Beginning of Pigeon Sport
On a sunny autumn day, I visited Jos Vanbrabant and Lutgarde Dams in Heusden-Zolder, a sympathetic couple who have been performing excellently in the sprint, especially with the young pigeons, for many years.
Jos got involved in pigeon racing in 1970 through an uncle from Zolder, who also played sprint and small middle distance up to Orléans... this is how Jos took his first steps in this winged sport. The pigeon virus took shape, and Jos has not stopped since...
Jos, who has always worked in a mill and also worked on weekends, kept it solely to sprint due to the combination with work. Meanwhile, Jos has been retired for a few years and wants to try some longer flights starting next year, and we are talking about flights up to 500 km.
For example, Jos had a knee operation last year and is grateful that his wife Lutgarde could assist him with the work; otherwise, it would have been difficult to compete with pigeons last season.
In the photo, you see ... "Son Special One," this is the father of the 3rd National Ace Pigeon Sprint 2021.
Breeding Background
The founding father of the loft is a doffer from François Custers (Koersel), and the founding mother is from Robby Wilms (previously solo player, now Vermeerbergen-Wilms). The entire loft is practically built from this pair with many descendants.
Additionally, there is a good pigeon from Lucien Vandebroek (Zolder) that produces good breeding results, this is a brother of Lucien's provincial Orléans winner.
They have also had good success with pigeons from Robert Bielen in Heusden-Zolder.
This is specifically for the favorite game in sprint up to Soissons with the young pigeons.
For future work, Jos has reinforced his stock with some pigeons from Maarten Poels (Berbroek), Louis Beutels (here, pigeons from Brugmans Sabrina and Antoon Neven), and a doffer from Ludo Engelen (Kuringen). So it remains to be seen what these will show in the future, crossed with his own type of pigeons.
In Heusden-Zolder, they have a simple loft setup; this shows that good pigeons do not need much luxury...
Young Pigeon Racing
Last year, about 160 young pigeons were bred (more than usual). They are transported to Tielt-Winge (40 km) around 5 or 6 times and then go in the basket to Mettet. According to Jos, once they go in the basket, losses diminish significantly. Of course, he particularly loses "his share" of the pigeons during the training.
Only doffers were raced on widowhood; females were not played. For next year, Jos wants to race on the "sliding door" format up to Orléans with doffers and females.
Before the flight, the doffers see the female for about 1 hour. After the race, they see her for a few hours to half a day, with no fixed partners.
Normally, there is always darkness; this year, due to circumstances, this has been somewhat less the case. In Heusden-Zolder, they have about 25 breeding pairs to supplement their stock.
Feeding and Products
Beyers Light is provided, a lot of tea and garlic are used, and an addition from Röhnfried here and there, nothing more... no frills at the Vanbrabant household.
"For sprint, not much is needed," says Jos. Of course, this will be different for the longer flights.
Other than the paramyxo-rotavirus vaccination, nothing else is done; the veterinarian for Vanbrabant-Dams is Karlo Van Rompaey.
For paratyphoid, for example, they have never cured or vaccinated.
Selection and References
There is strict selection in Heusden-Zolder, per ten and a few top prizes. Otherwise, Jos will not be looking forward to these winged athletes next year.
For instance, there is the 1st provincial Sourdun from Marc Vanonckelen (Halen); on the mother's side, we also find the breed of Vanbrabant-Dams.
Also, at Van Kerckvoorde Wim and Jeffrey (Wachtebeke), the Vanbrabant pigeons perform well; this tandem regularly strengthens itself with pigeons from the Heusden sprint player.
Patrick Welkenhuyzen (Koersel) also does well with descendants of Vanbrabant-Dams; it’s always nice when people nearby succeed with your pigeons.
Results of Recent Years with Young Pigeons
What is certainly very remarkable... the loft VANBRABANT-DAMS has often ranked in recent years among the national ace pigeons KBDB with among others 3rd, 4th, 7th, 15th, and 18th National Ace Pigeon KBDB... this is of course a beautiful record !!
