Previously playing under the name Claes-Devos, they caught attention when they won the 1st National Argenton with the hens. In 2005, all the pigeons were sold due to a lack of time, but the pigeon fever is a fierce creature that brought brothers Eddy and Freddy back together with their friend Walter Devos. With their new start in 2018, the top results didn't take long to come. First prizes came pouring in and a series of top pigeons each week, that's how we know them. Without blushing, one of the best middle distance lofts of this time, which they prove year after year! An overview of 2025 and 2026:
How it all began
We visited Eddy Claes, who along with his brother Freddy and friend Walter Devos is actively involved in pigeon racing at a serious high level in Kortenaken... the beautiful Hageland. Men who have known each other throughout their entire career at 'Harol' (awnings, shutters, patio covers) and are very familiar with one another. Eddy has been among the pigeons since childhood, together with his father... and so the fever gradually took shape. Previously, Eddy played with Walter Devos under the name Claes-Devos, and they competed in Kortenaken until 2005. However, due to time constraints, all the pigeons were sold in 2005. Nevertheless, the pigeon fever kept hanging around, and so brothers Eddy and Freddy Claes, along with friend/former partner Walter Devos, decided to start again with the pigeons in 2018. Since 2018, things have skyrocketed, and the Kortenaken success train has never really stopped. Talk about a restart!
Eddy is in charge of the daily work at the loft itself, brother Freddy steps in where needed (transporting, racing, lending a helping hand everywhere), and Walter takes care of the breeders. The tasks are well divided. Eddy emphasizes that their success is only possible due to their good collaboration... without any one of them it wouldn't be possible... a real team spirit.
Racing
The focus is mainly on sprint and middle distance, so the old and yearlings also regularly have to handle a few national races, while the young pigeons are not all raced nationally. At Claes, there are about 20 breeding pairs, including a few fixed pairs. Approximately 120 young pigeons are bred each year (sometimes additional young ones are bred later). In 2019, they fell victim to a cowardly pigeon theft, losing 12 racing pigeons...
The training of the young pigeons is done gradually and carefully: they are often released at around 40 km before heading with the group to Momignies. During training, there are generally few losses, but they sometimes still share in the blows, among others due to birds of prey... Some of their young pigeons get a national race presented to them, but not all of them.
The old pigeons are raced on total widowhood with 32 cocks and 40 hens, and they use the “chaos system.” They are certainly not spared, as we can say that the old pigeons have been taken along to Châteauroux about 24 times. At the end of the season, they race on nest.
