The combination of full-time work, a family with two young teenagers, and a few difficult seasons led Dominique to decide last December to sell all the pigeons.
In 2020, there were already no races due to the corona regulations at the children's school. 2021 became an absolute disaster year, especially with Barcelona, where the best pigeons were included and 3 out of 4 were lost. To reduce the congestion, only Agen and Narbonne were raced in 2022. That Narbonne turned out to be another bad race where yet another good old pigeon was lost.
By October, the stock had already been reduced to 41 pigeons. In December, the decision was made to stop. The number of pigeons was further reduced to 25.
The Loft
Usually, about 50 pigeons would be overwintered. The major selection always took place between Christmas and New Year. The breeders (6 pairs) were only mated by the end of January, somewhat depending on the weather. At the same time, the widowers were also paired for a 10-day brood. The widowers were re-paired at the end of March to start breeding for the racing.
They were always basketed with the small basket. The racing loft consisted of 12 widowers (old + yearlings on classic widowhood). Some years, there was also a loft of sitting pigeons consisting of several yearlings and/or old hens paired to yearling cocks. The young pigeons were not raced. If it was possible, they were sent a few times to Noyon (165km), but that was certainly not the case every year. The yearlings raced about 2 times at 500/600km. Last season, the yearling cocks went to Narbonne for the first time. The intended races were mainly the long-distance with old pigeons.
Medical support was always kept to a minimum. Of course, care was taken to ensure that the pigeons were free from internal and external parasites.
Development
In the early '90s, racing pigeons were started in Denderleeuw with pigeons from various sources. This was prompted by neighbor Frans Van der Fraenen, who at that time no longer had pigeons. From home, there was no link to the pigeon sport. The basic knowledge and his widower loft came from Frans. However, no real races were held in Denderleeuw.
In the late '90s, pigeons were acquired at the suggestion of Grandpa Maes from distant cousin Albert Maes from Sinaai-Waas. All other pigeons were cleared out and from then on racing was done in tandem with friend Bert Jansegers in Iddergem, who received several pigeons from his great-uncle Edgard Chiau from Denderleeuw. Two pairs of young pigeons came from Ancaer and Wijns from Iddergem, a pair from Baeten from Daknam, four eggs from Devos-Rondelez (Zandvoorde), and through a friend, the entire breeding loft from his father Willy De Brabanter from Welle, who had just stopped with the pigeon sport. In Iddergem, they raced for about three years with varying success from Quiévrain to Souillac. Due to studies and work, the tandem was discontinued after a few years, and pigeon racing went on pause.
In 2003, the current residence in Nieuwerkerken was purchased. From 2006, racing with the pigeons began again. The pigeons that were started there were primarily those breeders from Willy De Brabanter and a hen from Albert Maes. In 2003, a pair of breeders were obtained from Devos-Rondelez. Particularly that hen ‘Zus Favoriet’ 3166447/1997, renamed ‘Laurette’ by Dominique, proved to be the best breeder and absolute foundation pigeon (herself the daughter of 1st interprov. Poitiers and granddaughter of 2nd nat. Limoges, and at Wellemans - Asse for example, the grandmother of 23/4035d. Chateauroux, 70/5621d. La Souterraine, and 1/866d. Dourdan).
2006 looked promising with a local 50% prize and the best prize being 20th of 410 yearlings on a hard Limoges (with a grandson of “Laurette”). The following year was also quite successful with 115th of 4670 pigeons zonally at Brive with northeastern wind (again with a son of “Laurette”).
After the major renovations to the house, the new garden loft was built in the winter of 2007/2008, where all pigeons were raced from 2008 onwards. And that did not go well at all. Visits to the veterinarian brought no solution. In the meantime, many pigeons were lost. The only survivor from that period was “Louis” 332/07 (sire of purchase 8,9,10,11,16) who was only placed on the breeding loft in 2016 at the recommendation of Jaak Nouwen and immediately produced good offspring. Louis is also a grandson of Laurette ’97.
From 2012, things began to improve a bit. Most prizes during this period were still won with grandchildren of Laurette ’97 including 13th Montluçon of 263 pigeons, 8th Agen of 124 pigeons, and 624th nat. Tulle of 6972 pigeons.
In 2008, the first pigeons from Nouwen-Paesen from Grote-Brogel arrived at the loft, four young ones + a breeding pair on loan. In 2011, Dominique received all the small young pigeons from the yearling hens that went to Narbonne, including two grandsons of the 1st nat. Pau 2010.
