He did it again!
With the highlight being the 4th National Ace Pigeon Sprint Young KBDB ’24 & 1st Provincial Ace Pigeon Sprint Young ’24, we can once again speak of a grand-cru year at the home of Gert De Swaef. It was the little pigeon “Blue Princess” that flew home with these titles, including:
- 1st provincial ace pigeon sprint young ‘24
- 4th National Ace Pigeon sprint young KBDB ‘24
- 1st Ace Pigeon Dendervallei (6 best prizes)
- 1st Super Ace Pigeon Dendervallei with the most prizes per 10
- 1st Crack Pigeon young United Noyon Union
- 1st Superstar Sprint Golden Rings East Flanders
- 5th Place World Best Pigeon Belgium
- Flew 12 times Noyon & won 10 prizes, of which 9 times per 10.
- 3 times 1st prize club level, 1/513, 1/435, 1/302, 2/393 (after cage mate), 4/280, 8/810, 14/480, 21/801
- 4 times top 5 Combined, 1/3008, 4/2148, 4/2050, 5/3683, 16/4666, 70/4243, 67/2010, 92/5197, …
In Hofstade near Aalst, there is truly a top colony that regularly leaves the cream of the crop behind in the sprinting of the largest pigeon province, which results in an impressive list of championships.
- 4th National Ace Pigeon sprint Young KBDB 2024 (Blue Princess)
- 5th Belgian Ace Pigeon World Best pigeon 2024
- 4th National Champion sprint Young KBDB 2017
- 16th National Ace Pigeon sprint Young KBDB 2017
- 36th National Ace Pigeon sprint Young KBDB 2024 (Small Kitan)
- 2nd Overall Provincial Champion East Flanders 2017
- 2nd Overall Provincial Champion East Flanders 2020
- 1st Provincial Champion sprint Young 2017
- 1st Provincial Champion sprint Old 2020
- 1st Provincial ace pigeon sprint Young 2024
- 1st Provincial ace pigeon sprint Young 2017
- 2nd Provincial champion sprint Young 2024
- 2nd Provincial champion sprint Old 2018
- 2nd Provincial champion sprint Old 2019
- 2nd Provincial ace pigeon sprint Old 2019
- 3rd Provincial Champion sprint Old 2020
- 3rd Provincial ace pigeon sprint Old 2020
- 4th Provincial ace pigeon sprint Old 2019
- 4th Provincial ace pigeon sprint Young 2019
- 5th Provincial ace pigeon sprint Young 2024
- 5th Provincial Champion sprint Old & Young 2017
We will then limit ourselves to only the top 5 placements in the championships as the list would otherwise be endless. A list of a true champion!
With always small numbers in competition, this superman hits hard weekly on the beloved flight from Noyon. Not only top prizes but also high prize percentages are the trademark here. In the combine “United Noyon Union,” everyone knows they have to wait until Gert is in to distribute the grand prize. Also in the large umbrella and strongest sprint competition in the country “Dendervallei,” Gert’s pigeons regularly establish themselves at the top against the big birds this combine boasts.
Here we would like to introduce you to a few top specimens that also made waves this year:
(Again, we will limit ourselves to the first prize flyers!!)
The 004/22
- 5th Crack Pigeon VNVB
- 5 x 1st prize Noyon
- Son “Steven” x “Raketje”
The 029/23
- 1st Crack Pigeon Young VNVB
- 3 x 1st prize
- Daughter “Aaike” x “Blauwen Eddy”
The 030/23
- 2 x 1st prize Noyon
- Daughter “Aaike” x “Blauwen Eddy”
The 035/24
- 3 x 1st prize, 1 x 2nd prize Noyon & 9 x per 10.
The 040/24
- 2 x 1st prize Noyon & 9 x per 10.
The 054/24
- 1 x 1st prize, 2 x 2nd prize & 6 x per 10.
The 020/24
- 2 x 1st prize & 8 x per 10.
The 044/24
- 2 x 1st prize & 6 x per 10.
The 039/24
- 2 x 2nd prize & 6 x per 10.
The 008/24
- 1 x 1st prize & 6 x per 10.
