Deprez-Bataille is making big strides on the road to the top.
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Deprez-Bataille is making big strides on the road to the top.

Extremely high price percentages and weekly at the top of the results with a handful of pigeons, Willem Deprez and Bart Bataille clearly know where the bell tolls. A keen eye for quality and an extremely strict selection brought these gentlemen to the top of West Flanders.

History

This tandem originally started in 2004 in Vichte, where a remarkable 12 provincial victories were achieved in a relatively short time. When Yvan Bataille was diagnosed with a lung disease, he was forced to stop, and all the pigeons were sold. From 2015, racing took place at the lofts on Ierlandlaan in Zwevegem, where Willem Deprez took over the care of the colony. Willem works in a shift system at Bekaert, where he is responsible for quality control, is a father of a young family, and moreover, a passionate pigeon enthusiast! To balance all this, the pigeon colony is kept relatively small and selected with a firm hand. Despite the loss of Yvan, Willem found the motivation to make 2023 a top year as an honor to his close friend Yvan. This was indeed achieved with flying colors! In 2024, Yvan's place was taken over by his son Bart, and it became a bountiful year once again!

 

Loft Stock and Breeds

In Zwevegem, they race from sprint distances, over small middle distance to the national heavy middle distance flights, initially with only about 15 old and yearling hens. In 2024, for the first time, a number of widowers were also introduced to the race. The loft stock consists of 15 fixed breeding pairs, and approximately 90 young pigeons are bred each year and distributed over 3 lofts of 30 pigeons: 2 rounds from the breeding pigeons and 1 early round from the flying hens.

The foundation consists of pigeons from Yvan from the breeds Rudi Hendrikx (Maasmechelen), Vervaeke Roger and Jurgen (Deerlijk), Declerq-Vermeulen (Deerlijk) supplemented by Erik Vandekerckhove (Aalter), line Houben (7th provincial ace pigeon sprint KBDB West-Flanders, 2nd provincial Compiègne 2017) and Pierre Bourgeois (Izegem).

Granddaughter 'Nadal' (2nd provincial ace pigeon long distance KBDB West-Flanders) originates from the 'Manu'-line of Devooght Gaston and Dany. This top pigeon has already been the mother of the 1st Chateauroux in Rekkem and grandmother of the 1st provincial Chateaudun.

A pigeon that was purchased via a ticket from Rudi Hendrikx in 2015, produced the 3rd provincial and 43rd national Argenton in 2018.

In 2015, breeding was done in collaboration with Dewaele-Deseyn, who became the 1st National Champion Long Distance Yearlings 2016 with a product from this collaboration! A successful move that resulted in very strong all-round pigeons at both lofts.

From 2022, the first pigeons were introduced from half-distance virtuoso and ace pigeon machine Gert Van Limbergen from Lede. This quality injection already bore fruit from the first season, producing several 1st prize winners and, among other things, the 5th Ace Pigeon Long Distance Young Pigeons in NKV Kortrijk.

In 2023, the loft was further strengthened with the Van Limbergen pigeons, resulting immediately in a 9th Provincial Ace Pigeon Small Middle Distance. This top pigeon has as father “De Sterke Grijzen”, directly from the Van Limbergen loft and is a son of super breeding hen “'t Grijzeke” from Gebr. De Meerleer from Hillegem.

Meanwhile, breeding was done in collaboration with some champions from the Van Limbergen loft, and in 2024, some direct young pigeons from Gert also moved to the lofts in Zwevegem. They did what was expected of them and pushed the number of victories even higher! Especially in the large middle distance, these pigeons clearly hold their own. For example, the 4177655/24 achieved 19th Provincial and 19th National Zone from Argenton, good for 46th National against 14,745 young pigeons!

 

Medical, Nutrition and Racing System

At Deprez-Bataille, there are few frills, bottles, or jars:

The attending veterinarian is Emiel Demeester from veterinary practice Degudap in Izegem, and his advice is followed. The racing pigeons are vaccinated annually against paramyxo, paratyphoid, and pox (with a brush). To suppress tricho, the known 'yellow drops' are given weekly. The racing lofts receive plenty of light and air and are equipped with a aviary.

The breeding pigeons are also vaccinated annually against paramyxo and paratyphoid, and a month before breeding, checks are done for coccidia and worms, followed by treatment if necessary.

Two weeks before the breeding season, these pigeons are placed in the breeding loft and are provided with extra light.

In terms of nutrition, there are no great secrets in Zwevegem: young and old receive premium Vandenabeele from Beyers, at a rate of 30 grams per pigeon per day, supplemented with corn according to the demanded effort. Oil and 'gritmix' from Vanrobaeys complete the picture.

As preparation for the races, the old and yearling flying pigeons are transported 2 to 3 times up to 20 km, after which they head to Arras with the large basket.

The young pigeons are trained in smaller increments up to about 20 km and are held there until they return home immediately, and only then are they allowed to go to Arras with the local group.

Where motivation among the old pigeons used to primarily revolve around traditional widowhood with partner pigeons staying home, now total widowhood with both doffers and hens is increasingly preferred. It’s a trend that allows playing larger numbers and holding fewer home stayers.

