth and uniformity of Christian’s racing loft.

Sero Sero & Bonte Crack

What stands out is that these results are far from coincidental. The Narbonne team is built on a solid foundation: breeding pigeons from the lines of Anthony Maes. Both the line of Sero Sero – 1st National Argenton (2016) against 21,644 birds – and Bonte Crack – 1st National Ace Pigeon Long Distance KBDB 2019 – form the backbone of the breeding loft. Birds like Copy Sero Sero 293, Sero Sero 656, Bonte Crack 738, and Sero Sero 993 prove that these bloodlines continue to pass on their excellence: class, intelligence, and stamina.

Christian shows that top performances are the result of conscious choices: investing in proven bloodlines, preparing with precision, and selecting with a keen eye. A formula that delivers — in both races and breeding.

The Amazing Agen Team

One of the true highlights of Messiaen’s career remains the performance of The Amazing Agen Team in the 2018 national Agen race. With pigeons like Missisipi (1st local, 4th provincial, 9th national), Lima, Chicago, Missouri, Texas, and Miami, Christian formed a dream team that could rival Belgium’s best. His yearlings dominated the local results, taking 19 of the top 23 positions, while also excelling on the provincial and national stage. Missouri even secured 4th place in the PIPA ranking as best Belgian yearling across all international races. These results reflect not only peak physical condition, but also the depth of a breeding loft that continues to produce top talent year after year.

Step-by-step preparation

Christian races on classic widowhood: 80% cocks and 20% hens. The preparation towards Argenton followed a gradual buildup through Arras, Clermont, Fontenay, Tours and Bourges. “Step by step we build up to the nationals, with close attention to detail in training and feeding.”

Christian relies on the quality mixtures of Vanrobaeys, from light to heavy feeding towards basketing. He also uses "Winners" products to optimally support his pigeons.

Strict selection and solid foundation

The breeding loft holds around 30 carefully selected pairs. “Only national performers stay. Pigeons must fly early on big races. I'm very strict about that. Young birds must also prove themselves – model, feather quality and general impression are key.”

Inspired by the best

Christian draws inspiration from top lofts, many of which form the basis of his own breeding: Gino Clique, Anthony Maes, Sam Bostoen, the Vanlandschoot brothers (Maldegem). He also looks up to Tom Vangaver “for his motivation, perfection and determination. That really speaks to me.”
 

Ambitions remain high

After this win, Christian is not looking back but ahead. “I aim to clock early every week. And I stick to my formula: detailed care, strong preparation, and sharp selection.”

With such a clear vision and passion, it’s safe to say this won’t be his last victory of the season.

Maarten Herbots