Top prizes achieved in the union
1/4666, 1/5966, 1/2234, 1/2791, 1/3008, 1/2380, 2/3683, 2/1084, 2/1679, 2/975, 2/1947, 2/2050, 2/537, 3/3223, 2/5190, 3/2010, 3/1389
1st prizes locally
1/257, 1/153, 1/365, 1/280, 1/92, 1/167, 1/112, 1/180, 1/82, 1/120, 1/127, 1/810, 1/801, 1/480, 1/71, 1/572, 1/44, 1/513, 1/302, 1/280, 1/393, 1/474, 1/435, 1/205, 1/435, 1/191
The foundation of Gert is formed with pigeons from the following fanciers: Van Huyck (Lede), De Mey Patrick (Schoonaarde), Govaert Remi (Lede), Stickers-Donckers (via Luc van Mechelen), Bob & Steven Fenech (Norfolk UK), Van Heddeghem Daniël (Letterhoutem), Dehon-Demonseau (via Dominique Velghe), Dirk Van Den Bulck (via Bob Fenech & Eddy Den Haese), Van den Abbeel-Van Paesschen, Kas & Karel Meijers (NL), Hans & Evert Eijerkamp (NL), Leo Heremans (via Jo Claeskens and Van Heirstraeten and Zn) & Gert Van Limbergen (Lede).
In 2023, reinforcement was added to this foundation via the following fanciers:
- Van Heirstraeten Frans & Timmy (Willebroek)
From here Gert got a super breeding hen: daughter “Coolsduivin”
Children fly: 1/2792, 1/598, 1/572, 2/474, 2/280, 1/801, 2/513, 3/474
- Bartos – Velghe
3 grandchildren Blizzard King Kittel
Immediately a hit with the 039/24 & 040/24
040/24 won 5th Prov.Ace Pigeon Young Sprint 2024 & 36th Nat.Ace Pigeon Sprint Young KBDB ’24 with
1/2380, 4/2148, 15/3008, 21/3223, 21/2792
- Eddy Den Haese (Balegem)
Eddy and Gert are now good friends and for the last 2 years something always comes from Eddy’s well-stocked Leideman Gebr. (NL) breeding loft to Hofstade. This year, one of the better young ones came from this collaboration.
Also, the father of the aforementioned “Blue Princess” comes from Eddy's breeding loft.
Below is a list of references that Gert has received over the years. We can certainly state, as you see this impressive list, that many fanciers succeed with his pigeons, which further indicates that the quality at the house of De Swaef is towering high, and Gert serves people well and honestly!!
- Van Heddeghem Daniël (Letterhoutem)
5th national ace pigeon 50% Gert De Swaef
1st provincial ace pigeon 50% Gert De Swaef
5th provincial ace pigeon 100% Gert De Swaef
17th national ace pigeon 100% Gert De Swaef
- Lismont Patrick (Bekkevoort)
2nd national ace pigeon sprint young 2019 25% Gert De Swaef
1st provincial ace pigeon sprint young 2019 25% Gert De Swaef
- Dehon-Demonseau (Thulin)
21st national ace pigeon sprint yearlings 2021 100% Gert De Swaef
- De Schrijver Johan (Wetteren)
With Gert De Swaef pigeons in Midden-Waas: 1/4928, 2/3341, 1/1425
5 young pigeons obtained via auction in 2024
055/24 won
1st Quiévrain 165, 2nd Noyon 1126, 2nd Noyon 798, 2nd Noyon 738
The other 3 won
1/1144, 1/524, 3/1925, 3/599, 5/3544, 6/798, 7/1300, 12/1457
- Segers Tim (Brakel)
With Gert De Swaef pigeons in Midden-Waas: 11/3357, 24/5708, 21/1420, 15/814
- Van Vaerenbergh Chris (Haaltert)
The best young pigeon 2024 came from a hen bought last year at Pitts
(Race Miss Noyon x Miracle hen)
- Van Heirstraeten Frans & Timmy (Willebroek)
Won with their 688/23 (50% De Swaef Gert)
5th Prov.Ace Pigeon sprint & 23rd Nat.Ace Pigeon sprint KBDB ‘24
1st Ace Pigeon KRS-Union
- Claeskens Jo (Wolvertem)
146/23 (Via auction)
1st Sermaises & 1st Faix-aux-Loges
Co-winner 5th Prov.Champion KHF O + Jrl & 4th National Champion KHF KBDB ‘24
- Van Malderen Luc (Berlare)
- Van Gucht Ronny
Old with 25 times 1st prize 50% Gert De Swaef
Old with 20 times 1st prize 50% Gert De Swaef
- Depestel Gino (Ichtegem)
- Bob Fenech (UK)
Super successful with son “Den Veile”.
