Desbuquois Brothers The Power of Family Craftsmanship

Kapelle-Op-Den Bos: Who doesn't know them... the friendly and jovial brothers Michel and Didier Desbuquois. Best known for their "Barcelona stunts," it would be a huge mistake to consider them solely as Barcelona specialists. No... besides Barcelona, ​​the Desbuquois pigeons also excel in other national long-distance races, preferably in "hard weather," because that's when their class truly shines.
Desbuquois Brothers is also known as a window and door company, and on my way home, I saw one of their vans. The van bore the slogan "the power of family craftsmanship"... a slogan that also reflects the pigeon racing scene at the Desbuquois household.

Father Fernand

Father Fernand, grandfather Prosper, and uncle Valère were all pigeon fanciers. Fernand raced together with his uncle Valère, competing in the middle distance in the 1960s. In the early 1970s, they raced under the name Fernand Desbuquois. Later, they started in Bornem under the name Debusschere-Desbuquois. This lasted for a few years, and then they parted ways amicably. In the late 1970s, they raced under the name Desbuquois & Zonen, or in other words, father Fernand and his sons Didier and Michel. At that time, they still raced in Bornem, and their first top results came in Barcelona. In 1986, they moved to Kapelle-op-den-Bos to expand their window and door business. The first lofts were built there between 1986 and 1988, and they remain unchanged to this day.

Foundation Pigeons

The first foundation pigeons came from Debusschere-Desbuquois, including "De Zot" (47th national Barcelona 1976), "Para" (a super breeder), "Brigitte" (an excellent breeding hen), and primarily the Gorin strain. In 1980, they met Emiel Matterne, and a long-lasting friendship developed. Youngsters were bred from Matterne's best: youngsters from "K10" (1st International St. Vincent) and "Gebroken Vleugeltje" (daughter of 1st International St. Vincent x 1st International San Sebastian) became the foundation hens of the colony.

In 1983, Paul Gilmont was experiencing his heyday in the extreme long distance, and youngsters were purchased from "Caporal" (1st International Barcelona 1981) and a brother and sister of "Mercator," Paul Gilmont's best pigeon. Roger Schauwers, Asse, provided them with the mother of "Roger Barcelona" (1st Nat. Barcelona 2006).

Friend Erik Limbourg provided them with a series of foundation pigeons that paved the way to great success, including the top pigeon "Bolleke Watten Junior," a fantastic performance and breeding cock.

Crosses with Limbourg pigeons include "Pedro" (6th Nat. Perpignan 2005, 28th Nat. Perpignan 2006, 40th Semi-Nat. Chateauroux 11,526 p.) and a half-brother of "Romulus" (Primus Inter Pares Brugse Barcelona Club 2007 to 2011). There is also “Black Power” (8th Nat. Perpignan 2011), “Skyfall” (11th Nat. Perpignan 2012 against 6,661 p.), “Dina” (5th Nat. Ace Pigeon Extreme Long Distance K.B.D.B.), “Lucas” (2nd Nat. Ace Pigeon Extreme Long Distance K.B.D.B. 2005). “De 300” (“Son Joost”, Joost De Smeytere x “Chenoa” (1st Olympiad Pigeon, Bras -NL), both purchased by Erik Limbourg, were also pigeons that embody the best of the colony. More recently – also through Erik – there has been the introduction of Wolfgang Roeper pigeons, and mainly the offspring of “Der 593”. 

Erik Limbourg bought “Der 593” at the Wolfgang Roeper auction (via www.herbots.be) and in Erik’s loft he became the father of 
“Creyoné Roeper”: 
1st Nat. Ace Pigeon KBDB Long Distance Yearlings '20
11th Nat. Ace Pigeon KBDB Young Pigeons '19 (national races)

"Laurence":
2nd Nat. Ace Pigeon KBDB Long Distance 2019
2nd, 12th, 55th National winner

"B17-2005110":
14th Nat. Ace Pigeon KBDB Yearlings 2018
29th, 29th, 51st, and 64th National winner

"B20-2025851"
14th Nat. Ace Pigeon KBDB Long Distance Old Birds 2023

"Miss Allround Roeper"
6th National Ace Pigeon KBDB Allround

"850-21"
19th National Ace Pigeon KBDB Long Distance Yearlings 2022

"B20-2072124", winner of
4th Nat. Ace Pigeon Allround KBDB 2022
6th Nat. Ace Pigeon Allround KBDB 2021
3rd Nat. Argenton 10,632 p.
46th Nat. Chateauroux 4,003 p.
94th Nat. Chateauroux 22,196 p.
4th Prov. Tulle 953 p.
9th Prov. Limoges 2,047 p.
5th Noyon 1,208 p.
11th Noyon 4,145 p.

Didier and Michel were naturally quick to tap into this "golden vein," and the cross with "Mona Lisa" (see further in the report) proved to be a perfect match.

"Roger Barcelona", 1st National Barcelona 2006
The Brothers still vividly remember the year 2006, when they won the 1st National Barcelona with "Roger Barcelona" (BE03-2010062). A dream come true.
The DNA of "Roger Barcelona" still runs like a thread through many of Desbuquois's top pigeons. 

'Julius', 1st National Barcelona 2011

"Julius" (08-2142510) proves that the Desbuquois pigeons aren't only capable of winning a 1st National Barcelona in their own loft. This well-built, black white-fleshed cock with very soft feathers and a brilliant eye is a 100% Desbuquois pigeon. The brothers gave a pair of old pigeons to their friend Willy Verbruggen (Londerzeel), and it was from this pair that the top-class "Julius" was born. After his victory, "Julius" moved back to the lofts of Michel and Didier, and he too is a unique breeding line in the Desbuquois breeding loft.

