In Eisden, a district of Maasmechelen, Bèrke and Michel Willems have been successfully racing for years with long-distance flights. There was also Willems-Thoné; this duo won 1st International Barcelona in 1996 with “Gerda”, the pinnacle for a Barcelona racer, of course. They also competed under the names Willems-Wijnants, Willems-Eijerkamp... always achieving top placements in the classics of the heavy long-distance.
The main race has always been Barcelona; everything was geared towards it, everything in the spirit of the Queen's flight from Catalonia. However, in recent years, they have changed their approach and now participate in all international flights, and I dare say... this is done with great success!! They now race in Eisden under the name of Michel Willems (Albert and Michel Willems). Anyone who knows Bèrke knows that he is constantly obsessively involved in pigeon sport; everything is in order down to the last detail, cleanliness to the extreme. A passionate enthusiast who wakes up and goes to sleep with pigeon sport, combined with the necessary quality, years of dedication, and extensive knowledge... then you know it all!!
Michel, residing in Smeermaas (a few kilometers from Maasmechelen), helps wherever he can and is responsible for the racing entries and much more. The undersigned has known them for a long time, and I dare say they have been performing remarkably in recent years with sometimes fewer pigeons but each time “at the top” of the provincial competition in all internationals.
There is now more focus on marathon flights, of course still on Barcelona, but this is by no means their only goal. Those in Maaseik (MKFV) who race for Willems often find themselves among the first in the provincial rankings, you always have to account for these men in every flight!!
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 nest. All are trained simultaneously in series of old and yearlings. The yearling cocks take Agen as their final exam, and the yearling hens take Agen and Narbonne. The cocks that miss Agen will also try Narbonne. It's a tough school, but at the top, of course, only the best is good enough!!
Preparation is done for the races using feed from various manufacturers, and several supplements are also used over the feed. They breed about 100 young pigeons that this year were trained up to 320 km, and next year both father and son will send the young ones up to 540 km. The idea is to gain more experience as yearlings. Veterinarian Norbert Peeters is the attending doctor, and there’s a regular course provided “against the head” (respiratory conditions).
Here’s 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 )
Achievements 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 standout is “REUBEN” (5077902/10); this ace was 2nd national pigeon in Heavy Long Distance KBDB 2014. He flew 7th Nat. Perpignan (6872 pigeons) and 42nd Nat. Barcelona (8764 pigeons). The pedigree is impressive, namely Wijnands and Zn (NL) (Red Simpson & Gimondi) x Sister “Miss Waalre” of Hermans-Hoekstra (NL). Remember that “Miss Waalre” won the 1st Nat. St-Vincent and 1st NPO Ruffec. Reuben is frequently featured in the ongoing auction on PITTS.
They also have a top hen, “RITA,” who flew 3rd and 10th provincial Barcelona, making her the 10th best pigeon over 2 Barcelona flights.
What this duo has achieved over the years in heavy long-distance is a dream for every heavy long-distance enthusiast...
Achievements
Provincial victories and top placements
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 Placements :
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 :12275 d. : 8 National Barcelona
2005 :10020 d. : 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
12697 d. : 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. ace pigeon Rhône '12 with No. 1 2 nat. ace pigeon Heavy long-distance '14 with Reuben
4 nat. ace pigeon Rhône '16 with Daniel
3 nat. ace pigeon Rhône '18(4/4) with Olivia
9 nat. ace pigeon Rhône '18(3/3) with Olivia
7 nat. ace pigeon Marathon yearlings '19 with Anita
6 nat. ace pigeon Barcelona '17-'20 with Annemie
10 nat. ace pigeon Barcelona '20-'21 with Rita
7 nat. Champion 1st and 2nd KBDB Marathon '23
20 nat. ace pigeon Marathon yearlings '23 with 271/22
16 nat. ace pigeon Marathon old '24 with Diva
Provincial Championships Limburg
1 prov. ace pigeon Heavy Long Distance L.F.M. '14 with Reuben
1 prov. Champion 1st and 2nd entry Marathon KBDB '23
1 MKFV General Champion 1 entry Marathon '23
2 prov. ace pigeon Heavy Long Distance L.F.M. old '24 with Diva
2 ; 4 ace pigeon Heavy Long Distance L.F.M. recent with 615 and 672/23
Overview of Barcelona performances on a 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 standout is "VAALTJE 490"... from Reuben x Rita
That we are dealing with champions in heavy long-distance here needs no further explanation... for years among the best in Limburg, among the better in Belgium!! They are currently auctioning some (16) of these top lines via PITTS, and this will continue until Monday, December 2nd. For every heavy long-distance enthusiast, it is a recommendation to check out these pigeons... I can confidently say... a reinforcement for any loft!!
Pitts wishes the Maasmechelse tandem much success with the auction and a great 2025...
Geco/Pitts