In Eisden, a suburb of Maasmechelen, Bêrke and Michel Willems have been successfully competing in long-distance flights for years. There used to be Willems-Thoné, this tandem won 1st International Barcelona in 1996 with “Gerda”, the pinnacle for a Barcelona player, of course. They also played under the name Willems-Wijnants, Willems-Eijerkamp... always with top rankings in the classics of the heavy distance.
The main race has always been Barcelona; everything was focused on it, all dedicated to the Queen's flight from Catalonia. However, in recent years, they have changed their strategy and now participate in all international races, and I dare say... this is happening with great success!! They now race in Eisden under the name of Michel Willems (Albert and Michel Willems). Anyone who knows Bêrke knows that he is always obsessively occupied with pigeon sport; everything is in order down to the last detail, cleanliness taken to the extreme. A lover who wakes up and goes to bed with pigeon sport, this combined with the necessary quality, years of dedication, and extensive knowledge... then you know it well!!
Michel, residing in Smeermaas (a few kilometers from Maasmechelen), helps wherever he can and takes care of the registrations and much more. The undersigned has known them for a very long time, and I can assure you that they are performing incredibly well in recent years with sometimes fewer pigeons but each time “at the top” of the provincial game in all internationals.
More is now being raced in the marathon flights, of course still on Barcelona, but this is far from their only goal. Those in Maaseik (MKFV) racing for Willems are frequently found among the first and often in the top 10 of the results... men with whom you must consider in every race!!
Simplicity, don't make it too complicated... the law of the strongest!!
At the Willems household, everything is kept as simple as possible with a fixed system; everything is played on the nest. Everything is trained simultaneously in batches of old and yearlings. Thus, the yearling cocks compete in Agen as their final exam and the yearling hens in Agen and Narbonne. The cocks that missed Agen then also compete in Narbonne. A tough school, but only the best is good enough at the top!!
They prepare for the flights with feed from various manufacturers and further use some supplements with the feed. They breed around 100 young pigeons that were trained this year up to 320 km; next year, father and son will take the young ones up to 540 km. A matter of gaining more experience as a yearling. Veterinarian Norbert Peeters is the doctor on duty, and a treatment is regularly given “for the head” (respiratory issues).
Here follows an overview of 2022 and 2023
1 Prov Agen 741d ( 75 Nat 6.938d )
2 Prov Agen 482d ( 40 Nat 7.360d )
3 Prov Barcelona 877d ( 48 Nat 6.560d )
4 Prov Narbonne 654d ( 11 Nat 5.805d )
4 Prov Marseille 338d ( 32 Nat 1.882d )
10 Prov Barcelona 990d ( 117 Nat 6.913d )
10 Prov Perpignan 459d
10 Prov Pau 331d
11 Prov Barcelona 877d
12 Prov Perpignan 439d ( 56 Nat 3.901d )
13 Prov Pau 313d ( 67 Nat 3.600d )
15 Prov Marseille 338d ( 112 Nat 1.882d )
28 Prov Barcelona 999d ( 294 Nat 6.913d )
Performances 2024 :
Pau prov. 279 d. : 7 – 9 – 16 – 22 – 23 – 30 – 38 – …(13-21)
nat. C 377 d. : 6 – 8 – 15 – 20 – 21 – 27 – 35 – … (11-21)
nat. 3368 d. : 243 – 250 – 447 – 494 – … (7-21)
Agen prov. 558 d. : 11 – 13 – 14 – 15 – 19 – 20 – 33 – 36 –
(Yearlings) 48 – 49 – 54 – 62 – 68 – … (40-86)
nat. C 701 d. : 12 – 16 – 17 – 18 – 22 – 23 – 37 – 38 –
49 – 54 – 62 – 67 – 70 – 72 – 76 – … (38-86)
nat. 7396 d. : 261 – 325 – 329 – 356 – 402 – 414 –
489 – 494 – 552 – 554 – 600 – 684 – …(32-86)
Barcelona prov. 936 d. : 44 – 80 – 117 – 142 – …( 8-14)
nat. C 924 d. : 31 – 59 – 96 – 118 – … (6-14)
nat. 6310 d. : 168 – 491 – 819 – 965 – … (6-14)
Dax prov. 270 d. : 4 – 11 – 12 – 25 – … (7-25)
nat. C 262 d. : 3 – 11 – 12 – 27 – … (6-25)
nat. 2575 d. : 87 – 139 – 159 – 240 – … (6-25)
Marseille prov. 358 d. : 2 – 6 – 41 – … (7-18)
nat. C 519 d. : 4 – 7 – 48 – …( 5-18)
nat 2082 d. : 15 – 46 – 204 – … (5-18)
Narbonne prov. 575 d. : 5 – 15 – 16 – 30 – 31 – 49 – 65 – 67 – … (20-42)
nat. C 832 d. : 6 – 17 – 18 – 37 – 38 – 70 – 90 – 92 – … (18-42)
nat. 5553 d. : 179 – 300 – 304 – 440 – 447 – 609 – …( 16-42)
Perpignan prov. 557 d. : 5 – 14 – 31 – 36 – 38 – 42 – 57 – 59 – … (13-20)
nat. C 635 d. : 6 – 14 – 30 – 35 – 37 – 42 – 43 – 53 – … (12-20)
nat. 4850 d. : 160 – 263 – 378 – 407 – 422 – 449 – 561 –
571 – … (12-20)
Some top pigeons
An absolute top performer is “REUBEN” (5077902/10), this crack was 2nd national champion pigeon Heavy Distance KBDB 2014. He flew 7th Nat. Perpignan (6872 pigeons) and 42nd Nat. Barcelona (8764 pigeons). The pedigree does not lie, namely Wijnands and Zn (NL) (Red Simpson & Gimondi) x Sister “Miss Waalre” of Hermans-Hoekstra (NL). It’s worth noting that “Miss Waalre” won 1st Nat. St-Vincent and 1st NPO Ruffec. Reuben is regularly found in the ongoing auction on PITTS.
