Van Laere José and Stijn… are having once again an extra ordinary season

Kruisem: Despite the fact that we aren’t surprised anymore, we are still more than impressed with the results that the Van Laere family are able to set. ‘Magic’ … is in fact the correct word when we analyse the results of the past years set by both José as Stijn. But also in 2020 everything is running as a well-oiled machine and are the first and head prizes falling down more than easy out of the Kruisem sky.

Favourite race Orleans

Although they don’t say in that many words I have the impression that the interprovincial race out of Orleans is highlighted on the racing calendar. Also this year they worked towards this race with the necessary motivation and as true masters of their profession they scored highly. Let’s enjoy it together: 

1st Interprov. Orleans 4,436 year birds with  “308-19”

The interprovincial victory against 4,436 yearling pigeons was won by cock “308”. This wasn’t this guys’ first test as he already won as youngster 7x 1/10 with ao (without doubles): 2nd Pontoise 750b. (230km) – 3rd Clermont 937b. (191km) – 3rd Clermont 569b. (191km) – 7th Clermont 955b. (191km) – 10th Clermont 439b. (191km) and so on…
This year he already impressed with : 1st Sermaises 478b. (308km) – 1st Sermaises 287b. (308km) – 1st Sermaises 123b. (308km) – 2nd Sermaises 357b. (308km) – 8th Sermaises 235b. (308km) – 27th Sermaises 524b. (308km)
The “308” has as father “B18-2142747” (direct Surinx-Pletsers – grandson famous “Super Boonen” and grandson “Sterke Yvan” (son “Yvan” Herbots Gebroeders). Mother to the “308” is “B16-4152621” (won: 1, 4, 4, 5 and 6 Clermont and a granddaughter to the “Kleine Blauwe” from Heremans Leo)

2nd Interprov. Orleans 17,442 youngsters with “323-20”

On a local level the 1st prize against 694 youngsters was won and on the interprovincial level the 2nd against 17,442 youngsters. And again we see the superior classful pigeons coming back in the pedigree. Father is “B16-4152666”, a guy that won 13 x 1/10 whereor 1st Clermont 289b. – 1st Fontenay 138b. – 1st Fontenay 109b. – 4th Fontenay 689b. – 4th Clermont 226b. – 6th Fontenay 180b. But also on the breeding loft the “666” is successful as he is the father to ao. 2nd National ace bird Short Distance France.
The “323-20” is on mothers’ side a grandson to the 1st National ace bird KBDB Greater Middle Distance 2012 and Olympiad pigeon Nitra ‘13 “Bender” (B11-4220607) coupled to “621-16” (mother to the 1st Interprovincial Orleans 4,436b)

2nd Interprov. Orleans 2,552 old with “160-17”

Topper here is “160-17” who won the 2nd prize interprovincial Orleans against 2,552 old pigeons. Before this he already won 20 x 1/10 with ao (without doubles): 1st Clermont 504b. (191km) – 2nd  Fontenay 386b. (319km) – 4th Maissemy 312b. (120km) – 4th Fontenay 109b. (319km) – 4th Sermaises 123b. (308km) – 5th Clermont 577b. (191km) – 5th Arras 512b. (89km) – 5th Arras 125b. (89km) – 6th Fontenay 239b. (319km) – 7th Fontenay 279b. (319km) and so on…

His father is “B15-4071194” (won 1st Orleans 622b. and 21 x 1/10) and his mother is “037-15” (winner to 3rd Clermont 255b. – 6th Clermont 168b. and 9th Clermont 243b.)

Both cocks, hens and young birds

The cocks are being raced on the classic widowhood system and this according the all known formula that has proven since decades its use on the short distance and middle distance namely show their hen shortly before basketing (where occasionally can be trapped) and this to get the motivation as high as possible. At arrival the couples are left together and this timed according the season (less at the beginning) or according the heaviness of the race. This is being observed really well to keep the motivation as high as possible. Also the condition of the pigeons is being looked at closely and late comers who missed are being granted a week of rest. The cocks train twice a day 40 to 45 minutes (closed window). At the beginning of the season they are being forced to build up a trainings rhythm, but once the season is running this is more obvious a part of the preparation towards the race. The pigeons are being tossed at the beginning of the season for about 5 times to Templeuve and then they go into the basket with the club. They don’t toss anymore during the season as they are being basketed weekly. On the loft of the widow cocks the cocks reside in 5 rows of boxes on top of each other and another 2 rows of boxes straight in the front of the other boxes. This surely increases the motivation and drift for their territory. At the lofts no straw or rosters but daily cleaning.