"Bolleke Watten Junior" at the Olympiad in 2015

After 2010, they switched to one-day long-distance racing with pigeons from Erik Limbourg or the old De Rauw-Sablon line. Erik Limbourg's total sale was... "Bolleke Watten" B07-2135143 was purchased, a son of "Blauwe As" x "Super Marseille Duivin" (Aelbrecht). "Bolleke Watten" was paired with the famous "Dikke Blauwe" B05-6433118 (Jan Verbergt, from Limbourg as an egg). She was a direct daughter of "Lucky 85" x "Bourgeke Limbourg." The "Dikke Blauwe" was a foundation hen in the loft.

"Bolleke Watten" x "Dikke Blauwe" became the parents of "Bolleke Watten Junior" B10-2155132. She became 1st Olympiad Pigeon Marathon Budapest 2015 and 3rd National Ace Pigeon Long Distance KBDB 2013.

"Bolleke Watten Junior" B10-2155132 was paired with the "030 Duivin" B08-4061030 (1st Nat. Argenton Raf Denhaese, pure Limburg) and they became the parents of "Mona Lisa" B14-2237485, the best hen ever at Gebr. Desbuquois!

"Mona Lisa" was paired with "Strong Wapon," son of B10-2155192 (brother of "Bolleke Watten Junior") x B09-4022031 "Daisy" (sister of "030 Duivin" or mother of "Mona Lisa"). And from that pairing comes B20-2080053 "Top Gun," who became 3rd Nat. Ace Pigeon Long Distance 2022.

In summary, "Mona Lisa" became the mother of:
2nd National Cahors 5,640 p. - "Petros"
4th National Valence 7,974 p. - "Valence"
5th National Limoges 10,319 p. - "Valence"
7th National Souillac 4,476 p. - "Topgun"
3rd National Ace Pigeon KBDB Long Distance '22 - "Topgun"
6th National Ace Pigeon KBDB Long Distance '20 - "Valence"

"Mister Libourne": 1st National Libourne 2016
The national winner of Libourne against 3,699 yearlings. "Mister Libourne" is a dream in the hand... a very strong pigeon... medium to large in size... in short, a bundle of power. "Mister Libourne" was born into a family of winners. His brothers have already won 7th National Narbonne 7,859 p. – 10th National Narbonne 7,859p. – 5th Ace Pigeon Provincial KBDB Long Distance, etc. On his father's side, "Mister Libourne" is a grandson of the well-known "Joost" (B02-4051564 – 1st International Perpignan for De Smeyter-Restiaan and a top breeder for Eric Limbourg) and a grandson of "Chenoa" (NL03-1144853 – won 8th Nat. Montauban 7,440 p. – 12th Nat. Bergerac 12,956 p. – 17th Nat. Bordeaux 9,277 p. and 44th Nat. Bergerac 14,576 p.). On his mother's side, "Mister Libourne" is a grandson of the top pigeon "Pedro" (B04-2010583 – won 6th Perpignan 3,796 p. – 14th Perpignan) 4,666 p. and 28th Perpignan 6,765 p.) and a grandson “Beauty 85” (a daughter of national KBDB ace pigeon “Lucky 85” – Limbourg Eric) 

"Pedros": 1st Provincial and 2nd National Cahors 2017
Cahors National… 750km from Brussels certainly shouldn't have been classified among the "easy" races of the 2017 season. No… if only four pigeons exceed a speed of 1,200 m/m… then everyone knows enough. At Cahors, the class and condition of the participating pigeons were put to the test. Only those with the wings and those in top condition could achieve high scores at Cahors.
One of these four top birds that exceeded 1,200 m/m was "Petros" (B15-2060079) from Desbuquois Brothers from Kapelle-Op-Den-Bos. Released at 8:35 a.m. for a distance of 754.050 km, "Pedros" crossed the electronic clocking plate in 6:47 p.m., 45 sec. With this, he won 1st provincial with flying colors, and at national level, he was only trailed by the national winner from Faes-Wils in Mol.

Chris Hebberecht wins 1st national Marseille 2020 with a direct Desbuquois pigeon
"I was still waiting for pigeons from the Montelimar race when suddenly I heard a pigeon zoom past like a rocket," were Chris Hebberecht's words about the way his national winner Marseille reached his loft after a tough long-distance race. Flying completely against the wind, his original Desbuquois pigeon beat the entire Belgian field. The victorious Marseille carries the noble blood of "Julius Barcelona" on his father's side and "Bolleke Watten" (originally Limbourg) on ​​his mother's side. In other words, pure top quality in the pedigree.

Phase-out is absolutely necessary.

The Desbuquois family has built a solid reputation in pigeon racing, especially when the going gets tough, these pigeons seem unstoppable. Pigeon racing in 2025 demands a lot of attention and time, and as a fancier, you have to be dedicated year-round, 365 days a year. And that's precisely where the problem lies. Not only does the busy business demand a great deal of attention, but Didier's poor health – which means Michel has more work to do in the loft – is also detrimental to pigeon racing. Michel and Didier also realize they don't have enough time to do everything right, so they decided to sell a group of pigeons, all born from proven breeding lines.

This wasn't a decision taken lightly, but no one in the Desbuquois family likes to do things halfway, and that's why this decision was made.

And – as the Herbots team – we can confirm that there's a tremendous amount of quality on offer. When our team judged the pigeons they all agreed: “These are pure class pigeons and you get goosebumps when you handle these pigeons.”