In Heusden-Zolder, there lives a tandem worth mentioning, men who individually have already had a rich career and now as a tandem are adding even more to it.
They won the classic, the former car race, from Orléans (Gien) with the young pigeons. They played 1,2,4,16,20,... out of 2944 young pigeons at the provincial level. They had 22 entered, so a dizzying result. The race is supported in Limburg by HbvL and Horta. A prize pool of 10,000 euros is being distributed, of which 1,750 euros goes to the provincial winner from Heusden-Zolder.
The hen with ring number 5073514/24 gave them the first provincial spot; she comes from a male pigeon of Ivan Stockmans (who went to the breeding loft as a young bird), and further in her lineage, we find the parents of the 1st National at Ivan in 2015. On the mother’s side, we trace back to the Schroyen-Stockmans loft, further in the pedigree is the son of the 8th National Ace Pigeon 2013 (Father Olympiad Pigeon Maastricht) x a hen from the Herbots Kobe and Kato loft.
Den Orléans (514/24) previously flew nice prizes, such as 17/2364 at Chimay, 191/1979 at Vervins, 59/1166 at Soissons, 19/1421 at Nanteuil, ...(regional game). Clearly not a one-day wonder (read 'pigeon').
Their 2nd provincial Orléans (Gien), 5073500/24, has Stockmans blood flowing through its veins on the father's side (again including the parents of the 1st National in 2015). On the mother’s side, it is a breeding hen from Schroyen-Stockmans made from a male pigeon from Daniel Timmers (Hechtel-Eksel) x an inbred product linked to the 1st National Ace Pigeon 2019 Half Fond (De Chloe) from Schroyen-Henderix. Good blood doesn’t lie...
That both gentlemen can produce quite a pedigree I already knew; Fernand Schroyen (Schroyen-Henderix) has already achieved the 1st National Ace Pigeon Half Fond young birds twice, namely in 2016 and 2019 (De Chloe), along with many other provincial victories. Nice, Fernand says, but we live in the now...as a true champion should.
Ivan Stockmans previously achieved 35 provincial victories and 4 national wins in Lummen, so I don’t need to explain much more here...I think. A team with tons of experience, when this collaboration happens...then as an enthusiast, you must listen closely to what these people have to say.
The successful tandem has been operating under its current name since 2021 and has already achieved 7 provincial victories, the 2nd National Ace Pigeon Allround young birds 2023, the 8th National Ace Pigeon Half Fond young birds, and 3rd Provincial Ace Pigeon Half Fond young birds. Recently, they also secured the 3rd Olympiad Pigeon among the old birds in Maastricht, which is now in the breeding loft. The success that both gentlemen have achieved individually is clearly being continued. In 2024, they already won 3 provincials: Bourges, Tulle, and now the 1st Provincial Orléans (Gien). The victories in Bourges and Tulle were achieved with 2 sisters!!
Foundation and System
The tandem started with 110 young birds, of which they now have 55, in 4 steps, they train their young pigeons in Heverlee (55 km). The first time, they release their young pigeons on the lawn near the loft (acclimation basket,...), if they get lost from a location, they return to the same spot again. They aim to train the young birds as quickly as possible.
The sliding door system is implemented, where the pigeons come together upon return, with the duration depending on the race. The young pigeons are darkened until mid-May. Throughout the season, no pigeons are spared by the Heusden tandem; the young ones even go along on the autumn races in Dilsen, where they frequently claim the main prize. The season is meant for racing, and the best will remain. The mindset of the "real champion."
Of course, they also achieve impressive results with their old and yearlings, which are raced on widowhood and later on nest. They start with 14 (old and yearlings) males and 21 females. These pigeons race as far as Limoges, Tulle... thus the day races with familiar results. The males and females are raced separately, but they do have their permanent partner.
The original foundation of Fernand Schroyen are pigeons from Jules Lens (Putte), and since 2019, there has been an influx of Hooymans pigeons. Fernand purchased 2 late young birds on Pipa, and fortune and quality dictate that many good pigeons are now emerging from that. A hit, therefore. In the pedigree, all the strong genes of the top breeder from the Netherlands (Hooymans) are present, including “De Harry.” Thus, these pigeons from Hooymans are increasingly taking a share in their colony. Of course, there are still pigeons from the Stockmans Ivan strain in their stock, especially from the 410/99, the super breeder of the Stockmans strain. This one has Vervloesem blood running through its veins.
There are also Ludo Engelen (Kuringen), practically all Schroyen-Stockmans pigeons, and Patrick Welkenhuyzen,... who are doing extraordinarily well with pigeons from the Heusden tandem.
Fernand and Ivan feed Beyers (Galaxy light), with extra corn,... They also give a lot of tea to the pigeons, especially in the winter season. They use Formolie and Belgasol (De Weerd), and the pigeons also get a yellow drop (Koehoorn) every week for the races.
They go to the veterinarian once a year (Van Rompaey/Ectors), the mandatory vaccinations are, of course, administered, and the old pigeons receive a cure while they are breeding. If something needs to be done against “the heads” on advice, a 12-day treatment is administered. So the men from Heusden-Zolder don’t do much in particular; the weaklings or lesser pigeons are anyway already removed among the young ones. All breeders are treated and vaccinated against paratyphoid, according to Ivan.
Fernand says: “With the young ones, we haven’t done anything this year, many don’t believe this, but it’s true.” “A good one” requires little, I’m convinced of that myself.
Experienced enthusiasts like this tandem also say that you must be very cautious when adding pigeons, especially if you already have a good strain of pigeons. You must always be sharp and early remove “the lesser ones” and, of course, stick to a fixed system. Not believing everywhere and only doing what you feel good about. “If they don’t come well,” says Fernand...then back to “the foundation”...light feeding, tea,...
Change?
I also regularly ask “experienced enthusiasts” what could be changed in pigeon racing?
Firstly, everything about the shipment in a provincial release (not provincial game but all released together), this should already happen from Chimay. The pigeons learn much more; they have to find their way back, and you get better pigeons. The port game should be abolished, just everything counted for a prize. Another idea (Ivan): all provincial flights should be entered at the loft in Genk (fewer mistakes would occur,...). Then, of course, another hot topic that many enthusiasts hammer on...the fact that certain enthusiasts can enter in several provinces. This is an unfair game with unequal chances...they can often enter in 2, sometimes 3 provinces and play. Which is of course a great advantage for ace pigeons and championships.
The principle that where you enter once, you continue playing (regardless of the weather, wind,...), even better...a Limburger enters and plays in Limburg, not outside it. This isn’t that difficult; it just needs to be incorporated and enforced in the provincial statutes (without other interests interfering). Equality for everyone; that’s where everything starts...I can only agree with Fernand and Ivan on this. Here we have something to think about and consider...
Thank you very much for the warm welcome and the very interesting conversation; once again, congratulations and good luck ahead...some beautiful flights are still coming up...