Promising debut by Olivier De Smet (Semmerzake)

Olivier De Smet is the 3rd generation of the famous De Smet family. After grandfather André and father Patrick, it is now up to Olivier to put the name De Smet at the top of the results.

A mission that will not be easy because who in the international pigeon sport does not know the De Smet family from Semmerzake? The newspapers are chock full of them. For those of us who are already a little gray, we still remember the "Vale Trein" as their team of pigeons was called in the last century. André and his brother Oscar together formed the De Smet Gebroeders tandem. First champions in speed then in middle distance and long middle distance. Then everyone went their own way and André and his wife Madeleine with their son Patrick had astonishing results. They are real competitors, aiming to be at the top of the results where they find their daily motivation for their true love for pigeons.

But life is not eternal and when André and Madeleine left us, Patrick took over the entire colony and continued his parents’s life work tirelessly.

For 7 seasons he lived up to the name "De Smet" but unfortunately "health problems" threw some sand in the wheels and he put the pigeon sport on "hold".

Suddenly, no more pigeons flew over Dorpsstraat n ° 94. Not a single inhabitant of Semmerzake could believe his eyes. Would it be true? Olivier was not sure and until 2020 inclusive, Olivier convinced his parents to start again with the pigeon sport.

New start

Olivier, who lives at the same address as grandfather André and who transformed the old breeding lofts where so many famous pigeons were born into play lofts, has made a well-considered start. The first season started with 60 youngsters and various pigeon fancier friends brought in another 30 youngsters.

2020 season results

06/27/20 ECOUEN 232 km

UNION ET LIBERTE 591 PIGEONS 1-3-7-22-27-27-39-73-82-113-115 ETC… 20/53

SCHELDEVERBOND 2056 PIGEONS 8-13-21-59-69-69-87-213-232 ETC… 29/53

07/04/20 PONT 200 KM

UNION ET LIBERTE 579 PIGEONS 4-5-15-45-46-64-64-88-114-116 ETC… 18/50

SCHELDEVERBOND 1643 PIGEONS 16-17-29-91-92-131-131-182 ETC… 26/50

07/25/20 PONT 200 KM

UNION ET LIBERTE 595 PIGEONS 16-24-24-26-51-54-55-72-73 ETC… 27/4

08/01/20 SERMAISES 314 KM

UNION ET LIBERTE 281 PIGEONS 1-2-3-8-9-17-20-25-27-29-33 ETC… 21/38

SCHELDEVERBOND 726 PIGEONS 2-6-7-23-26-45-57-76 ETC… 21/38

08/22/20 PONT 200 KM

UNION ET LIBERTE 252 PIGEONS 9-57 / 2/3

SCHELDEVERBOND 871 PIGEONS 17-120 / 2/3

08/22/20 SERMAISES 314 KM

UNION ET LIBERTE 171 PIGEONS 2-3-5-6-11-14-17-21-23-24-25-26 ETC… 15/31

SCHELDEVERBOND 11-12-16-19-44-60-68-89 ETC… 20/31

06/09/20 ARGENTON 510 KM

UNION ET LIBERTE 474 PIGEONS 2-10-12-29-61-66 ETC… 14/30

SCHELDEVERBOND 513 PIGEONS 2-11-14-33-66-73 ETC… 14/30

Beautiful results which have motivated Olivier for the current season. The 2021 season has started with a team of 125 youngsters and 12 cocks and 12 hens and now a few weeks later some very nice results can already be put on the table:

2021 results until the end of June

08.05.21 PONT 200km

79 yearlings: 7-10 2/2

135 old: 20/25 2/2

05.15.21 Orleans 358km

396 yearlings: 12-13-14-27-28-62-65-91-134 9/18

939 old: 26-30-31-51-58-124-129-195-325 9/18

23.05.21 Vierzon 428km

386 yearlings: 3-7-14-37-41-64-65-81-120-155 10/18

628 old: 2-8-17-53-62-90-91-130-205 9/18

420 yearlings: 3-10-16-40-44-69-70-88-133 9/18

695 old: 2-8-17-57-66-95-96-138-221 9/18

23.05.21 Quiévrain 60km

165 youngsters: 21-23-77-79 4/4

05.29.21 Bourges 436km

606 yearlings: 25-31-35-43-44-73-126-135-198-204-223-236-239 14/17

684 yearlings: 29-35-39-48-49-82-140-149-226-233-238-254-273 14/17

05.30.21 Quiévrain 60km

1-3-34-39 4/4

06.06.21 Noyon 160km

323 youngsters: 16-53-70-98 4/5

06.06.21 Noyon 160km

210 yearlings: 12-61-78 3/3

371 old: 18-117-155 3/3

06.06.21 chateauroux 481km

535 yearlings: 2-6-10-12-14-120-134-151 8/10

611 yearlings: 2-6-10-12-14-138-152-173 8/10

06.12.21 Blois (Montoire) 408km

426 yearlings: 3-24-60-67-71-100-124-137-162 10/16

225 old: 1-11-39-41-48-69-79-83 8/16

498 yearlings: 6-38-82-91-96-127-152-158-172 9/16

298 old: 3-25-63-67-75-1000-114-119 8-16

06.13.21 Noyon 160km

219 yearlings: 15-34-102 3/4

414 old: 22-55-195 3/4

06.13.21 Noyon 160km

526 boy: 37-80-131-228 4/4

06.19.21 Argenton 507km

496 yearlings: 5-14-19-23-33-46-51-52-70-134-150 11/17

549 yearlings: 5-16-22-29-39-53-58-60-82-156-173 11/17

06.20.21 Noyon 160km

162 yearlings: 37-47 2/3

06.20.21 Noyon 160km

862 youngsters: 40-95-111-136 4/4

06.28.21 Noyon 160km

1220 youngsters: 130-131-158-234 4/4

06.28.21 La souterraine 548km

217 yearlings: 4-9-28-29-36-51-53-61-73. 15/9

Thank you

Finally, Olivier asks: “Don't forget to thank my parents. I would especially like to emphasize the help of my father. A heartfelt “thank you” to him because without his support, it would be very difficult for me as a working person in my thirties with a young family to practice the pigeon sport at any level.”