They also have a top hen with “RITA”, who flew 3rd and 10th province Barcelona and was, thus, the 10th best pigeon over 2 Barcelona flights.
What this tandem has achieved over the years in the heavy distance is a dream for every heavy distance lover...
Achievements
Provincial victories and top rankings
1992 : 1 Cahors:
1993: 1st and 2nd Narbonne
1994 : 1 Barcelona ; 2 Barcelona
1996 : 1 Barcelona ; 1 Bordeaux
1998 : 1 Narbonne
1999 : 1 St-Vincent ; 2 Bordeaux
2001 : 2 Jarnac
2002 : 1 Jarnac
2003 : 2 Barcelona ; 2 Barcelona Hen ; 2 Perpignan
2004 : 1 Barcelona ; 1 Barcelona Hen.
2005 : 1 Bordeaux ; 2 St-Vincent
2008 : 1 Bordeaux ; 2 Bordeaux
1 St-Vincent
2009 : 1 Bordeaux
2010 : 2 , 3 , 4 Barcelona ; 4 Pau ; 2 Tarbes ; 3 Soustons
2012 : 1 Pau ;1 Orange
2014 : 2 , 4 Pau ; 3 Agen ; 3 Barcelona
1 Perpignan
2015 : 2 Brive ; 2 Perpignan ; 3 Narbonne
4 Barcelona
2016 : 3 Libourne ; 2 Marseille
2017 : 1 Barcelona
2018 : 2, 4, 6, 8 Agen
2019 : 1, 2, 3 Narbonne
2020 : 2 Limoges
2021 : 1, 2 Agen ; 4 Marseille ; 4 Narbonne
2022 : 3 Barcelona
2023 : 4 Barcelona ; 3 Narbonne ; 2 Perpignan
2024 : 2 Marseille ; 4 Dax
Other Top 10 Rankings :
1993 : 6047 d. : 2,3,10 National Narbonne
1996 : 1078 d. : 2,5 National Bordeaux
10068d. : 1 National Barcelona
1604 d. : 1 National Barcelona Hen.
20129d. : 1 International Barcelona ("Gerda")
4156 d. : 1 Internat. Barcelona Hen.
