How it all started
In the early '90s, Dirk & Kurt, along with their father, started with pigeon racing. Initially, they focused mainly on sprint and small middle-distance races. They then gradually shifted to longer races, such as Bourges, at the suggestion of fellow pigeon fanciers. Their focus is primarily on the old pigeons, especially on total widowhood. The young pigeons are trained well, and if possible, they try to let the young ones fly at least one small middle-distance race. In recent years, they have further developed their old pigeons for long-distance and great long-distance races, and now they also compete in small and large middle-distance races as interim flights.
Bloodline
The bloodline consists of their own foundation line that they started with, and in recent years, they have acquired pigeons from, among others, Rans Alex, Rans Jeroen & Stijn, De Schepper Geert (De Smeyter-Restiaen pigeons), Willems, De Backer Koen, Christians Dirk. In short, pigeons specifically tailored for longer flights.
Breeding and young pigeons
The old pigeons are treated for paratyphus in September and after this treatment, they are vaccinated, and 3 weeks later, they are immediately vaccinated against paramyxo + rota. This prepares the pigeons to be paired at the beginning of December. The racing team is paired in mid-January when the young from the breeding pigeons are about 14 days old. When the young are 5 weeks old, they are vaccinated against paramyxo + rota, and this vaccination is repeated 3 weeks later. The pigeons are also vaccinated against pox 3 weeks before the season starts. Due to time constraints, the young pigeons are not darkened or artificially lit. After all, Dirk & Kurt place emphasis on racing with the old pigeons. The young ones go outside when there is time; one week they are released in the morning and the other week in the afternoon, depending on how the brothers have to work. Ultimately, it remains a hobby. Training of the young pigeons begins when they can fly a good hour around the house. They are then taken away about 5 times and go directly to Noyon (158km).
Typically, the purpose with the young pigeons is mainly for them to gain experience for the following year. Due to continual attacks from raptors this year, Kurt and Dirk experienced significant losses. From the first round, for example, there were already 12 out of 38 casualties after 1 week; from the second round, "only" 6, but on a Friday afternoon, suddenly 34 out of 66 pigeons were missing, just from flying home. The 3rd round was then a complete catastrophe due to attacks from sometimes 3 raptors at once, causing their numbers to be halved in just two weeks... Several of the old pigeons also perished before the season, while some others returned home severely damaged from the races and weren't able to be saved...
Racing system with the old pigeons
Depending on the weather and the raptors, the old pigeons are outside until the end of November and then remain indoors until the end of February. When the weather permits, they start training the old pigeons. This happens very quickly: 3 to 4 times they are released and then head towards Noyon (twice) before going to small middle-distance races and proceeding to the program they want to race with the pigeons.
The pigeons are housed in 4 adjacent lofts and come together on basketing day. Everything is then opened up, and the doors lead to a run in front of the loft, allowing them to choose what they want to do, and after 5 to 10 minutes, they go into the basket. Dirk & Kurt practice total widowhood and some pairs are kept on eggs for the great long-distance races.
Nutrition
They are not particularly tied to a specific brand of feed, but they also look for what is affordable. "When you see the price differences between the various brands, it becomes very expensive for working people to race pigeons," say Dirk and Kurt.
Medical and supplements
In recent years, they have consistently consulted with Stijn Rans for checking the pigeons and the required vaccinations. This visit takes place 3 weeks before the season starts, and during the year 1 or 2 visits are planned, also because they need to get the young pigeons vaccinated and check if they are in order.
They always follow the veterinarian's guidelines if something is not right. What they also do is a basic treatment for 1 week against trichomoniasis (green trichomoniasis from Vincent Schroeder) in water and in their feed with Orniclean, so the pigeons are ready to start. During the season, they receive recovery additives in water upon returning home as well as vitamins. Grit and minerals are always available in the loft.
Lofts
Here in Huizingen, they have beautiful self-built garden lofts. The 4 racing lofts for the old pigeons are equipped with a run, and the loft for the young pigeons from the first round is also provided with a run. During the rest season, the pigeons are kept in the back of the garden in runs, which means less cleaning work and they can quickly see to feeding and watering.
"Important aspects for successful racing"
First and foremost, start with pure, healthy foundation pigeons. You only get good pigeons by racing them and applying strict selection. They are particularly challenged by Weemaels to keep up the pace of the various races they have to complete. This way, they select themselves. Dirk: "When you basket them, it usually depends on various factors, such as their condition, health, and also how they are taken care of on the way. You can see differences in performance across the different races, and much also depends on the releases. In recent years, there have been many disasters caused by not checking or misinterpreting weather images and info that they have free access to. Like thunderstorms and rain zones, especially at the start of the races." Dirk and Kurt recall the race from Narbonne where the pigeons were released and encountered severe thunderstorms 20 km away, causing many pigeons to fall behind or be found dead around Narbonne. Dirk & Kurt were then contacted by a lady who reported that she had found about 100 pigeons in a forest 20 km from Narbonne. This lady told them that that morning there had been a thunderstorm and rain for a few hours, how the organizers did not see this on the radar images remains a mystery to them.