 

A glimpse at the results of 2024

  • 13 x 1st Prize and 21 x 2nd Prize in 2024
  • 1st Champion Sprint Old and Yearling Club Moen 2024
  • 4th Champion Long Distance N.K.V. Kortrijk 2024
  • 15th Provincial Ace Pigeon Sprint Old & Yearling KBDB West-Flanders 2024 with the “803/23”
    • Flew 2 x 2nd Provincial and 3 x 1st Prize in 2024 and also was 7th Provincial Ace Pigeon Sprint Young KBDB West-Flanders 2023
  • Bourges 
    • NKV Kortrijk against 1,321 young pigeons: 6-7-20-20-38-50-52-98-107-119-142-147-149-185-215-216-218-221-222-225-247-278-305-313-327-348-349-349-373-380-382-415
    • Provincial 5,074 young: 11-13-42-42-81-110-113-225-266-299-375-379-381-531-618-620-622-637-643-653-716-873-962-995-1097-1197-1205-1205-1273-1290-1298-1425-1692
    • ZA2 4,224 pigeons: 9-11-48-48-93-129-131-243-279-315-394-398-400-535-619-621-623-632-638-647-705-823-899-920-998
  • Vierzon: 2nd, 3rd, 23rd, 48th, 63rd, 83rd, 114th, 116th, 144th, 157th, 163rd, 172nd, 211th/705 37 in total
    • Provincial: 6th, 11th, 94th, 153rd, 189th, 247th, 342, 355, 484, 535, 550, 584, 749, 875, 881./2702
    • ZA2: 9th, 14th, 96th, 154th, 189th, 243rd, 336th, 351st, 450th, 493rd, 503rd./2035
  • Argenton 4th, 51st, 153rd, 274th/959 7 in total
    • Provincial: 19th, 200th, 636th./3534
    • ZA2: 19th, 183rd, 531st./2913
  • Montoire 2nd, 142nd, 210th/802 4 in total
    • Provincial: 8th,
  • 1st, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 31st, 34th/67 7 Clermont Yearlings
  • 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 12th, 14th, 19th, 27th, 50th/149 Clermont Old
  • 2nd, 3rd, 10th, 15th, 24th, 25th, 39th, 47th, 54th, 56th, 59th, 67th/134 Clermont Yearlings
  • 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 14th, 22nd, 37th, 38th, 56th, 76th, 89th, 99th, 110th, 122nd, 129th/272 Clermont Old
  • 2nd, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 15th, 18th, 19th, 21st, 35th, 37th, 38th, 42nd, 47th, 48th, 50th, 66th, 72nd, 74th, 76th, 78th, 98th, 106th, 117th, 159th, 169th, 178th, 181st, 203rd, 209th, 212th, 214th, 216th, 224th/454 Young Chateaudun

 

Championships 2023

  • 1st Champion Sprint Old & Yearling Club Moen
  • 1st Champion Sprint Young Club Moen
  • 1st Champion Small Middle Distance Young Moen
  • 1st Champion Carl Vermeersch
  • 1st General Champion The Progressive Pigeon Moen
  • 2nd Champion Small Middle Distance Young West Flanders Union
  • 1st Ace Pigeon Sprint Old & Yearling Club Moen
  • 1st Ace Pigeon Sprint Young Club Moen
  • 1st Ace Pigeon Small Middle Distance Young Club Moen
  • 7th Provincial Ace Pigeon Young KBDB Sprint
  • 9th Provincial Ace Pigeon Young KBDB Small Middle Distance
  • 40th National Ace Pigeon KBDB Small Middle Distance
  • 58th National Ace Pigeon KBDB Sprint

 

Results 2022

  • Gueret local 3rd /301 - 3rd/1444 provincial, 4th/1091 ZA2, 48th/8375 National
  • 1,2,5,20,21 / 67 Boom (5/5)
  • 1,2,3,4,21 / 64 Waver (5/5)
  • 6,20,302 / 930 Montoire (3/3)
  • 1,6,8 / 347 Arras yearlings (3/3)
  • 1,6,8 / 508 Arras old (3/3)
  • 1,29,35,149,207 / 432 Clermont (5/5)
  • 2,7,11/147 Clermont (3/3)
  • 2,3,4,5,13,17,18,21,24,33,61,115,131/352 Clermont (18 in total)
  • 1,15 / 94 Clermont (2/2)
  • 1,22/128 Clermont (2/2)

Championships

  • 1st champion long distance young NKV Kortrijk
  • 1st champion sprint young Moen
  • 1st champion sprint young overall
  • 3rd champion sprint old Moen
  • 3rd champion sprint old overall
  • 2nd champion small middle distance young Moen
  • 4th champion small middle distance young overall
  • 1st champion Carl Vermeersch
  • 3rd overall champion The Progressive Pigeon Moen
  • 3rd champion “Tour of Belgium” Right for all Ingooigem

 

Previous Years

  • 3rd provincial ace pigeon long distance young KBDB West-Flanders 2016
  • 1st Champion small half-distance young Dottenijs 2016
  • 7th provincial ace pigeon sprint young KBDB West-Flanders 2017
  • 25th national champion Sprint Young 2018
  • 4th champion Inter West-Flanders 2019
  • 1st champion young Scheldeverbond 2018-2019
  • 1st Provincial Chateaudun (Golden Tracks Flight) young 2019
  • 1st provincial Chateaudun yearlings 2019 …