We introduced this father-son combination a couple of years ago as the prize-winning machine from Houthalen. In three years' time, they managed to secure first place 87 times. In 2020, the stars of the loft flew to first place 21 times, in 2021 they upped the ante with 26 first prizes, and 2022 was a fantastic year with no less than 40 first prizes. Well, it seems they haven't changed their habits, as they are still the men to beat in Midden-Limburg. Ash pigeons in De Valk Houthalen, ash pigeons in the cooperative Midden-Limburg, championship titles in various categories and provincial top rankings with the regularity of clockwork.
Jozef (77) and Stefan (52) started in the pigeon sport in 1985 and have formed a tandem since 2003. The lineage is primarily built on a doffer from John Baeck and a duivin from Gebr Herbots, which formed the first base pair, followed by duivinnen from the subsequent enthusiasts, Johan & Lucien Vandebroek, Jef Jans, Peter Celis, Pierre Voncken (Valkenburg NL) and Vanmeert Roger & Koen. A doffer from Ivo Renders was also purchased.
Loft inventory
The lofts in Houthalen contain:
- 16 breeding pairs
- 30 young pigeons from the first round
- 30 pigeons from the second round
- 22 widowers
Motivation and training of young pigeons
They let them stay together until they pair (somewhere at the beginning of July) and they train on the sliding door until the end of August. If due to circumstances (weather) not enough training could occur, they are put on eggs in September and a few autumn flights are flown in a provincial radius (Dilsen), thus they learn better to come out of the large group. The youngsters need to make at least 8 to 10 flights, including 1 or 2 times hafo (2 nights).
The training of young pigeons and the old guard
As soon as the young pigeons start to venture out, they are released about 6 to 8 times: 2km, 2x10km, 1x25km, 2x35km and then with the club at 50km. If the weather is good, otherwise, we keep releasing them 2 times a week at 35km, then 75km and then the schedule in Limburg. In 2021, some youngsters went from 75km to 206km, 285km, 315km, 328km, 350km, ...
The old guard is only on pure widowhood, starting at the end of March or beginning of April depending on the weather, the yearlings usually around mid-April.
Medical and nutrition
For breeding and the racing season, the pigeons receive a check-up from the veterinarian and their annual mandatory vaccination.
In terms of nutrition, the pigeons get Beyers Galaxi Sport Light throughout the year, sometimes supplemented with Energy if the races become heavier or after a few heavier races = longer than 5 hours flight duration.
Their year 2024
Championships
De Valk Houthalen-Helchteren
- 1st championship Yearlings
- 3rd old France flights
- 2nd France flights (old/year/young)
- 3rd overall France+Belgium flights
- 1st + 4th ash pigeon old
- 4th and 5th super ash pigeon old pigeons
- 1st, 2nd, 3rd ash pigeon yearlings
- 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th super ash pigeon yearlings
Cooperation Midden Limburg (SML)
- 11th overall hafo+sprint
- 15th overall sprint
- 10th overall hafo
- 14th old hafo
- 2nd yearlings hafo
- 4th and 7th ash pigeon sprint old
- 5th, 6th, 10th super ash pigeon old
- 1st, 5th, 8th ash pigeon hafo yearlings
Region Midden Limburg
- 6th sprint old
Some top results 2024 Region Midden Limburg
6/4 Chimay 134km 3799 old 31-32-571-916 4/5
13/4 Chimay 134km 2432 old 18-43-111-153-219-284-293-358-358-363-431 (11/11),
2257 yearlings 28-73-78-127-130-247-248-248-434-670-685 (11/15)
28/4 Chimay 3267 old 33-105-115-172-281-357-361-554-556-559-574-646-701-962 (14/18)
2142 yearlings 14-44-126-168-171-262-290-292-302-342-679-681 (12/13)
4/5 Vervins 171km 3453 old 2-11-26-98-103-129-235-246-272-326-408-437-443-443-452-501-515-590-877-891 (20/26)
2241 yearlings 1-32-44-85-122-162-174-178-182-211-439-597-621-638 (14/15)
11/5 Laon 206km 1470 old 29-65-67-82-93-98-142-285-463-480 (10/11)