Results from 2020
momignies,5,9,15,17,18,19,20,22,23,29,51,62,76,93,104, 15/18
mettet,1,5,7,21,40,50,53,57,95,124,10/11
momignies,1,3,5,6,8,15,40,59,69,70,71,91,139,143,14/14
momignies,4,5,6,7,8,20,30,39,46,63,79,105,11/11
momignies,1,3,5,6,24,27,29,31,39,62,11/11
momignies,2,,70,2/2
momignies,1,2,3,4,6,13,14,15,25,41,82,89,97,99,103,104,16/16
momignies,3,5,7,9,12,14,15,22,23,28,37,45,50,51,73,76,87,117,19/24
soissons,1,2,4,6,7,12,21,27,28,31,51,57,61,91,101,110,115,117,18/23
soissons,3,5,6,7,8,9,11,14,15,23,28,30,31,42,47,63,64,76,18/22
soissons,2,3,13,17,18,34,43,52,55,66,76,89,13/16
momignies,2,3,9,10,13,14,15,22,26,29,30,34,56,13/13
soissons,1,2,5,6,10,15,16,18,43,9/9
Results from 2021
mettet,1,4,13,14,15,16,26,28,29,30,36,38,39,41,42,43,47,49,66,72,21/25
soissons,2,73,2/4
momignies,2,6,9,10,15,17,19,22,25,29,32,37,37,43,92,93,,15/20
momignies 2,4,5,7,10,16,18,32,35,46,10/17
mettet,1,3,4,5,6,7,19,20,21,25,40,44,46,48,49,58,74,17/20
mettet,1,3,6,8,10,11,12,14,18,22,44,56,12/15
momignies,1,8,10,16,19,27,,
mettet,3,4,6,7,8,9,10,11,19,22,26,30,32,35,49,15/19
vervins,1,2,3,10,12,23,37,44,49,55,11/15
mettet,1,5,6,10,17,32,34,7/10
soissons,2,6,2/2
momignies,1,7,21,33,4/4
momignies,6,11,2/2
Results from 2022
mettet,1,4,5,6,7,9,10,11,13,14,16,19,24,27,29,31,40,43,44,19/24
momignies,3,12,13,25,35,38,39,67,68,69,71,72,73,75,95,101,102,118,18/22
momignies,1,3,4,16,17,19,20,23,24,36,38,40,55,101,121,140,16/22
soissons,3,38,2/2
mettet,1,8,19,32,34,34,36,43,45,52,57,70,75,13/17
momignies,2,3,6,7,8,10,19,21,25,36,42,52,56,59,70,71,83,131,18/20
momignies,3,4,5,6,7,13,15,16,17,23,32,32,49,67,70,71,80,85,121,
momignies,1,2,4,5,6,7,8,9,13,15,45,48,62,67,68,87,132,18/19
soissons2,4,2/2
mettet,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9,10,15,19,22,27,29,34,55,73,77,18/18
west,2025d, 1,2,3,6,8,18,22,29,30,40,50,143,153,166,222,458,16/18
sourdun,1,57,2/2
momignies,2,3,6,8,12,16,23,30,32,44,46,52,109,15/15
Results 2024
vervins,1,3,4,11,51,55,67,76,78,,9/10
soissons,4,23,24,3/3
mettet,1,3,5,7,35,48,61,69,74,9/11
mettet,1,8,9,27,28,34,45,57,58,64,67,73,74,13/13
chimay,2,3,9,14,23,29,33,71,74,105,10/10
chimay,4,5,9,31,79,112,6/10
mettet,2,5,4,24,27,5/5
As you can see in this list, there are many top prizes with a consistently high prize percentage.
Another top pigeon that will also be for sale is
5073037/2023... best young pigeon of 2023
27/5/23 Momignies 6th/204 pigeons, 133 km,
3/6/23 Momignies 3rd/190
10/6/23 Vervins 9th/173 162 km
21/6/23 Mettet 3rd/299 89 km
25/6/23 Mettet 1st/166
8/7/23 Momignies 3rd/212
12/7/23 Mettet 33rd/248
15/7/23 Vervins 66th/213
22/7/23 Soissons 14th/209 220 km
30/7/23 Mettet 6th/2063
5/8/23 Momignies 2nd/1614
9/8/23 Mettet 2nd/374
19/8/23 Vervins 37th/179
26//8/23 Soissons 41st/1526
This pigeon flies 14/14 and 11 times per ten !! (from this top pigeon, some descendants have also moved directly to the breeding loft).
Photo of this top pigeon, see below (037/23):
The pedigree of this excellent yearling: on both the father's and mother’s side, we find the 2015009/14 (Special One) here. The "Special One" was the 4th National Ace Pigeon 2014.
"The Special One" comes from doffer -480/11 from François Custers (Koersel) x -740/13 (Polmans Ludo/Geukens Rene).
Thus, a grandson of this "Special One" was also 3rd National Ace Pigeon 2021, so it is clearly in the genes.
Many of these coveted descendants are now on auction at PITTS from November 4 to November 11.
Make sure to check out this auction, a loft that has been a leader in pure sprint and small middle distance for years.
Jos and Lutgarde, I would like to thank you on behalf of Pitts for the hospitality and pleasant conversation about sprint and small middle distance that you have been so passionate and driven about for many years, achieving very impressive results.
Geco/Pitts