The hens are also being raced on widowhood. No total widowhood, both cocks and hens have homestaying partners. The hens are being locked up during the day in a small aviary. The hens train once a day for about half an hour…it is hard to keep them in the sky longer. At basketing their cock is being showed for about 30 minutes. They don’t toss the hens either during the season. 

The youngsters aren’t being raced on widowhood and can stay together during the entire season and are being basketed according the position they are in. The training of the youngsters is about the same to this of the old ones namely tossing 5 to 6 times until Templeuve (and release them sometimes together with the pigeons from the club at that same spot). They aren’t being released individually or in small groups. At a hard race or a race where the pigeons don’t come home smoothly, they try to toss them during the week on a short distance to increase the trust again. 

A colony based on

Their own old strain that has proven its strength for years now on the short and middle distance. This strain is formed with pigeons from Germain Imbrechts (Bornival and are in fact long distance pigeons), late Lucien Vansteenbrugge (Zingem), Willy Thas (Melle), Freddy & Jacques Vandenheede (Zingem), Astere Vergotte (Aalter), Ludo Van Nueten from Herentals (strain Houben + Van de Wouwer) and Raymond Wandels from Asper. Out of these strains their own strain was built. Since a few years also pigeons are being exchanged (with success) with François Tobback (Hofstade-Mechelen). These pigeons are being kept really close to nature by François and are very good to co-breed with the pigeons from José and Stijn.  A few years ago also Heremans-pigeons were brought to the loft and with a lot of success. In nearly all the current top racers the Heremans-blood is crossed in. Also the Surinx-Pletsers impress on the breeding loft. 

Results season 2020 (until 01/08) set by Stijn

14/06    Clermont 253 yearling : 1,6,14,15,16,18,27,28,… (21/24) 191km
14/06    Clermont 393 old + yearling : 1,4,5,9,11,18,23,24,25,27,29,31,40,… (33/42) 308km
20/06    Sermaises 478 old + yearling: 6,8,9,10,12,14,19,23,35,39,47,51,…(29/40)
20/06   Sermaises 321 yearling : 4,6,7,9,11,15,18,25,31,… (19/22)
20/06    Clermont 982 youngsters : 25,26,27,57,59,64,73,100,106,108,… (46/80)
27/06    Sermaises 524 old + yearling: 1,2,4,5,6,7,9,13,15,15,15,22,29,35,36,40,49,52,… (34/38)
27/06    Clermont 1266 youngsters 2,4,5,8,18,19,20,31,32,34,36,62,65,81,100,103,112,115,115,… (50/75)
04/07    Sermaises 322 youngsters: 5,37 (2/3)
04/07    Sermaises 357 old + yearling: 3,4,6,8,14,15,16,20,21,22,23,24,28,… (26/33)
04/07    Clermont 902 youngsters : 1,3,5,5,22,24,48,52,61,70,72,77,81,… (29/51)
11/07    Sermaises 769 youngsters: 4,8,18,20,32,43,45,50,53,56,73,78,… (20/24)
11/07    Clermont 798 youngsters: 11,14,23,24,25,40,49,49,57,59,60,61,… (30/44)
18/07   Sermaises 98 old + yearling: 1,3,4,6,9,… (14/32)
              Scheldeverbond 439 old + yearling: 1,10,17,25,30,… (15/32)
18/07    Sermaises 1052 youngsters: 25,28,74,75,…(24/34)
18/07    Clermont 772 youngsters : 9,25,26,28,36,37,38,41,47,49,61,81,83,…(45/80)
25/07    Clermont 983 youngsters : 3,7,8,,18,19,19,21,21,23,27,28,29,30,38,55,56,59,60,73,76,… (53/87)
25/07    Orleans 694 youngsters: 1,6,66,70,… (15/25)
25/07    Orleans 300 old + yearling: 3,4,12,20,21,22,31,32,… (24/32)
                Orleans Prov 6503 old + yearling: 20,46,185,287,297,298,468,471,490,711,… (16/32)
                Orleans IProv 17686 youngsters: 2,101,1401,1453,… (11/25)
01/08    Sermaises 564 youngsters : 9,17,25,26,29,31,60,… (14/18)
01/08    Sermaises 125 old + yearling: 1,2,9,14,15,19,… (9/12)
               Scheldeverbond 286 old + yearling: 1,2,16,27,29,… (9/12)
01/08    Pontoise 381 youngsters : 1,2,8,8,11,18,18,21,30,31,37,38,39,40,… (53/78) 229km

