Esmanne Eddy – Defert Thierry 1st National Ace Pigeon KBDB Sprint Yearlings 2025 2nd National Ace Pigeon KBDB Sprint Old Birds 2025

We can safely say that the duo of Eddy Esmanne and Thierry Defert are the "new stars" of Belgian sprint racing in 2025. No exaggeration when we look at the national KBDB ace pigeon competition for sprint. It's already fantastic to win a national ace pigeon title KBDB, but all superlatives fall short when, in addition to the 1st National Ace Pigeon title Sprint Yearlings, you also win the 2nd and 6th National Ace Pigeon KBDB Old Birds.

We are delighted to introduce them to you:

- 1st National Ace Pigeon Sprint KBDB Yearlings 2025 with "King Kevin" BE24-1071543

King Kevin achieved the following this year:
1st National Ace Pigeon KBDB Sprint Yearlings 2025
1st World Best Pigeon Yearlings 2025

Won – without doubles – 13 prizes (1/10) - 7 top-10 finishes
"King Kevin" won the national KBDB ace pigeon title with the following 6 prizes:
1st Soissons 2,251 p. 130 km
1st St. Soupplets 2,277 p. 188 km
1st St. Soupplets 1,198 p. 188 km
1st St. Soupplets 1,127 p. 188 km
1st St. Soupplets 377 p. 188km
5 St. Soupplets 2,049 p. 188km

“King Kevin” also won
3 St. Soupplets 915 p. 188km
11 Soissons 646 p. 130km
12 St. Soupplets 614 p. 188km
20 Soissons 549 p. 130km
33 St. Soupplets 723 p. 188km
etc.

This pigeon is also a candidate for the next Olympiad (category G). He comes directly from the Kévin Saudoyez colony (Péruwelz), and his pedigree includes the famous Saudoyez foundation pair (BE13-9039452 x Gold Ingrid) on both his father's and mother's sides.
If we analyze the pedigree of this top pigeon over several generations, we arrive at pigeons from Gaby Vandenabeele/Dirk Van Dyck ("Kannibaal") and Schellens/Voets.
On his mother's side, there's also some Tournier ancestry.

But "King Kevin" isn't the only top pigeon in the lofts at Forchies La Marche.
What do you think of "Silver Ace" B23-1086959?

Won

2nd National Ace Pigeon KBDB Speed ​​Old 2025
4th World Best Pigeon Speed ​​2025

Won – without doubles – 20 prizes 1/10 - 15 x Top 10

“Silver Ace” became 2nd National Ace short distance KBDB with the following 6 prizes:

1st Soissons 2,076 p. - 130km
1st St. Soupplets 575 p. - 188km
1st St. Soupplets 915 p. - 188km
2nd Soissons 1,350 p. - 130km
2nd St. Soupplets 1,200 p. - 188km
2nd Soissons 1,156 p. - 130km

“Silver Ace” also won
1st Soissons 668 p. - 130km
2 St. Soupplets 1,127p - 188km
2 St. Soupplets 391p - 188km
3 St. Soupplets 983p - 188km
4 St. Soupplets 2,277p - 188km
5 St. Soupplets 2,251p - 130km
8 St. Soupplet 1,042p - 188km
9 St. Soupplets 501p - 188km
9 Vervins 452p - 73km

And no two without three, so we'd like to introduce you to another exceptional highlight: 

"Diamond 981" BE23-5043981

6th National Ace Pigeon KBDB Sprint Old birds 2025
8th World Best Pigeon Sprint 2025
19th National Ace Pigeon KBDB Sprint Yearlings 2024

Won – without doubles - 23 prizes (1/10) - 14 top-10 positions
1st Soissons 1,350 p. 130km
1st Soissons 1,156 p. 130km
1st St. Soupplets 257 p. 188km
2nd Soissons 2,076 p. 130km
2nd St. Soupplets 915 p. 188km
2nd Vervins 525 p. 73km
2nd Vervins 233 p. 73km
2 St. Soupplets 286p, 188km
3 St. Soupplets 391p, 188km
3 Soissons 668p, 130km
4 Soissons 775p, 130km
6 St. Soupplets 1,127p, 188km
7 St. Soupplets 232p, 188km
7 St. Soupplets 983p, 188km
15 St. Soupplets 925p, 188km
19 St. Soupplets 2,277p, 188km

