Sonia started in pigeon racing in 1987 through her husband Danny Van den Bossche. At that time, mainly sprint and small middle distance were played. The original strain with which everything started consisted of 60 young pigeons from Danny's parents, then Hoebeke-Van den Bossche, later Van den Bossche – Lauwereys from Woubrechtegem. Later, these were supplemented with pigeons from Roger and Paul Haelterman (Voorde), André and Patrick De Smet (Semmerzake), family D’Hondt also from Semmerzake, Gaby Vandenabeele (Dentergem), Firmin Willockx (Asse), and Erik Limbourg (Brussegem).
This generation of breeding pigeons produced several top performers such as:
- “Chateaurouxke” (216/87)
- “De Provinciaal” (750/97)
- “Indurijn” (472/94)
- “Ronaldo” (618/96): 1st National Ace Pigeon Sprint
- “Grijze 400” (400/03): Best Belgian long-distance pigeon on 4 national races 2005
- “Grizzle King” (004/09): 1st National Chateauroux and fastest of 39,055 pigeons!
- “Het Bordeauxke” (087/10): 1st Belgian Olympiad pigeon Marathon 2013 from the then tandem Van der Maelen – Penne.
In the following years, there was further reinforcement with pigeons from Jo Ronsijn (Appelterre) and Dany Leus (Herzele) and more Vandenabeele pigeons were acquired. From Temmerman-Arijs, about 30 young pigeons were received in 2017, which also achieved very good results, and from Yvan Van den Bossche (then Van den Bossche – Van den Steen) comes the current best breeding pigeon at Sonia's loft; this is a crossbreed from Yvan Van den Bossche, Bjorn Haak, Erik Limbourg, and Jan & Gustaaf De Bisschop.
The System
Over the years, Van der Maelen gradually shifted towards the large middle distance and long-distance. Obviously, some shorter flights are still included as preparatory flights for the old and young pigeons. About 45 breeding pairs are responsible for producing a total of 200 young pigeons. After the season, some young pigeons are also ringed from the best flyers.
The racing team consists of 14 cocks and 16 hens on classic widowhood and 24 pairs on total widowhood. Among these 78 pigeons, there are about 12 older pigeons. These are paired at the end of February and breed for about 10 days, so they are on widowhood by the end of March. They are not darkened but are provided with additional light from the end of June from 5:30 AM to 10:30 PM. Before the basketting, the pigeons are let together for about half an hour, and upon returning from the flight, they can stay together until the evening or even the next morning.
For the young pigeons, motivation happens both on the nest and at the sliding door. They are often taken away to about 40 km and then return with the company. With a north wind, this is just Quiévrain (50 km), while under favorable weather conditions they go directly to Noyon (156 km). “In recent years, the young pigeons from the 1st round were not darkened, the 2nd round was. Both rounds were later provided with additional light.
Nourishment and Care
For feeding in Aspelare, trust is placed in Beyers' mixtures: Galaxy Light, Galaxy Energy, and Vandenabeele mixture. On basketting day, in addition to the regular feeding, hemp seeds are also added as an extra. Regarding supplements, Sonia and Danny utilize Schroeder-Tollisan and Herbovet products. Furthermore, all pigeons are vaccinated against pox, paramyxovirus, and paratyphoid. For the young pigeons, vaccination against the Rota virus is also on the agenda.
The Very Best Breeding Pigeons
The family of "Wout" (from Ian 2048343-16 X Grizzle Jasmina 4065079-18) and "Dream Princess" (from Beuty Sproet 4169003-17 X Vlekje 4169115-17) currently holds a significant share of the current successes.
