A few years ago, we announced Gert as one of the rising talents in East Flanders. That things would progress so quickly, however, surprised friend and foe alike! In the largest pigeon province of our country — and even within a club that stands at the very top of international pigeon sport, with virtuosos such as Tom Van Gaver and Benny Steveninck — competition is fierce week after week. If you can compete for top honors on every race, you yourself must be a truly outstanding fancier!
The foundation of this top loft consists for 90% of the Gaby Vandenabeele strain, further enriched with bloodlines from Hendrikx, Baeck, Van Gaver, Raets, and others. The latter provided a serious injection of quality, as two direct Raets pigeons form the absolute foundation pair of the current colony. From this pair came several outstanding breeders such as “Rambo” and his sister “De Piraat,” which have consistently produced first-prize winners and ace pigeons, generation after generation.
Moreover, this line also crosses exceptionally well with another pillar of the colony: the line of “Adriaan,” son of “Den Ouden Baeck,” obtained via Hervé and Adriaan Bauwens. While the Rambo line generally consists of smaller-type pigeons with an extraordinary character and an immense will to return home, the Adriaan line complements this with a larger type, extremely supple muscles, and exceptionally silky feathering.
In the meantime, Van Gaver pigeons have also been introduced several times with a view to the longer middle-distance races. Over the past three years in Lede, no fewer than 72 pure first prizes were won from 100 to 700 km; including double wins, this total rises to more than 200 first prizes!
For this auction, a carefully selected group of pigeons was chosen, containing as many of the very best lines as possible. A guarantee of success can almost never be given, but with this selection, no buyer can go far wrong!
