Decendre Guillaume (Chatelet) - 1st Int.Nat Narbonne yearlings

BE-24-1033307 "Giorgia"  
1st National Narbonne 3.734 yearlings
1st Int.National Narbonne yearlings

Distance : 804,992km
Velocity : 1047,76m/min
Arrival : 20:03:18

Originally from Châtelet, Belgium, Guillaume Decendre, now in his forties, began his life in the world of motorcycles as a professional rider.
After spending years on racing circuits, he gradually traded his helmet for a pigeon loft, devoting his time to the breeding and competition of racing pigeons.

In 2019, he claimed victory in the Châteauroux national race with his pigeon Daymond, competing against 20,522 old birds and being the fastest among a total of 45,139 pigeons.
Six years later, Guillaume repeated this success by winning the prestigious Narbonne race, both at national and international level.
Unfortunately, no one witnessed the return of the small blue hen, “Giorgia”, who performed an extraordinary feat, covering a distance of 804 km to return to her mate at home.
She was clocked at 8:03 p.m., achieving an average speed of 1047.76 m/min, beating all competitors and securing the top position!

Giorgia had previously flown in the Agen race, finishing 915th out of 12,362 pigeons, before taking part in Narbonne.
She comes from a pairing between “Son Montali” from Etienne Meirlaen (acquired through a Herbots auction) and a pigeon from Jelle Jellema – specifically an inbred from “New Laureaat x Kleine Jade”.
Nothing was left to chance, and top-quality pigeons were acquired from some of the sport’s best fanciers, including Jelle Jellema, Etienne Devos, Etienne Meirlaen, and Roger Vereecke.

With these bloodlines and around 15 breeding pairs, Guillaume breeds 60 to 80 young birds annually, raised in 3 to 4 rounds to strengthen the race team for the following season.

His method is based on the total widowhood system. Couples may be raced together in the same competition or, as with Narbonne, the partner of Giorgia remained in the loft to welcome her upon her return.

Veterinary care and medical follow-up are rigorous.
After years of being advised by veterinarian Henk Deweerdt – whom he thanks for his warm welcome and professionalism (and whose products he still partly uses) – Guillaume now turns to Kobe Herbots from Herbovets, based in Chapelle-lez-Herlaimont, who excels in his field, much like his father.

As for feed mixtures, Aidi has found its place in the Châtelet loft, with its feeding schedules being strictly followed for over a year now.

Guillaume Decendre’s journey shows that reaching the top is possible even without major resources at the beginning. Transitioning from motorcycle racing to the demanding world of pigeon sport, he embodies a successful reconversion, driven by sincere passion and remarkable discipline.
His national victories in 2019 and 2025 marked turning points in his career, propelling his name onto the international stage of pigeon racing, and reaffirming Belgium’s leading role in this discipline.

Notable results and victories over the past years:

4th National Jarnac (old birds) in 2014

8th National Cahors (old birds) in 2014

1st National Châteauroux (old birds) in 2019

3rd National Agen + International (yearlings) in 2020

34th National Aurillac (yearlings) in 2020

22nd National Narbonne + 75th Yearlings in 2021

114th National Agen (old birds) in 2025

1st National and International Narbonne in 2025

Warmly welcomed by Guillaume Decendre, we discovered far more than just a pigeon enthusiast: a meticulous, humble man deeply committed to his craft. His know-how, authenticity, and the calm atmosphere in his loft reflect a true philosophy of life.

We sincerely thank him for his hospitality and availability and wish him continued success in his future projects.

For the Herbots team,

Lelièvre-Damit Julien