In 2010, he received a granddaughter of the 1st nat. Cahors from Devos-Rondelez, and in 2011, eight eggs from the best widowers of this loft.
During that period, 3 pigeons were obtained from Bengt Haeck. At the suggestion of Maurice Van Snick, a pigeon was received from Adolf Nevens from Denderleeuw.
In 2013, the ‘08’ from 2006 was purchased, 50% Cor de Heijde. This hen was already somewhat worn out and didn’t lay many eggs anymore. In 2015, however, she still produced “Perpignan” 4256550, rung with a 2014 ring. The “Perpignan” won, among others, the 23rd Cahors of 149 pigeons ’17, and in 2018 the 1st local of 104 pigeons on a heavy Perpignan, nationally good for 48th of 3966 pigeons (sire of purchase 19,20). His half-sister ‘Amber’ (from the same mother) won 33rd prize on that same flight (mother of purchase 12,13,14,15,16).
Another grandson of Laurette, the 4256551 of 2015 (also rung with a 2014 ring) won 8th Aurillac of 71 pigeons, 497 nat. Agen of 4477 pigeons, and became the father of 26th Angoulême of 289 yearlings.
In 2015, a hen was obtained from Guy De Clercq, “Gwylin” 4220600/15 (purchase 2), who became the mother of 8th Agen 156 pigeons, 12th Narbonne 142 pigeons, 33rd Agen 204 pigeons, and 175th Chateauroux 713 pigeons. A cock, “Robert” 4038892/15 (purchase 3), from Robert Van Boxtael, came from his best Barcelona pigeons. This cock became the father of 12th Narbonne 142 pigeons, 21st Narbonne 90 pigeons, 53rd Agen 204 pigeons, 62nd Orleans 153 pigeons, and 175th Chateauroux 713 pigeons. At the end of 2015, a late daughter of the “Ramses Narbonne” from Nouwen-Paesen was obtained on loan: “Nr.86” (2197186/15). This hen became the mother of, among others, 14th Perpignan 104 pigeons 2018, 50th Argenton 250 pigeons, and ‘Meneer’ (father of purchase 12,13,14,15). She was paired to Louis ’07, also grandmother of 8th Agen 156 pigeons and 33rd Agen 204 pigeons.
In 2019, 2 hens were purchased via Pitts: “Birgit”, 4225644/12, from Marcel De Keyser, who was paired to the 48th nat. Perpignan mother of purchase 19 and 20. From Frans Van Gils came the hen “Michelle”, 6110213/14, a half-Jos Joosen from the lofts of Staf Maris from Arendonk. This hen was at Van Gils the mother of, among others, 91st Aurillac of 1437 pigeons, 37th Agen of 820 pigeons, and 17th Limoges of 178 pigeons. This hen was the big promise for the breeding loft (mother of purchase 4,5,6,7,8,9,25).
The last purchase was a double granddaughter of Kimlynn, 1st int. Perpignan 22319 pigeons, from Twan Bongers in March 2022 (1318157/21, purchase 23).
Results
2017
Cahors: 24, 30 (149 old)
Argenton: 20, 50 (250 yearlings)
Aurillac: 8 (71 old)
2018
Agen: 10 (72 old)
Perpignan: 1, 14, 17, 33 (104 old) – national: 48, 465, 619 (3966 old)
Angoulême: 26 (289 yearlings)
4th King of the heavy long-distance Royal Denderbond Ninove 2018.
2019
Montauban: 14, 30 (105 old)
Saint-Vincent: 7, 14 (40 old)
Narbonne: 11, 19, 21 (90 old)
2021
Agen: 33, 53 (204 old)
Barcelona: 53 (184 old) – FCD: 172 (718 old)
2022
Agen: 8 (156 old)
Narbonne: 12 (142 old)
Thanks
Besides a thank you to everyone from whom pigeons were acquired, Dominique requested an extra thank you for Fernand and Laurette Devos-Rondelez, Jaak and Dirk Nouwen-Paesen, and Bengt Haeck for the pigeons obtained and much good advice. Also, Robert Steppe for the good advice to feed the pigeons during vacations. And when Robert was not free, this was done by sister Bénédicte, brother-in-law Joeri, and/or father-in-law Frans. Also thanks to wife Elke for all her help. And all friends and family who helped set up the new pigeon loft in 2007/2008. Thanks also to Petra, Freddy, and the staff of the Royal Denderbond Ninove.