“Diamond 981” is an original Pauwels Etienne cock

History of the colony

This tandem, founded in 2020, consists of Eddy Esmanne (56 years old, roofer/slate worker) and Thierry Defert (63 years old, retired). Both live in Forchies-la-Marche, a municipality in Wallonia, located in the Charleroi district, in the province of Hainaut. This village was also the one that became captivated a few years ago by the pigeon racing exploits of Marcel Englebienne, whom the oldest among us undoubtedly still remember.

Eddy Esmanne's parents were not pigeon fanciers, and it was his grandfather, Léon, who introduced him to pigeon racing at a young age. He raced with his grandfather in tandem until 1993, when he bought his current house and had a pigeon loft built in his garden. Thierry Defert discovered pigeon racing at a very young age, together with his father. After his death, he successfully pursued the sport on his own. He became a fancier feared by everyone. Back then, anyone who beat Thierry's pigeons won first prize.

The accommodation is located at Eddy Esmanne's and consists of a single loft, divided into five racing sections: two for racing cocks, one for racing hens, and two for young pigeons. We looked everywhere carefully, but couldn't find a breeding loft or an aviary anywhere.

Although sprint races have become the tandem's specialty, this wasn't always the case. In the past, they also achieved excellent results in the middle distance and extreme middle distance races, with the highlight being a 5th National Ace Pigeon KBDB Extreme Middle Distance Old Birds. The switch to sprint races came when it was decided to transport middle distance races with two nights' basketing instead of one. Since then, they've declared their love for sprint races.

The pigeons are basketed at two locations (Marbaix-la-Tour and Courcelles), and the racing area (read: racing perimeter) is considerable, stretching from the French border to the province of Walloon Brabant.

The Foundation of the Colony

And then came an answer I'd never heard in my 30-year career as a reporter. When asked if his breeding pigeons were housed elsewhere, Eddy replied, "Can you believe I don't like breeding pigeons? I truly hate that breeding period, and that's why I don't have any breeders. Not here, and not anywhere else. Some fanciers enjoy the art of breeding, but I enjoy searching for a preferably unknown, strong racing loft and then buying pigeons from them to race with. And... I've been very lucky to knock on the doors of the right people and thus have access to high-performing pigeons. I've been very successful with original pigeons from: Tordeur-Deval (Roux), Deltenre Benoît (Courcelles), Murez-Marichal (Wadelincourt), Pauwels Etienne (Kermt), Hermans-Booné (Loksbergen), Van Elsacker-Jepsen (Schilde), and Saudoyez Kevin (Péruwelz).

Only at the end of the season does Eddy dare to breed from his best pigeons. These youngsters then go to a friend, who then... later breeds youngsters for Eddy.

Composition and Method of the Colony

In 2025, the colony consisted of 40 racing pigeons (including old and yearlings, 50% cocks and 50% hens), which are raced according to the total widowhood system. Daily training takes place twice a day, as early as possible in the morning and in the afternoon. The cocks are always released first, followed by the hens. It is safer to work in this order, as some stubborn hens don't come in immediately or take a long time to leave. The cocks also train very intensively, but they only disappear from view for a good fifteen minutes. With a group of hens in top form, you can't put a time limit on them.
The selection process is strict and ruthless. Eddy only looks at the results. Every year, approximately 60% of the racing pigeons fail to meet the selection criteria. Eddy only keeps pigeons that are eager to fly at the top of the results. Only the best of the best are allowed to overwinter. Because there's no breeding, the racing pigeons are paired on March 25th and can breed freely in the hen lofts. They then brood for five days. After that, widowhood begins. The cocks are housed freely in their lofts, but the hens are locked in their nest boxes.
The 20 racing cocks, housed in two sections of the loft, are always fed individually but drink from a shared watering hole.
The 20 hens, housed in a separate section, are fed individually since they are locked up and each has their own watering hole.
On the day of basketing, the cocks and hens come together for a few minutes and are all basketed for the same race. As mentioned earlier, the racing team is divided into two different rooms.
Upon returning, the cocks and hens naturally come together, but the party shouldn't last long. Especially if it's a very smooth race, the sexes are quickly separated.
Around forty young pigeons are raced annually. This ensures the youngsters are free to do as they please. To inject some motivation into the flock, an older hen or cock is sometimes mixed in with the youngsters. Older pigeons among the youngsters always create a pleasant atmosphere. It's also worth mentioning that the best racing pigeons, after their brilliant racing careers, are entrusted to Tordeur-Deval or Deltenre Benôit. In return, Eddy is allowed to acquire some youngsters each year. And so the circle is complete, and Eddy no longer has to worry about breeding pigeons.

