"National Leo's Bulckje"
B24-5037320
1st National Bourges 11,056 yearbirds.

Distance: 494km
Velocity: 1.409,82 m/m

You just have to do it…
After winning

1st National Argenton ’06 against 4,093 birds,
1st National La Souterraine ’07 against 4,331 birds,
1st, 2nd, and 9th National Bourges ’15 against 21,522 birds,
1st National Narbonne ’17 against 3,471 birds,
1st National Châteauroux against 33,833 yearlings – fastest of 52,633 birds –

the Belgian tricolor may once again proudly wave above the impressive loft installation in Herk-de-Stad. This time, the 1st National Bourges against 11,056 yearlings was secured.

“National Leo’s Bulckje”
We’re talking here about the national Bourges winner in the yearling category. With an average speed of 1,409.82 m/min, she narrowly beat the pigeon of Iwens Jan & Tom, which achieved 1,409.58 m/min.

“My national winner wasn't especially motivated, in my opinion,” Stefan begins. “As far as I can tell, she doesn't have a steady cock bird and just sits on her perch watching the others. Jealous ladies,” he adds.

The 2025 season started with 48 hens, and believe it or not, after just four speed races, the first selection is already made. Any hen that hasn’t scored at least two prizes is eliminated. For the hens raced on widowhood, the strategy of jealousy is fully embraced. Only about 20 cock birds are available for this group of ladies.

During the week, the hens stay in a specially structured loft with only individual “chapels” on the wall and rollers on the floor to prevent pairing. The jealousy is mainly triggered when the hens are allowed to visit the cocks. Stefan intensifies this by placing several small wooden "hiding boxes" on the floor. Once they get used to this system, the hens become unstoppable—fighting tooth and nail, so to speak, to claim one of these boxes.

Via the company Natural, the “Steenbergen mixtures” are commercialized. It’s a simple but highly effective feeding system. At the start of the week, the light mix “Steenbergen 1” is used, and for the last four feedings, it’s replaced by “Steenbergen Boost” – a sports mix with 38 different grains. In addition, wheat germ oil, garlic oil, and brewer’s yeast are regularly added to the feed.

Stefan also prepares his own brew, consisting of gin, garlic, candied sugar, and onion, and twice a week, a splash of it is added to the drinking water.

From a medical standpoint, the advice of Dr. Henk De Weerd is followed. As for supplements, only Probac 1000 (Brockamp) is given.

We’ve known Stefan for several years, and you can instantly feel the passion and drive with which he practices pigeon racing. His years of experience, combined with his strong intuition for pigeons, seems to be the formula for building such an impressive record. Stefan knows exactly what he's doing… and we hereby wish him a seventh national victory.

Stefan Mertens

Stefan Mertens