Guido and brother Lei Geris started in pigeon racing at the family home in Louwel when Guido was 15 years old. They competed until ’84, achieving success with the title of overall champion in sprint and half fond against a top competitor like Jan Grondelaers—this was quite an achievement!
Guido was a butcher by trade and married in 1984. From then on, he raced for 5 to 6 years together with his brother Lei Geris in As. This continued until about 1990, when Lei had a well-known Olympiad pigeon “The Black Lei,” which also bred many great pigeons. Among others, J&G Conaert were very successful with a son from this champion.
A race that Guido still remembers well from that time was a Châteauroux...2 pigeons sent, finishing 1st and 21st provincial, a top result!
In 1990, they began at the current location at Broekweg 7 in Neeroeteren, a beautiful setting with plenty of space in a wooded area. When you think of woods, you also think of birds of prey, and indeed, the Geris household has had its share of trouble with them.
Thomas (28 years old) has been around the lofts since he was 5 and has grown into a dedicated enthusiast. To this day, he practices the sport of pigeon racing successfully in combination with his father...nice, isn't it?!
Sprint and Half Fond
Their preferred focus is, of course, sprint and half fond, more specifically the small half fond (up to 450 km); they are currently hard to beat in this category. In the last 5 years, big half fond and fond races have also been more frequently played, yielding several prizes. Thus, we are dealing with an “all-around colony.”
They have already achieved 3 provincial victories, namely in 2015: 2 x 1st Provincial Gien (even against 10,240 young pigeons) and in 2021: 1st Provincial and 2nd National Souillac (old).
In 2023, father and son achieved no less than 10 regional victories and were also crowned overall champion in the big half fond MKFV (Fondclub Maaseik); they also placed 2nd Overall Champion in region East.
In 2024, the tally stood at 9 regional victories, confirming that this was indeed a top season.
In the last 5 years, father and son Geris have been crowned Overall Champion in the half fond in region East no less than 4 times.
In the photo below, you can see prime pigeon "RAMBO"...9th NATIONAL ASDUIF SMALL HAFO 2021
Some Results from 2023
- Trelou (30/04/23): 268 km: ANOH (299 old): 1-7-9-14-19-27-28-33-35-... (19/24)
- Melun (06/05/23): 343 km: ANOH (376 old): 1-3-11-13-14-26-34-...(17/25)
- Sourdun (27/05/23): 328 km: ANOH (705 old and yearlings): 1-9-10-17-18-19-26-35-...(38/54)
- Gien (17/06/23): 436 km: ANOH (237 yearlings): 1-2-3-5-6-9-10-...(20/34)
- Sourdun (26/08/23): 328 km: South-East (492 young): 1-25-27-28-29-30-...(26/38)
Some Results from 2024
- Sens (20/05/24): 363 km: ANOH (444 old and yearlings): 1-2-4-5-6-7-14-...(34/43)
- Sens (08/06/24): 363 km: ANOH (633 old and yearlings): 5-6-10-11-14-18-19-20-... (39/52)
- Gien (15/06/24): 436 km: Region East (1797 old and yearlings): 1-2-9-23-25-41-44-... (43/58)
- Gien (23/06/24): 436 km: Region East (597 yearlings): 2-14-15-27-39-42-47-...(16/22)
- Sens (06/07/24): 363 km: South-East (1761 old and yearlings): 1-3-4-5-22-23-24-27-28-... (37/46)
- Laon (20/07/24): 221 km: Region East (2278 young): 1-2-3-4-15-23-25-26-... (43/83)
- Gien (28/07/24): 436 km: Region East (465 old and yearlings): 1-2-5-15-20-21-30-... (22/35)
- Bourges (10/08/24): 527 km: Zonal (823 old): 4-11-56-72-76-88-154 (7/8)
- Sourdun (31/08/24): 328 km: Region East (321 young): 1-4-7-8-17-20-32-33-...
This is just a summary of numerous good results, many pigeons are sent but this is accompanied by a high prize percentage (per group of three).
Breeding Lines of the Loft
Five pigeons (2-year-olds) were purchased from Louis Ceyssens (Meeuwen) and put into breeding. Additionally, in 2010, 2 pigeons aged 4 years (Verreckt-Ariën) were obtained from Jan Vanruymersdaal (Neeroeteren), and Guido and Thomas have done very well with them, still do, in fact.
In 2020, Guido approached Roger Bruninx in Genoelselderen, who owns the Willem De Bruyn pigeons; 5 pairs of eggs were purchased. These went into breeding, and it turned out to be a hit, as 5 pigeons from this breeding have proven to be excellent.
In the meantime, Guido checked in with Roger again, but the price has understandably gone up, as De Bruyn pigeons are highly sought after and breed easily. A hen from fellow villager Jos Quix has also been successful at the Geris home, as have 2 or 3 pigeons from sprint specialist Peter Stakenborg.