- Erik Olivier (Merelbeke)
Daughter Miss Noyon
- Platteau Niels, Mats & father Kristof
16th national ace pigeon sprint yearlings
Top pigeon “De Roger” 18 x 1st prize & 50% De Swaef Gert
- Everaert Jo (Hofstade)
- De Winter Johan (St-Katelijne-Waver)
- De Troyer Jonathan (Lierde)
Best young pigeon 2024 (Via auction)
Won 1st Noyon 256d. and also the fastest young pigeon of +/- 23000 pigeons
- De Troyer Stan
Best young pigeon 2024 (50% Gert De Swaef)
- Arts Willy (Herdersem)
- De Bruin Marnic (Haaltert)
- And several fanciers from the UK via good friend Bob Fenech
Results 2024
Young Noyon:
810 pigeons: 1-3-8-43-45-46-51-62-64-65 …(23/29)
537 pigeons: 2-4-7-8-10-13-21-50-52 …(12/14)
801 pigeons: 1-3-15-17-21-27-72-73-74 …(22/26)
480 pigeons: 1-12-14-19-19-49-50 …(17/23)
572 pigeons: 1-3-4 …(12/15)
513 pigeons: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-9-10-12-19-50-51 …(22/27)
302 pigeons: 1-4-5-6-7-13-14-15-16-17-20-23-25 …(22/23)
280 pigeons: 1-2-4-5-6-7-27-30-38 …(15/20)
393 pigeons: 1-2-3-5-14-69-72-73 …(16/20)
474 pigeons: 1-2-3-4-5-14-23-30 …(15/22)
435 pigeons: 1-1-3-4-5-6-8-10-11-13-16-17-34-37-42 …(17/18)
205 pigeons: 1-2-5-9-20-21-23 …(16/18)
191 pigeons: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-12-13-15-24 …(16/16)
Number of first prizes
Young 12 local & 6 union
Yearlings 10 local
Old 3 local
Old + yearlings 4 local
Results 2023
Old/yearlings Noyon:
715 pigeons: 1-4-10-39 … (8/12)
488 pigeons: 1-11-15-17-26-31 … (10/14)
375 pigeons: 5-6-21-25-27 … (11/14)
365 pigeons: 1-14-43 … (6/7)
326 pigeons: 8-9-10-13-19-23 … (8/8)
129 pigeons: 1-4-8-14-21 … (9/12)
117 pigeons: 3-5-7-13 … (7/9)
75 pigeons: 1-5-6-16 … (6/7)
Young Quiévrain:
225 pigeons: 1-2-3-5 … (17/28)
Young Noyon:
194 pigeons: 1-4-18-19 … (10/18)
115 pigeons: 1-3-9-12-13-14-17-18 … (15/18)
303 pigeons: 3-4-5-25-26 … (14/26)
300 pigeons: 3-7-9-11-18-20 … (15/19)
67 pigeons: 1-2-4-6-7-8 … (12/16)
397 pigeons: 2-8-27-28-30-31-35 … (16/21)
195 pigeons: 1-2-6-7-10-11 … (14/19)
298 pigeons: 2-3-12-16-27-28-30 … (12/15)
397 pigeons: 2-3-10-21-30 … (12/14)
141 pigeons: 2-3-4-5-9-10-13 … (14/15)
107 pigeons: 1-2-5-6-8-11 … (11/15)
Young Momignies:
431 pigeons: 2-8-18-19-20-21-22-27-27 … (14/14)
Championships 2024
Championships VNVB
- 5th Crack Pigeon Old
- 3rd Overall Champion
- 1st Yearlings (1+2)
- 1st + 3rd Crack Pigeon
Championships Dendervallei
- 5th Overall Champion
- 4th 4Ea Yearlings
- 2nd 4EA Young
- 1st most prizes per 10
- 1st, 3rd, 5th, 9th Ace Pigeon Young (6 best prizes)
Championships Land van Aalst
- 2nd Overall Champion
- 1st Overall King (1+2 Old, Yearlings, Young)
- 1st Yearlings 1+2+3
- 1st Yearlings 1+2
- 1st-2nd-3rd-4th-5th Ace Pigeon Yearlings
- 2nd Young 1+2+3
- 1st Young 1+2
- 1st, 2nd, 3rd Ace Pigeon Young