Maarten and Michel Bommerez from Heverlee have been competing with the best in the big semi-long distance in Demer & Dijle (Flemish Brabant) for many years. And if you want to measure yourself against – let's say – Pascal Ariën, Kaier, Jespers-Vanderwegen, René Sterckx, Patrick Vervloesem, Danny Van Avondt, Wouters-Wouters, and Michel Janssens, then your pigeons must come from good stock. Apparently, that is indeed the case with the thoroughbreds in Heverlee.
Michel and Maarten completely said goodbye to their overnight pigeons around 2012-2013 to focus exclusively on the big semi-long distance. The broad foundation almost entirely came from Gaby Vandenabeele through various channels (Annick Goeteyn, Herbots, Theo Weytjens, online auctions, etc.). These investments paid off, as they could participate with the big names almost from the beginning.
For 10 years, they have been playing only with widow hens according to the chaos system. The hens spend the day on grates in a not-so-large pen with wind nets and overnight on “kapellekes” in a somewhat more sheltered night loft.
Maarten and Michel Bommerez, racing as “Hok Bommerez, Heverlee”
Breeding Foundation
The two foundation pigeons of the loft date back to that early period: the “Pelican Cluster” and the “Big Deal.” The “Pelican Cluster” was purchased online from Theo Weytjens from two direct Vandenabeeles; certainly not the least, as a brother of Gloria was paired with a daughter of Lion King. The Pelican gave up way too soon but is still well represented in the breed in Heverlee. For example, he is found through his wonder daughter “Route 66,” who flew 10th and 16th nationally from Bourges in two consecutive years. The Pelican owes his nickname Cluster to his beautiful cluster eye, which experts consider to be a sign of exceptional breeding value... “Big Deal” was first borrowed and then purchased from Herbots. He is from 2013, still alive, and misses no eggs. He is now the father and grandfather of a series of fine pigeons. For instance, he is the father of “Wifi,” who won 15th nationally from Argenton against 13,730 birds and is now the grandmother of the 1st national Ace pigeon GHF. Additionally, “Wifi” and her nest mate “Tusky” are together the grandparents of 1 national Bourges 24,211 YL with Olivier Poussart. “Big Shot,” a son of “Big Deal,” is in Heverlee among others the father of 11th national Souillac 4827 pigeons, to name just a few. Or we should also mention “Mantra,” also a daughter of “Big Deal,” with 26th national Bourges 24,053 d. and 73rd national Châteauroux 4203 d.
Over the years, other pigeons were added, primarily from friend Patrick Vervloesem (Rijmenam), who has a loft full of the stock from Flor Engels, Marcel Aelbrecht, and Gaston Van de Wouwer. Patrick’s pigeons fit wonderfully with those from Heverlee, and almost every top pigeon has a dose of Vervloesem. Furthermore, I must certainly mention the excellent pigeons from Rik Hermans, which came via their late friend Jan. This includes, for example, the top breeder “Bazooka” (grandson of “Kanon”), “Jong Kannibolleke” (a daughter of “Jaarling Dondersteen” and granddaughter of the “Kannibaal”), and the nest pair “Pharao” and “Nefertete.” From Frans Wouters-Wouters, several good pigeons also came, including the mother of 9th national Argenton from 8867 d.
We cannot list everything, but certainly noteworthy is “Smokey Blue,” a smoky-blue daughter of the breeding couple from DVV, the former combination De Vroe-Van Gaver. “Smokey Blue” is in turn the grandmother of 2 national winners, one from Tulle against 7,267 old pigeons and one from Bourges against 33,410 old pigeons.
Through his contacts as a reporter, Michel also acquired pigeons from Willem de Bruijn, Bas Verkerk, Dirk Leekens, Stefan Steenbergen, Jespers-Vanderwegen, Patrick Vanoppen-Luyten (in partnership with Pelican), etc.
With all that noble blood, and especially around the lineage breeding from the 2 foundation pigeons, a very strong breed of nature pigeons has been cultivated that also performs very well with others. Specifically, Olivier and Justin Poussart – then still together with Paul Santens – scored a wealth of good pigeons in Heverlee. This included no less than 3 national winners, a 4th national ace pigeon KHF, and the father of their 1st national ace pigeon GHF. That counts for something.
The age is beginning to weigh
In practice, the combination “Hok Bommerez” consists of father Michel and son Maarten, with the understanding that Maarten has lived and worked in London for 10 years. Specifically, this means that 99% of the daily maintenance and care falls on father Michel’s shoulders. But Michel is getting a year older (77) and has struggled over the past 3 years with the unfortunate consequences of a broken thigh, which cost him 3 operations and three times half a year of rehabilitation. Tugging around filled baskets, bags of pigeon food, and full watering cans is no longer evident... Therefore, Maarten and Michel have decided to drastically reduce the pigeon stock and have sought the services of Pitts. I can already reveal that 7 children of “Big Deal” and 6 from “Bazooka” will be offered!