The absolute number 1 breeder is as mentioned above “Ian” 2048343-16
paired both with “Grizzle Jasmina” 4065079-18 and his old hen “Blauwe Blanchetta” 4318672-10 has already fathered several top pigeons such as:
- “Wout” 4087354-21 (6th National Ace Pigeon All-Round KBDB old + young pigeons (1st Young Pigeon)),
- “Beauty Blanchetta” 4065104-18 (5th National Ace Pigeon with 8 national large middle distance races “Pipa Ranking” '22),
- “Nafi” 4087512-21 (daughter at k6) (3 X 1st prize and 2nd National Zone B1 Issoudun 1758 pigeons),
- “Lady Toury” 4007389-22 (2 X 1st prize and 3rd Provincial Ace Pigeon small middle distance KBDB East Flanders '23),
- “Donkere Jan” 4233913-17 (1st Toury 488 d., 2nd Chateauroux 1392 d., 14th Belgian Olympiad pigeon All-Round '19 and father of 1st prize and top prize winner),
- “Beauty Jan” 4065103-18 (1st prize Chateauroux and proven breeder)...
Click here for more info about super breeder "Ian" 2048343-16
2) “Beauty Sproet” 4169003-17
This proven breeding pigeon has already fathered, grandfathered, and great-grandfathered 1st prize, ace pigeon, and top prize winners; he has already fathered
- “Blue Dream” 4033494-19 (1st Provincial La Souterraine (542 km) 2029 pigeons)
- and with his current hen “Vlekje” 4169115-17 (=daughter founding couple “Kleine Witten” 4312330-11 X “Witte Princess” 4307900-11), he is the father of: “Dream Princess” 4002518-20 (2nd Provincial Ace Pigeon large middle distance old KBDB '22, 8th and 10th National Ace Pigeon with 8 National large middle distance races “Pipa Ranking” '22 & '21)
- “Argenton Princess” 4087551-21 (3rd National Zone B1 Argenton 2736 d.)
- “Beauty Vlekke” 4002519-20 (1st prize Noyon 471 d.)...
Click here for more info about "Beauty Sproet" 4169003-17
Some of the Best Results in 2024
19-05 Noyon (156 km) De Reisduif Appelterre 154 Old: 3-7-8-9-11-20-27-36-42 (13 entered)
19-05 VNVB In de Rechte Lijn 944 Young Pigeons: 3-13-26-28-36-46-65-70-77-111-114-126-140-149-168-170-173-181-191-201-221-260-277-277-277-282-303-310-311 (66 entered)
08-06 Argenton (502 km) Denderbond Ninove 375 Old: 5-7-89 (5 entered)
501 Young Pigeons: 3-17-20-35-36-38-45-46-48-58-59-60-89-93-102-155 (32 entered)
08-06 Toury (329 km) Denderbond Ninove 668 Old+Young Pigeons: 4-6-11-18-20-23-61-117-138-190 (14 entered)
217 Old: 2-4-8-16 (4 entered)
456 Young Pigeons: 5-6-20-43-54-86-133-142 (10 entered)
09-06 Noyon (156 km) De Reisduif Appelterre 101 Young Pigeons: 1-12-13 (4 entered)***
184 Old+Young Pigeons: 1-29-30-47 (4 entered) ***
15-06 Poitiers(Vivonne, 563km) Denderbond Ninove 469 Young Pigeons: 1-4-5-8-19-20-25-26-36-38-49-66-73-86-110-117-132-148 (34 entered) ***
305 Old: 7-47-83 (7 entered)
15-06 Toury (329 km) Denderbond Ninove 606 Young Pigeons: 3-5-16-17-18-20-22-23-30-50-51-78-158-196 (17 entered)
191 Old: 9-11-17-61 (5 entered)
08-07 Chateauroux (476 km) Denderbond Ninove 209 Young Pigeons: 1-24-43-56(5 entered)***
08-07 Toury (329 km) Denderbond Ninove 248 Old+Young Pigeons: 1-3-28-28-30-31-55-59-60-63-80 (30 entered)***
