Extremely high prize percentages and consistently at the top of the results with a handful of pigeons, Willem Deprez and Yvan Bataille clearly know where the bell tolls. Their eye for quality and extremely strict selection brought these gentlemen to the top of West Flanders. Clearly a unique opportunity for lovers of superlatives!
History
This tandem originally started in 2004 in Vichte, where, in a relatively short time, no less than 12 provincial victories were achieved. When Yvan Bataille was diagnosed with a lung disease, he was forced to stop, and all the pigeons were sold. From 2015, the game is played at the lofts on Ierlandlaan in Zwevegem, where Willem Deprez takes 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 above all, a pure-bred pigeon enthusiast! To combine all this, the pigeon colony is kept relatively small and selected with an iron hand. Due to Yvan's illness, his role is limited to training the pigeons and clocking them in. This way, Willem can fully concentrate on the care of the early pigeons and the latecomers after a race, which he considers to be of great importance!
Loft composition and breeds
In Zwevegem, races are contested from sprint to small middle distance to the national heavy middle-distance flights, using only about 15 old and yearling hens. The loft comprises 15 permanent breeding pairs, and around 90 young pigeons are bred and distributed across 3 lofts of 30 pigeons: 2 rounds from the breeding pigeons and 1 early round from the racing hens.
The foundation consists of pigeons from Yvan from the breeds Rudi Hendrikx (Lanaken), Vervaeke Roger and Jurgen (Deerlijk), Declerq-Vermeulen (Deerlijk) supplemented with Erik Vandekerckhove (Aalter), Houben line (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 produced the 1st Chateauroux in Rekkem and is the grandmother of the 1st provincial Chateaudun. A pigeon that was purchased via a bid from Rudi Hendrikx in 2015 produced in 2018 the 3rd provincial and 43rd National Argenton.
In 2015, joint breeding was done with Dewaele-Deseyn, who became 1st National Champion Long Distance Yearlings 2016 with a product from this joint breeding! A successful move that resulted in very strong all-round pigeons at both lofts.
Last winter, 4 pigeons were acquired from middle distance virtuoso Gert Van Limbergen from Lede. This quality injection also bore fruit immediately in its first season and produced 2 different 1st prize winners and the 5th Ace Pigeon Long Distance Youngsters in NKV Kortrijk. Since only hens will be played among the old and yearlings, the youngsters will go up for auction, including the aforementioned ace pigeon 3101784/22!
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 paramyxovirus, paratyphoid, and canker (with a brush). To suppress trichomoniasis, 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 vaccinated annually against paramyxovirus and paratyphoid, and a month before breeding, checks are made for coccidia and worms, followed by treatment if necessary.
Two weeks before the breeding season, these pigeons are placed in the breeding loft and provided with additional light.
In terms of nutrition, there are also 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 depending on the demanded effort. Oil and 'grit mix' from Vanrobaeys complete the picture.
As preparation for the races, the old and yearling racing pigeons are taken 2 to 3 times for a distance of up to 20 km, and then they head towards Arras with the big basket.
The young pigeons are trained in smaller increments up to about 20 km and are held there until they return home immediately; only then are they allowed to go to Arras with the local team.
Motivation for the old and yearling hens happens through traditional widowhood with partners staying at home.
Results 2022
Gueret local 3rd /301
3rd/1444 prov., 4th/1091 ZA2, 48th/8375 Nat
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 entered)
1,15 /94 Clermont (2/2)
1,22/128 Clermont (2/2)
Championships
- 1st champion long distance youngsters NKV Kortrijk
- 1st champion sprint youngsters Moen
- 1st champion sprint youngsters overall
- 3rd champion sprint old Moen
- 3rd champion sprint old overall
- 2nd champion small middle distance youngsters Moen
- 4th champion small middle distance youngsters overall
- 1st champion Carl Vermeersch
- 3rd overall champion De Vooruitstrevende Duif Moen
- 3rd champion "Round of Belgium" Right for All Ingooigem
Previous years
- 3rd provincial ace pigeon long distance youngsters KBDB West Flanders 2016
- 1st champion small middle distance youngsters Dottenijs 2016
- 7th provincial ace pigeon Sprint youngsters KBDB West Flanders 2017
- 25th national champion Sprint Youngsters 2018
- 4th champion Inter West Flanders 2019
- 1st champion youngsters Scheldeverbond 2018-2019
- 1st provincial Chateaudun (Golden Spoons Flight) youngsters 2019
- 1st provincial Chateaudun yearlings 2019 …