Some national top pigeons at Hok Bommerez
- 8th national Issoudun 10,603 d., Isolde B2009127-18
- 9th national Argenton 8,867 d., Decathlon B2072910-21
- 10th national Bourges 8,348 d., Route 66 B2000966-15
- 11th national Souillac 4,827 d., Batwoman B2072801-21
- 13th national Châteauroux 8,075 d., Chiara B2020339-20
- 15th national Argenton 13,730 d., Wifi B2171258-14
- 16th national Bourges 10,173 d., Route 66 B2000966-15
- 18th national Argenton 20,467 d., Tiny Rebel B2027653-19
- 18th national Châteauroux 3,618 d., Thirty Dancing B2024030-17
- 19th national Guéret 8,375 d., Loredana B2020399-20
- 23rd national Bourges 7,270 d., Chiara B2020339-20
- 23rd national Argenton 3,110 d., Super Bowl B2171305-14
- 26th national Bourges 24,055 d., Mantra B2024157-17
Some recent top pigeons
- “Chiara” B2020339-20 who became 5th national Ace pigeon GHF KBDB in 2023
- “Route 66” winning 10th and 16th national Bourges
- “Loredana” winning 2 x 1st in the strong combined group Demer & Dijle
- “Tiny Rebel” winning 1st and 3rd in the Brabant union from Bourges and Argenton in a few weeks' time
- “Octomove” B2027708-19 wins top 100 national 3 times (35, 37, and 84 nationally) within 4 weeks
- “Isolde” who herself won 8th national Issoudun and is already the mother of 11th national Souillac
- “Decathlon” who was an Ace pigeon last year due to her consistency and recently won 9th national Argenton.
References
In this regard, the stunning results of the combination Poussart-Santens (Chimay), now Olivier and Justin Poussart, certainly stand out.
The most important direct pigeons from Hok Bommerez with Poussart are:
- B2020332-20 Patrick wins 1st national Tulle 7,267 YL (fastest of 12,334)
- B2072829-21 Aston Martin wins 1st national Bourges 24,211 YL
- B2020311-20 Carina wins 1st national Bourges 33,410 p. (fastest of 57,621)
- B2009022-18 Calliope became 4th national Ace pigeon MD KBDB in 2019 with among others
- 5th national Bourges 3,885 p.
- 1st Fay-aux-Loges 5,832 p.
- 1st Fay-aux-Loges 1,144 p.
- 1st St-Soupplets 1,062 p.
- 3rd Gien 1,514 p.
- 3rd St Soupplets 1,580 p.
- B2009070-18 Aramis flew himself:
- 3rd semi-national Bourges 3,885 p.
- 4th national Brive 747 p.
- and then became the father of B1104528-20 Real Dream
- 1st national Ace GMD YL KBDB with among others
- 1st Bourges 1,120 p.
- 13th national La Souterraine 14,037 p.
- 10th national Châteauroux 22,196
- 2nd national Argenton 1,429 p.
- and then became the father of B1104528-20 Real Dream
The Godiva, offered as purchase 1 in the sale. From top breeder Bazooka (Rik Hermans) x a granddaughter of Rudy (Annick Goeteyn). She flew well from Châteauroux with a 2nd provincial and performed well two more times in Tulle and Guéret before heading to the breeding loft.
The wonderful Route 66, the best Bourges hen on 2 national results Bourges in 2016-2017 with a 10th and a 16th nationally two years in a row. Daughter of foundation sire Pelican Cluster
2 children from her in part 3, buy 11-12
Foundation Sire Big Deal, direct Gaby Vandenabeele, half-brother of Lion King. His children Tusky and Wifi became the grandparents of the 1st national Bourges 24,496 YL. Wifi herself flew 15th national Argenton against 13,525 pigeons and together with Osiris became the grandmother of the 1st national Ace pigeon KBDB GHF 2023 with Olivier Poussart.
7 children of him in the auction and many grandchildren.
Osiris, 100% Rik Hermans from 2 direct, is the grandfather of “Real Dream,” who became the 1st national Ace pigeon KBDB Grote Halve Fond 2023 with Olivier Poussart. He is a grandson of the Jaarling Dondersteen and son of foundation pigeon Pharao.
Osiris is being sold in a pair sale with a beautiful daughter of him paired with Wifi, grandparents of the 1st national Ace pigeon KBDB GHF 2023 with Olivier Poussart. He fertilized in 2024 still 100% of his eggs.
Octomove flies 3 times the top provincial and top 100 national on 3 consecutive flights. She is a half-sister via the father of Twice is Nice, a top breeding hen at Bommerez who became the mother of the 1st national Bourges 24,496 YL with Olivier Poussart and 5th national Ace pigeon KBDB GHF at Bommerez.
Tarantino, a direct Jespers-Vanderwegen flew well himself and is the grandfather of Carina, 1st national Bourges 33,615 old pigeons. Comes from their foundation pair 2, Den 30 x Marina. Tarantino is a brother of 1st national zone Argenton from 6,630 pigeons and also flew well as a young pigeon from Bourges (84th provincial against 3,126 young pigeons).