21-07 Noyon (156 km) De Reisduif Appelterre 151 Old: 2-3-34-50 (5 entered)
422 Young: 4-6-7-14-15-18-19-20-22-23-24-34-35-39-46-56-57-64-67-87-94-125-128-130-135 (46 entered)
28-07 Orleans (351 km) Denderbond Ninove 185 Old+Young Pigeons: 1-3-4-5-7-11-12-18-30-53 (11 entered)***
160 Young Pigeons: 1-3-5-13-33 (7 entered)***
28-07 Noyon (156 km) De Reisduif Appelterre 88 Young Pigeons: 1-2-4-6-10-16-17 (30 entered) ***
28-07 Noyon (156 km) Dendervallei East Flanders 527 Young Pigeons: 1-6-38-64-78-105-113-161-163 (30 entered)***
28-07 Noyon (156 km) VNVB In De Rechte Lijn 421 Young Pigeons: 1-4-30-53-66-89-96 (30 entered) ***
24-08 Toury (329 km) Viane 370 Young: 3-4-6-8-11-12-25-30-31-35-36-37-44-45-55-56-63-69-73-81-99-100-101-108-114 (74 entered)
01-09 Noyon (156 km) De Reisduif Appelterre 69 Old+Young Pigeons: 1-7-9-13-15-17-19-20 (25 entered) ***
01-09 Noyon VNVB In de Rechte Lijn 117 Old+Young Pigeons: 1-10-12-19-21-24-26-27-34-35-36-39 (25 entered)***
01-09 Noyon Dendervallei 188 Old+Young Pigeons: 1-15-17-25-27-30-34-37-51-54-56-63 (25 entered) ***
08-09 Noyon VNVB In de Rechte Lijn 92 Old+Young Pigeons: 1-11-16-17-19-31 (24 entered) ***
14-09 Chateauroux (476 km) Viane Local 41 Old+Young Pigeons: 1-4-6-7-11-12 (14 entered)***
National 1723 Old: 18-96-115-158-231-250-299-372-408 (14 entered)
15-09 Noyon (156 km) Dendervallei 123 Old+Young Pigeons: 2-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-32 (14 entered)
22-09 Momignies (89 km) Zandbergen 201 Old: 1-5-8-9-10-11-13-14-16-21-22-23-29-30-31-31-34-36-37-38-40-42-50-51-53-53-55-57-58-59-60-63-64-66-67 (74 entered) ***
29-09 Momignies (89 km) Zandbergen 150 Young: 3-4-6-7-8-9-12-13-14-15-16-17-19-20-24-25-26-27-31-32-33-38-39-41-42-43-44-45-46 (61 entered)
Championships 2022/2023
- 6th NATIONAL ACE PIGEON ALL-ROUND KBDB OLD + YOUNG 2022.
- 2nd Provincial Ace Pigeon KBDB Large Middle Distance Old East Flanders 2022.
- 3rd Provincial Ace Pigeon KBDB Small Middle Distance Young Pigeons East Flanders 2023,
- 5th Provincial Champion KBDB Large Distance Young Pigeons East Flanders 2023,
- 7th Provincial Ace Pigeon All-Round Old KBDB East Flanders 2022.
- 9th Provincial Ace Pigeon All-Round Young KBDB East Flanders 2022.
- 9th Provincial Champion Large Middle Distance Old KBDB East Flanders 2022.
- 2nd Champion Long Distance and Large Distance Young “F.C.D.” (+/- 500 members) 2022.
- 2nd Ace Pigeon Large Middle Distance Old “F.C.D.”(+/- 500 members) 2022.
- 3rd General Champion Large Middle Distance “F.C.D.” (+/- 500 members) 2022.
- 3rd Champion Large Middle Distance Old “F.C.D.” (+/- 500 members) 2022.
- 1st General Champion Middle Distance “Denderbond Ninove” 2023,
- 1st General Champion “De Snelvliegers Zandbergen” 2022
- 5th World Best Pigeon KBDB Long Distance “FCI” 2022
- 5th National Ace Pigeon Large Middle Distance in 8 national races “Pipa Ranking” 2022
- 8th National Ace Pigeon Large Middle Distance in 8 national races “Pipa Ranking” 2022