Thoné Xavier and Maxim (As) shine in Valence: 1st and 3rd Provincial against 575 old birds

A top performance at the first major long-distance event of the season: Xavier and Maxim Thoné from As win both the 1st and 3rd Provincial Valence against 575 old birds in Limburg. Besides the other birds in the racing team performed terrific as well with Xavier & Maxim taking 1-3-22-28-30-43-... provincial place against 575 old birds.  The pigeons were entered under the name of Xavier & Maxim Thoné, but behind this success is a strong partnership between Guy Baerts and the Thoné family.

The cooperation between Guy Baerts and Jos Thoné goes back many years. Always close friends, their bond grew into a top-level sporting collaboration. Today, the birds fly from the lofts of sons Xavier and Maxim in As, with a clear focus on the extreme long distance. Guy’s passion for these races made the choice an obvious one.

Their breeding loft is high-quality: heavy investments are made in descendants of international winners, mainly directly from Hugo Batenburg – v.d. Merwe. Currently, no fewer than 46 original Batenburg pigeons are housed in the breeding loft.

Although the Valence distance is relatively short for a Rhône valley race, it was marked as the first true test of the season. That the team immediately took two top prizes proves the preparation was on point.

About the winning pigeon – BE23-5039663

The winner is a two-year-old cock, named "Pokémon", who had already flown several national races as a yearling. He wasn’t marked as a favorite for Valence, but he showed his class when it mattered most. With this win "Pokémon" also took 15th national place against 3.852b.

Pedigree:
- Sire side: lines of Harry (Jan Hooymans) and Zwart Goud (Jelle Jellema)
- Dam side: directly from Hugo Batenburg – v.d. Merwe
  - Grandchild of Jef (1st Int. Barcelona Rans) and Rena (Jellema)
  - Daughter of Mother Special Narbonne, an outstanding breeding hen

The 3rd Provincial – BE22-5006814 – confirms the strength of the bloodline and system.

This hen took the 3rd provincial place from Valence, which equals the 52nd national place against 3,852b.
As for the pedigree of this bird, she has top international genes on both sides with proven results in the classics (Barcelona, Narbonne, Valence) and being a halfsister to 'Alexa' (2. Nat. Montélimar).
She was bred from a combination of two strategic investments:
Batenburg-v.d. Merwe origin: Special One (1st I.Nat. Barcelona), Lloyd (1st I.Nat. Barcelona + Golden Wing winner), Special Narbonne (2nd I.Nat. Narbonne)
Thoné origin: Disney-line, a proven breeding line with multiple national top results
This pigeon is clearly the result of targeted selection and a focused breeding strategy, aiming to perform on the tough international long-distance races. 

Racing System and Preparation

At the loft in As, they race according to the total widowhood system, this allows for continuous motivation throughout the season and gives the fanciers the flexibility to build a strong and broad team for the long-distance flights.

The preparation for Valence was carefully structured: first sprint races, followed by middle-distance flights, and then Bourges as the first real test. This way, the pigeons gained experience and condition without being overworked too early in the season. Valence was seen as the first key event of the year — and the results show the team peaked at the right time.

Feeding and Supplements

The feeding program is built around Beyers mixtures, including a custom blend specifically tailored for long-distance racing. Since this season, they also added the Jellema Power mix, which is designed to support endurance and recovery.

In terms of supplements, they rely primarily on Pigeon HP, especially during the final days leading up to major national or international races. Everything is aimed at helping the birds recover quickly and perform optimally when it truly matters.

Breeding and Selection

The breeding loft houses around 40 carefully chosen pairs, focusing on proven long-distance lines. Youngsters are trained methodically, with structure and discipline. There are no shortcuts – just consistent work to prepare them for the challenges of the international stage.

When it comes to selecting old birds, the rules are clear and uncompromising: performance on the major long-distance races is the only benchmark. Those that fail to show potential where it counts won’t remain on the team.

Inspiration and Ambition

The biggest inspiration and most important supplier of top breeding material is Hugo Batenburg. His pigeons have become the cornerstone of the breeding loft, with over 45 original Batenburg–van de Merwe pigeons now forming the genetic base.

The ambition for the remainder of the season is straightforward: achieve top results on the international classics such as Barcelona, Narbonne, and Perpignan. Valence was the first serious checkpoint, and it confirmed the team is on track.

With a 1st and 3rd Provincial from Valence, Xavier and Maxim Thoné, with support from Guy Baerts, are clearly positioning themselves as one of the teams to watch this season. Thanks to top-tier breeding, a precise racing strategy, and a sharp focus on preparation, this loft has everything it takes to shine on the international stage. More fireworks are certainly expected in the coming weeks.

Maarten Herbots