1997 : 1974 d. : 3 National Bordeaux
5694 d. : 10 National Narbonne
1998 : 3022 d. : 3 National Bordeaux
1999 : 1742 d. : 1,7 National Brive Hens
2001 : 5672 d. : 10 Semi – National Jarnac
2002 : 6856 d. : 1 Semi – National Jarnac
2004 :12275d. : 8 National Barcelona
2005 :10020d. : 10 National St-Vincent
2177 d. : 4 National Bordeaux
2008 : 3197 d. : 5,6 National Bordeaux
7356 d. : 5 National St-Vincent
2009 : 3098 d. : 4 National Bordeaux
2010 : 8517 d. : 9 National Soustons
12697d. : 5, 6, 8 National Barcelona
2012 : 1989 d. : 2 National Pau
4443 d. : 2 National Orange
2014 : 3180 d. : 10 National Agen
6248 d. : 7 National Perpignan
2015 : 9049 d. : 9 National Brive
2016 : 3697 d. : 8 National Libourne
2021 : 5805 d. : 11 National Narbonne
2023 : 5722 d. : 11 National Perpignan
National championships KBDB :
12 nat. asduif Rhone '12 with Nr. 1 2 nat. asduif Grote fond '14 with Reuben
4 nat. asduif Rhone '16 with Daniel
3 nat. asduif Rhone '18(4/4) with Olivia
9 nat. asduif Rhone '18(3/3) with Olivia
7 nat. asduif Marathon yearling '19 with Anita
6 nat. asduif Barcelona '17-'20 with Annemie
10 nat. asduif Barcelona '20-'21 with Rita
7 nat. Kampioen 1en 2 KBDB Marathon '23
20 nat. asduif Marathon yearling '23 with 271/22
16 nat. asduif Marathon old '24 with Diva
Provincial championships Limburg
1 prov. asduif Grote Fond L.F.M. '14 with Reuben
1 prov. Champion 1en 2 inzet Marathon KBDB '23
1 MKFV General Champion 1en inzet Marathon '23
2 prov. asduif Grote Fond L.F.M. old '24 with Diva
2; 4 asduif Grote Fond L.F.M. last year with 615 and 672/23
Overview of Barcelona performances at the national level
1988 10086 d. : 115 (1/3)
1989 11656 d. : 56 (1/6)
1992 11399 d. : 49 - … (10/25)
1993 13343 d. : 30 - 67 - 190 - … (9/16)
1994 11214 d. : 27 - 32 - 89 - 118 - 152 - 166 –
220 - 205 – 218 – 220 - 269 –
286 – 328 – 360 – 368 -… (26/50)
1995 9452 d. : 139 - 199 – 381 - … (37/63)
1996 10068 d. : 1 - 17 – 35 – 45 – 49 – 74 – 93 –
108 –128 – 129 – 136 – 207 –
262 –279 –280 – 304 - … (47/78)
1997 12731 d. : 96 – 122 – 230 - … (18/76)
1998 12678 d. : 72 – 127 – 191 - 223 – 247 –
249 – 257 – 391 - … (35/81)
1999 13966 d. : 97 – 110 – 118 – 121 – 317 - … (38/100)
2001 13161 d. : 84 – 144 – 151 – 210 – 314 -
318 - … (18/49)
2002 13021 d. : 54 – 138 – 161 – 180 – 181 –
277 – 279 – 369 – 370 - … (18/38)
2003 11847 d. : 27 - 155 – 394 - … 15/39
2004 12275 d. : 8 – 45 – 75 – 123 – 125 – 154 –
164 - … (30/56)
2005 12298 d. : 157 – 226 – 249 – 253 – 258 –
299 – 326 – 366 - … (37/76)
2009 13503 d. : 42 – 106 – 131 – 159 – 204 –
219 – 251 – 294 – 314 – 319 –
382 – 387 - … (50/84)
2010 12657 d.: 5 – 6 – 8 – 24 – 35 – 63 - 86 –
112 –184 – 209 – 360 – 364 - … (29/73)
2011 12170 d. : 212 – 254 – 335 – 355 - … (28/56)
2012 11590 d. : 243 – 287 – 484 – 549 – … (13/60)
2013 10542 d. : 44 – 173 – 230 – 325 – 330 –
356 – 758 – 845 – … (15/38)
2014 8764 d. : 12 – 42 – 222 – 381 – 682 – … (16/36)
2015 7791 d. : 56 – 135 – 168 – 239 – 332 –
420 – 424 – 675 – 728 – 736 – … (17/33)
2016 7629 d. : 273 – 345 – 397 – 483 – 514 –
618 – 644 – 787 – … (16/45)
2017 7874 d. : 20 – 371 – 377 – 466 – 597 –
731 – … (14/27)
2018 7438 d. : 171 – 269 – 306 – 536 – 544 –
612 – 745 – … (19/70)
2019 7301 d. : 18 – 96 – 115 – 299 – 603 –
723 – 734 – 766 – … (14/26)
2020 6178 d. : 29 – 174 – 367 – …( 5/18)
2021 6913 d. : 117 – 294 – 470 – …( 3/9)
2022 6560 d. : 48 – 110 – … (7/14)
2023 6533 d. : 176 – 361 – 451 – 572 – 730 – …( 9/12)
2024 6310 d. : 168 – 491 – …( 6/14)
Another top performer is "VAALTJE 490"... from Reuben x Rita
That we are dealing with top performers in heavy distance here doesn't need further explanation... for years among the best in Limburg, among the better in Belgium !! They are now auctioning some (16) of these top lines via PITTS, and this until Monday, December 2. A must-see for every heavy distance lover... I can confidently say... an asset for any loft !!
Pitts wishes the Maasmechelse tandem a lot of success with the auction and a beautiful 2025...
Geco/Pitts