Every year it's becoming more and more clear: no one needs to teach this tandem how to race pigeons. Those who thought that Alex Allemeersch and Corry Van Parys had reached their limits were forced to reconsider this year. Great performances with few pigeons: they proved it again in 2024!
How it began
After a few years of supporting successful father Andre, Corry and Alex caught the pigeon bug. Mother Juliette also excelled in the sport in the past. She made quite an impact, especially in sprints. Initially, Alex only wanted to breed young pigeons to test them at other lofts, but Corry wanted to try competing. For the first 5 years, they only participated in races with the young pigeons to learn the “pigeon style.”
Corry and Alex taught themselves everything because they didn't want to be tied to old dogmas in pigeon racing. Many books were devoured, but especially through empirical testing, they made significant progress. Everything was tried to find a way of playing that was their own. For instance, they chose to compete with a limited, highly selected racing team at the start of each season.
The foundation of the pigeons at Allemeersch-Van Parys includes birds from Alex Uiterwijk (NL), Marcel Aelbrecht (line “the little Aelbrecht,” “the broad,” “lion cub,” “starling”), Albert Derwa (bloodline “Albert”), De Saer A&R (bloodline “the shelled bull” and “the stitched”), Meulemans, Desmet-Matthijs, Andre Laurent, Casaert, Dierickx-Visschers, and some pigeons from father Andre Allemeersch (bloodline “the poitiers,” 729 “the fine ones” or “top bird”).
Good pigeons also came from Freialdenhoven & Sohne (D) (bloodline “the chatterbox”). With descendants like “Julien,” “Super 57,” chatterbox 38, etc. They introduced “Son Provinciaalke” from David Vermassen (with descendants like “Juliette,” 501, 502, 279…), a hen from Peter Bours (with offspring “the little brown one”) and a hen from A. Tobaja “TGV” with “Monique” as the main daughter. Also, a hen from Jan Van De Moortel produced top descendants like “227-21” and granddaughters “Crossbill” and “779-22.”
Turning Point
At the beginning of 2023, Alex got the chance to work for another employer as the responsible person for land development (projects, subdivisions). Alex has been doing this job for about 25 years, but starting such a structure and building it up from scratch to a solid land portfolio is very time-consuming, and thus it was decided to take a step back in pigeon racing for a few years.
From 2023 and especially in 2024, it was therefore decided to only participate in mid-distance races: “We had to ban long distances to the sidelines, and the young pigeon games were seen for the first time in many years as training for the future,” says Alex. “The pigeon stock was also further thinned out. This year, only about 30 young pigeons were weaned for personal use. A few pigeons were raced in long-distance races mainly for the enjoyment and experience of this beautiful discipline. Hopefully, in a few years, we can practice long-distance racing properly again and participate with ten pigeons.” With “The Witch,” Alex and Corry discovered a new talent in long-distance racing, and with “Slimmeke,” a new promise in the great mid-distance.
Nevertheless, 2023 ended with great satisfaction
In the great mid-distance, they raced with 15 pigeons with the following results.
15 OLD AND YOUNG BIRDS were raced in the 2023 season
- 20-05 Chateauroux 423 old pigeons 10-42-43-65 4/4
- 27-05 Bourges 344 yearlings 2-4-10-14-24…… 7/7
- 27-05 Bourges 493 old 3-39-70-72 4/4
- 09-06 Argenton 318 yearlings 1-6-7-55…… 7/8
- National starting with “slimbekje” 17/17210 Nat.
- 09-06 Argenton 368 old 6-27-66-91 4/5
- 24-06 Argenton 215 yearlings 3-7-8-23-25…… 7/8
- 24-06 Argenton 244 old 3-23-35-62 4/8
- 02-07 Chateauroux 149 yearlings 1-4-5-17-20-32…… 8/8
- 02-07 Chateauroux 234 old 1-4-6-14-15-16-17-21 14/15
- 08-07 Argenton 255 yearlings 3-11…… 4/8
- 08-07 Argenton 161 old 5-16…… 4/8
- 16-07 Chateauroux 134 yearlings 2-33…… 4/6
- 16-07 Chateauroux 218 old 2-18-20…… 7/12
- 22-07 Chateauroux 194 yearlings 1-2-3-21-28-36 6/6
Championships 2023
- 2nd provincial champion West Flanders with “Slimbekje”
- 1/234 Chateauroux
- 2/344 Bourges
- 3/661 Chateauroux
- 2/890 Argenton
- 1st champion -600km yearlings Union fondclub Gistel
- 3rd all-round champion
- 3rd young pigeons champion
- 3rd overall champion
In 2024, some honorable mentions were still achieved in the championships despite not participating in various races.
- 1st champion young pigeons pair championship
- 3rd champion – 600km yearlings
- 3rd champion + 600km yearlings
- 5th all-round champion
- 5th young pigeons champion
- 4th Provincial champion great mid-distance yearlings.
The few pigeons that participated in the races performed well, including:
- 19-05 Chateauroux 240 pigeons: 4-5-10… (7/8)
- 25-05 Bourges 493 pigeons: 4-5-11-14-22 (5/8)
- 23-06 Sancoins 79 pigeons: 1-11 (2/4)
- 28-07 Bourges 170 pigeons: 4-11 (2/2)
In the auction, pigeons are offered from the old successful long-distance lines of “the Chatterbox,” descendants of “Julien” 2nd provincial Ace long-distance (7th nat Perigieux and 4X first prize) and “Super 57” top hen and 1st Prize Limoges.
Furthermore, close blood relatives of top pigeons “Juliette” and the stars “Crossbill” and “Slimbekje.”
There are also pigeons related to the new long-distance sensation “The Witch,” which managed to fly 6th National Souillac this year entirely against the wind and amidst the crowd!
Additionally, pigeons linked to “Slimmeke”: 4th Provincial Ace Pigeon in 2024, “Mister Six,” “The Dark One,” “The Little Brown One,”... all provincial ace pigeons or first prize winners.
There are also a few spirited pigeons, ensuring there's something for everyone.
For over 10 years, Alex and Corry have scored at least one provincial ace pigeon, and this with a small pigeon stock. That shows real class, and they have every reason to be proud!