Feeding and Care

Upon returning from the speed races, Herbots 'Electroforte' (electrolytes) is mixed into the drinking water on Saturday, and Beyers 'Premium Vandenabeele' mixture is on the menu, and the same on Sunday. The Beyers 'Galaxy Sport Energy' mixture is given for the following days until basketing. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, a dash of Herbots 'Aminovit' (amino acids and conditioning supplement) is added to the drinking water. Fresh minerals and grit are given daily. Nothing else is given, as Eddy believes the Beyers mixture contains more than enough variety of seeds and grains. Speed ​​pigeons need nothing more. When the racers are paired in March, Eddy buys a bottle of vitamin E, 'Taubenfit-E50' (Röhnfried), and provides this for 10 days. The old and yearling pigeons are vaccinated against paramyxovirus in December, against parathyphosis in February, and against diphtheria in March by veterinarian Kobe Herbots (Chapelle-lez-Herlaimont). The young pigeons are vaccinated later in the season. There is no blind treatment, and Eddy Esmanne visits Kobe Herbots monthly and trusts him completely for every possible treatment. Every Sunday, the racing team is given a bath with Belgavet 'Balnéo'.

2025 Results

The 2025 results are impressive: 327 prizes won from 425 pigeons entered (77 prizes 1/100, 245 prizes 1/10).

Eddy and Thierry participated in 21 sprint races and won 12 first prizes. (ranking old birds + yearlings - excluding doubles):

Momignies (45 km): 676 pigeons: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 10th, 12th, etc. or 31 prizes out of 39
Soissons (130 km): 2251 pigeons: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 10th, 18th, 20th, etc. or 25 prizes out of 37
St Soupplets (188 km): 2049 pigeons: 2nd, 5th, 7th, 10th, 18th, 31st, etc. or 22 prizes out of 34
St Soupplets (188 km): 2277 pigeons: 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 10th, 11th, 19th, etc. or 21 prizes out of 39 28
Soissons (130 km): 2,076 pigeons: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th, 18th, 21st, etc. or 25 prizes out of 29
Soissons (130 km): 1,156 pigeons: 1st, 2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 13th, 15th, 17th, etc. or 21 prizes out of 23
St Soupplets (188 km): 1,127 pigeons: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 16th, etc. or 21 prizes out of 25
St Soupplets (188 km): 915 pigeons: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 8th, etc. or 17 prizes out of 23
St Soupplets (188 km): 712 pigeons: 1st, 2, 4, 11, 13, etc. or 16 prizes out of 18
Jouy le Châtel (216 km): 820 pigeons: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 14, etc. or 13 prizes out of 15
Soissons (130 km): 742 pigeons: 1, 2, 11, or 3 prizes out of 6
St Soupplets (188 km): 831 pigeons: 1, 2, 8, or 3 prizes out of 6
St Soupplets (188 km): 378 pigeons: 1, 2, 11, 12, etc. or 13 prizes out of 16

Bernard Henry

And what no one ever imagined has become a reality. Eddy and Thierry have decided to offer their 30 best racers in an online auction. 
A rarely seen top sale, including all national KBDB ace pigeons and 19 different first prize winners!

In this auction, Eddy and Thierry are offering pointers that possess the remarkable ability to effortlessly dominate short distances! A fantastic opportunity for anyone with ambition!

This online auction ends Wednesday, November 19th at 2:00 PM and 2:30 PM. (cet)