Some Top Pigeons
For instance, there is "Rambo"...2nd provincial as pigeon KBDB Limburg Small Half Fond 2021, as well as 9th national as pigeon KBDB Small Half Fond 2021, which comes from 100% Louis Ceyssens pigeons. Rambo is now also the father of -055/22, which has already won 1st Sourdun, 4th Sourdun, 5th Sens, 6th Sens, 6th Trelou, 7th Trelou, and 9th Sourdun.
Another top bird is "Zita" (5086240/22), 100% W. De Bruyn (via Roger Bruninx)
2024
2nd Gien (333 d)
3rd Sourdun (282 d)
4th Sens (444 d)
4th Chimay (292 d)
5th Sens (249 d)
6th Sourdun (302 d)
8th Chimay (325 d)
8th Gien (1113 d)
"Mila" (5086218/22), W. De Bruyn (via Bruninx) x own line
2024
1st Sourdun (832 d)
1st Sourdun (302 d)
5th Sens (633 d)
9th Sens (1701 d)
"5046550/23", from Rambo x Verreckt-Ariën
2024
2nd Sourdun (200 d)
5th Sens (140 d)
5th Gien (465 d)
6th Gien (140 d)
"5046640/23", Geris x Ceyssens Louis
2024
5th Sens (1761 d)
5th Sens (163 d)
5th Laon (183 d)
7th Sens (363 d)
Father and son Geris are also very satisfied with the breeding results of the pigeons from Ceyssens, Verreckt-Ariën, and Bruninx (W. De Bruyn).
Loft Inventory
Guido and Thomas have 24 breeding pairs.
They bred 75 young from the first round (now only 10 left), 110 young from the 2nd round (now only 60 left), and another 50 late young (currently being trained).
The top 3 to 4 best hens will be paired with the best breeders at the end of the season.
The racing loft consists of 80 old and yearling pigeons, all of which have a fixed partner.
This year, about 25 pigeons have fallen victim to birds of prey in this wooded area. Guido and Thomas therefore have a large loft inventory, but all pigeons are well assessed. A strict selection process is in place, and sometimes Guido and Thomas must dismiss pigeons since the son is stricter than the father. In Neeroeteren, there is a strict selection for the old and yearlings, requiring them to fly 5 to 6 times per ten.
The pigeons are mated on March 1 and are allowed to brood for 10 days. In sprint and half fond competitions, after the flight, the pigeons initially receive their partners for a few hours. Later in the season, this becomes all day. The hens undergo about six weeks of darkness, from early March to mid-April (18:00-07:00), which naturally results in a later shape.
At Geris, no nest playing is practiced. The old and yearlings are brought to Borgloon before the season and then sent off with the company.
This tandem specializes in regional racing, yet they also race big half fond with the necessary prizes...Châteauroux, Argenton, etc.
For the fond/heavy fond, they began with about 40 old and yearlings together. By the end of the season, about 10 will remain. For the fond, it’s the pigeons from Willy Simons (eggs from the best flyers), fellow villager Peter Croymans, and Daan Roosen from Bocholt (8 young) that went into breeding.
Guido spends about 5 hours a day caring for the pigeons. Feeding occurs in the morning and evening. The pigeons are trained once a day, with the hens in the morning from 6 to 7, followed by the doffers (about 20 minutes).
The young receive their daily training around 11 a.m. Training of the young pigeons occurs in 10 steps to Borgloon (40 km), after which they go with the company.
However, the first batch of young pigeons has been significantly reduced during training flights, as is often the case, right? The second batch of young pigeons follows a similar system, going with the company to Mettet, but suffering very few losses. The young are darkened from mid-March to June 21.
Feeding and Supplements
At the beginning of the week, “Gerry Plus” (Versele-Laga) is fed, and towards the end of the week, this is fortified with Vanrobaeys Sport and Top Energy. On the day of basketing, they are fed 3 to 4 times, ensuring they keep eating.
Upon return, the pigeons receive BS (De Weerd) in their water (for 1.5 days) and proteins in the feed combined with lemon juice. Herbal tea (Paloma) is also provided regularly. Furthermore, the Geris family gives the pigeons Tollyamine from Schroeder-Tollisan 2 to 3 times per week.
Before the season starts, there is a 5-day treatment against tricho, with little trouble from it otherwise. Very rarely is “ornispecial” used against “the heads” (respiratory issues). The veterinarian is consulted 2 to 3 times a season, visiting Dr. Vandersanden or Dr. Schroeder.
Vaccinations against paramixo/rota are given, followed later by vaccinations against paramixo/pox. All pigeons are treated and vaccinated against paratyphus annually. Outside of the normal vaccinations, they swear by a good diet with some supplements now and then, and the pigeons are basketed weekly.
Task Distribution
Guido (retired) takes most of the care responsibilities while also being a basketer for the fond club in Maaseik. Thomas (municipal worker in Opglabbeek) does as much as he can after work and keeps the administration in order. Preparing the fixed partners upon return also falls under Thomas's responsibilities. It’s wonderful that such a young man shows such passion for this sport. Additionally, Thomas is also a basketer in Neeroeteren, where he always cleans the baskets.
The beauty of this is that they have been achieving beautiful results in the small half fond for several years now, remaining modest at all times...they are getting stronger year by year!