Uitslagen seizoen 2020 (tot en met 01/08) behaald bij José

13/06    Sermaises 235 yearling : 3,8,10,13,14,15,16,18,19,21,23,24,25,26,27,29,30,… (21/25)
13/06    Sermaises 548 old + yearling: 8,12,19,22,25,31,32,34,38,39,43,51,55,56,58,59,65,66,67,70,73,… (34/39)
14/06    Clermont 253 yearling : 3,8,9,13,19,30,31,… (21/24)
14/06    Clermont 393 old + yearling: 3,14,15,22,26,33,.. (17/27)
20/06    Sermaises 478 old + yearling: 1,2,3,4,7,11,13,15,16,17,18,20,21,22,24,27,27,30,31,36,37,40,41,46,49,55,57,58,60,64,70,71,… (56/63)
20/06    Sermaises 321 yearling : 1,2,3,5,8,10,12,13,14,16,17,19,21,21,26,30,32,33,34,… (40/46)
20/06    Clermont 982 youngsters : 2,3,5,28,29,30,60,61,78,83,98,105,…(65/114)
27/06    Sermaises 524 old + yearling: 3,8,10,10,10,14,18,19,21,23,24,25,26,27,30,31,33,34,37,3,39,41,43,47,48,.51,56,57,59,60,… (56/64)
27/06    Clermont 1266 youngsters 1,7,12,14,15,23,28,29,29,40,41,42,43,44,72,73,74,76,111,127,128,130,131,… (68/104)
04/07    Sermaises 322 youngsters: 1,34 (2/3)
04/07    Sermaises 357 old + yearling: 1,2,7,9,11,12,13,17,19,27,29,32,33,33,36,37,40,… (32/39)
04/07    Clermont 902 youngsters: 2,4,8,15,16,17,18,19,20,31,34,38,40,51,54,56,57,63,64,82,84,85,… (45/71)
04/07    Sermaises 165 old + yearling: 8,13,16,… (14/18)
11/07    Sermaises 162 old + yearling: 1,2,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,17,18,20,26 (17/18)
                Scheldeverbond Sermaises 717 old + yearling : 1,2,7,8,11,14,19,20,21,24,25,31,33,46,47,65,123 (17/18)
11/07    Sermaises 287 old + yearling: 1,2,3,5,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,16,18,19,22,23,24,26,27,28,30,… (35/36)
11/07    Sermaises 769 youngsters: 1,2,3,5,6,9,10,11,12,15,16,21,25,26,29,46,57,… (25/34)
11/07    Clermont 798 youngsters: 1,3,4,5,7,9,10,12,13,15,16,20,20,26,26,28,33,35,35,37,38,39,44,52,59,68,69,75,76,78,92,… (46/62)
18/07    Sermaises 123 old + yearling: 2,4,5,6,7,9,12,13,… (22/35)
               Scheldeverbond 439 old + yearling: 6,8,9,12,13,18,28,29,47,… (28/35)
18/07    Sermaises 1052 youngsters : 10,22,24,55,56,57,84,… (24/44)
18/07 Sermaises 123 old + yearling: 1,2,3,4,5,15,… (11/14)
18/07    Clermont 772 youngsters: 2,3,4,11,12,13,15,16,17,19,19,21,35,44,44,53,54,56,57,58,59,59,62,75,… (47/75)
25/07    Clermont 983 youngsters : 1,2,14,14,17,31,41,57,58,59,61,64,65,66,67,72,77,85,… (43/76)
25/07    Orleans 694 youngsters: 3,4,12,17,28,29,… (24/34)
25/07    Orleans 300 old + yearling:,1,2,6,7,8,10,11,163,15,16,17,19,23,25,26,27,28,… (36/45)
                Orleans Prov 2281 old : 1,80,120,175,177,213, ,… (8/13)
                Orleans Prov 4241 yearling : 1,34,48,65,88,110,134,137,158,199,211,231,337,455,… (17/32)
                Orleans Prov 16234 youngsters : 19,25,165,193,398,407,1703,… (1834)
                Orleans Prov 6503 old + yearling:                 1,5,62,84,114,154,179,199,229,233,271,286,342,365,402,403,406,480,601,… (31/45)
01/08    Sermaises 564 youngsters : 1,3,6,7,10,12,19,22,28,41,42,66,… (23/26)
01/08    Pontoise 381 youngsters : 3,4,5,6,7,13,14,15,15,17,20,22,23,24,25,26,29,33,34,36,… (47/61)

Stefan Mertens