Pigeon racing & future
In Dirk & Kurt's opinion, the future of pigeon racing does not look very bright, they clarify: "Too much interference from professional players who have the organizers in their pocket. They decide when to release earlier or postpone. The working person cannot always take time off and thus misses races. I personally remember a national race in the great middle distance, which was even basketted earlier on Wednesday to release on Friday. We, as small fries, were only informed on Tuesday evening while we later learned that some members had known about this since Monday morning." These are things that should not happen anymore, yet both gentlemen conclude: "As long as we can enjoy it, we will continue racing, but the day the interference becomes greater, it will happen without us, and I think many will follow."
Results 2025 with old and yearlings
Melun: 4-7-11-12-24-25-28-.....31/82 305 pigeons
Toury: 9-10-11-14-17-.......27-89 394 pigeons
Vierzon: 1-3-5-9-....10/31 239 pigeons
50-72-131-........7626 pigeons interprov
Valence: 1-25 138 pigeons 8/938 zonal 35/3852 national
Agen: 3-8-10-15-18 5/8 87 pigeons
Tulle: 3-33 2/4 221 pigeons 4-92 prov 680 pigeons 105-national 5889 pigeons yearlings
Vierzon: 3-6-9 3/3
Bourges: 10-12-38 3/4 139 pigeons
Barcelona: 30-40-51-64 212 pigeons 4/7
Limoges: 3 against 180 pigeons 1/2 10/1092 zonal and 63/4695 national
Limoges: 14-38 2/3 181 pigeons yearlings
Marseille: 1 local 9/189 prov; 136/5007 international; 28/1636 hens
Narbonne: 14-15 2/4 214 pigeons
1-6-7-15-19-20 6/14 yearlings
Perpignan: 5-8-10 3/6 local
Argenton: 2-12-31 176 pigeons 3/5
Tulle: 1-11-24 3/3 143 pigeons
15-227-542 3726 national
12 175 pigeons 1/1 yearlings 136/4277 national
Some nice results 2024
Noyon 519 old: 13,14,24,25,26,39,40,41,43,45,…..
Sermaises 428 old: 2,4,8,11,13,14,15,16,18,19,20,22,24,25,28,30,31,……
Sermaises 247 old: 1,2,3,4,5,8,9,10,16,20,21,24,….
Sermaises 261 old: 1,6,12,15,17,….
728 old: 1,14,27,41,54,….
Sermaises 253 old: 3,5,7,19,21,29,31,35,…
501 yearlings: 16,23,47,59,60,…
Valence 188 old: 4,15,35,37
Sermaises 208 old: 3,4,19,35,39,….
Tulle 62 old: 1,8,13,15,17,18,19
Limoges 6889 old: 4,587
Blois 85 yearlings:1,9,15,24
Argenton 78 old: 4,7(2-2)
84 yearlings: 1,18,26,27(4-6)
Sermaises 122 old: 5,7,11,15,18,20,..
Tulle 76 old: 4,6,15 (3-4)
Perpignan 155 old: 10,32,36,…(6-8)
First prizes, provincial, zonal and national top results 2024
local 1/247 sermaises 18/May
local 1/261 sermaises 25/May
local 1/728 sermaises 25/May
local 1/287 bourges 25/May
local 1/54 valance 8/June
local 1/62 tulle 23/June
local 1/641 limoges 5/July
local 1/27 blois 6/July
local 1/85 blois 6/July
local 1/84 argenton 13/July
local 1/25 brive 20/July
local 1/110 fay aux loges 28/July
local 1/109 lorris 3/Aug
national zone 29/3037 limoges 1/June
national zone 36/4061 bourgers 25/May
national zone 20/1517 valance 8/June
national zone 15/2033 tulle 23/June
national zone 2,/2033 limoges 5/July
national zone 59/1740 argenton 13/July
national zone 23/1060 brive 20/July
national zone 66-1155 marseille 19/July
national 4,/6838 limoges 5/July
national 135/10653 limoges 1/June
national 175/24006 bourges 25/May
national 128/5469 valance 8/June
national 80/7883 tulle 23/June
national 160/3491 brive 20/July
national 121/2082 marseille 19/July
provincial 1,/631 limoges 5/July
provincial 5,/1993 sermaises 25/May
provincial 9-1107 limoges 1/June
provincial 17/1667 blois 1/June
provincial 25/1667 blois 1/June
provincial 17/718 valance 8/June
provincial 7-734 tulle 23/June
provincial 23-544 sermaises 29/June
provincial 7/440 brive 20/July
provincial 15/247 marseille 19/July
provincial 5/498 lorris 3/Aug