2381 yearlings 4-46-47-110-131-173-177-180-249-332-625-722 (12/15)
20/5 Mettet 97km 1190 old 59-75-151-236-273-276 (6/6)
25/5 Mettet 97km 613 old 2-2-170-172 (4/7)
8/6 Chimay 133km 2379 old 5-6-15-41-69-76-107-109-164-240-261-271-395-524-639-753-759 (17/21)
1305 yearlings 2-18-22-56-95-146-200-255-390 (9/11)
15/6 Laon 206km 1038 old 24-44-44-92-126-143-277
23/6 Trelou 254km 1646 old 5-11-14-15-21-22-33-42-44-46-48-55-88-123-346-466 (16/18)
900 yearlings 8-11-13-17-19-20-39-156-216 (9/11)
29/6 Chimay 133km 1385 old 45-91-245-451 (4/5)
29/6 Sourdun 315km 1579 old 7-12-38-56-70-93-133-148-168-172-179-248-281-(13/16)
944 yearlings 8-20-29-36-63-72-81-118-136 (9/11)
6/7 Chimay 133km 1302 old 26-115-268-270-388 (5/5)
6/7 Sens 350km 1437 old 24-39-47-49-124-166-167-261-281-301-422-436 (12/14)
765 yearlings 15-21-22-23-81-82-122-198-208-238 (10/11)
13/7 Sens 350km 658 yearlings 9-25-38-135-187 (5/8)
20/7 Laon 206km 1339 old 6-11-28-45-83-99-113-190-241-437 (10/12)
657 yearlings 5-11-31-41 (4/5)
20/7 Sens 350km 793 old 14-77-104-111-113 (5/6)
28/7 Trelou 254km 317 old 6-9-10-52-53-88-92 (7/10)
381 yearlings 7-8-9-12-45 (5/7), 2018 youngsters 88-91-281-574 (5/7)
10/8 Chimay 133km 161 youngsters 1-2-3-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21-22..(25/42)
18/8 Chimay 133km 120 youngsters 1-2-3-4-5-6-7..(19/35)
31/8 Dizy 184km 90 youngsters 1-3-6-7-8-9-10-11..(16/23)
Championships of recent years
• 1st provincial champion sprint yearlings 2020 Limburg
• 7th provincial champion sprint old 2021 Limburg
• 1st provincial Sourdun KOTK 2022 8,621 youngsters and fastest of 11,671 pigeons
• 2nd prov Melun 3,590 youngsters 2022
• 2020 21 x 1st cooperative Houthalen-Zolder
• 2021 26 x 1st cooperative Houthalen-Zolder
• 2022 40 x 1st club De Valk Houthalen
• 9th provincial champion small hafo 2022 Limburg
• Overall champion De Witpen Zolder 2018-2020-2021
• Overall champion De Valk Houthalen 2022
Results of the agricultural year 2022
• 26/3 Mettet 98km old club 61d 1,3,4,10,15,16,..11/20 association 3505d 69,246,253,350,...10/20
• 10/4 Chimay 133km old club 50d 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9,..association 3535d 37,42,75,132,142,146,149,150...15/20
• 17/4 Vervins 171km old club 60d 1,5,8,9..association 4305d 32,154,384,427...12/19
• 24/4 Laon 206km old club 34d 1,3,5,6..association 3444d 7,179,278,306,378...10/12
• 7/5 Dizy 184km old club 171d 1,11,18,22...association 3639d 11,197,317,407..13/23
• 7/5 Melun 328km old association 2074d 104,142,201 3/4
• 14/5 Lorris 409km old prov 8348d 276,657,1208,2181 4/5
• 21/5 Gien 422km old prov 7253d 38,212,249,283,1305 5/5
• 28/5 Chimay 133km old club 90d 1,2,3,4,5...association 1821d 76,81,82,112,113,...7/8
• 28/5 Melun 328km old club 112g 1,2,3,7,10,11..association 3270d 39,90,95,246,294,296,..12/23
• 28/5 Bourges 498km year Zone C 1506d 8 1/1
• 11/6 Vervins 171km old club 138d 2,3,4...association 2011d 38,39,40,123,132,143...11/12
• 18/6 Laon 206km old club 62d 1,2,3...association 2254d 21,42,68,183,242..11/16
• 25/6 Laon 206km old club 99d 5,6,8 association 1351d 41,47,57,96..16/23
• 2/7 Melun 328km old club 81d 1,3,9,..association 1483d 19,21,92,103,136..12/19
• 9/7 Melun 328km old club 65d 1,2,7,8..association 1331d 12,26,48,52,96,107...14/20
• 16/7 Melun 328km old club 38d 1,2,3,4...prov 2943d 32,69,135,139,202,234...10/16
• 30/7 Laon 206km old club 51d 1,4,5,6,7 association 1183d 30,78,101,112,113..7/10
• 30/7 Laon 206km youngsters club 193d 1,4,5,6,7,8,9,10..association 4033d 55,323,347,358,384..16/33
• 6/8 Sourdun 315km old prov 1336d 53,67 2/2
• 6/8 Sourdun 315km youngsters club 71d 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11..prov 8321d 1,59,124,126,164,220,226,262,330,331,493,773..16/28
• 20/8 Vervins 171km youngsters club 183d 1,2,4,5,7,8,9...association 2815d 117,127,204,208,227,230..11/20
• 20/8 Melun 328km youngsters club 37d 1,2,3,4..prov 3590d 2,108,220,223 4/18
• 27/8 Laon 206km youngsters club 83d 2,4,8,9..association 2405d 125,134,238,239,..15/24