How it Started
About 35 years ago, Eddy and Patriek met at Norbert Wijnsberghe's, at that time one of the top lofts in Flanders for long-distance racing. Eddy was a good friend of the family, and annually pigeons were exchanged. At that time, Eddy raced under the name Haerens-VD Meerschaut with his mother-in-law Annie. Patriek was still a cyclist at that moment, but in his free time, he often visited Uncle Norbert to wait for the pigeons. One could say that Patriek comes from a true pigeon-loving family, as both his grandfather and father Antoine were fervent pigeon enthusiasts. When Eddy's mother-in-law decided to stop, plans were made in 2000 to start the tandem Steyaert-VD Meerschaut the following year. It was agreed to kick off in 2001 at Eddy's old lofts in Astridstraat for the racing flights, while new lofts were established at Patriek's in Bredestraat for the breeding pigeons. The first year was immediately a fantastic year with several wins, mainly in races north of Paris.
Bloodline Development
In the early years, they mainly raced with Eddy's old strain, which consisted of pigeons from Norbert Wijnsberghe, Etienne T’kint, Demunster Buddy, Joel Declercq & Luc Weytens. In early 2000, Patriek was allowed to select a young pigeon from Hubert Cosman in Waregem. Hubert was a well-liked enthusiast in the local club in Waregem where all races north of Paris were played. Hubert raced no further than Clermont, but everyone knew that there were several pigeons from Camiel Van Wynsberghe from Waregem in his loft. What no one could suspect at that moment was that this pigeon would turn out to be a star in the breeding loft. To this day, around eight grandchildren of this pigeon remain in the breeding loft. During his season as a young pigeon, he frequently flew in the top 10, even at Tours. Since they were not racing old pigeons at that point, “Hubert” moved to the breeding loft where he evolved into a super breeder. He received four different hens and all produced first prize winners. A daughter from “Hubert” moved to Filip Teirlinck in Astene. There, this strain also excelled with a national victory at Argenton against over 12,000 pigeons. Good friend Lieven Lannoo also received this strain to try in his breeding loft. His “Eddy” won three first prizes in a row last season in races over 400 km.
In 2010, a direct daugher from “Hubert” moved in with Geert and Annick Van Renterghem. The hen was named “Patricia.” For years, she was one of the better breeding pigeons and the mother of “de Patriek”: 1st provincial Vierzon from over 7,000 pigeons. “De Patriek” then moved to Moortsele with Tom Van Gaver, where her grandchildren are now performing well.
From Geert and Annick, the tandem received a pair of eggs in 2013 from “Brother Gabor” (1st interprovincial Tours), this Gabor line consists of pure Gaby Vandenabeele pigeons. Later, two more pigeons from this line joined the breeding loft. The Gabor line, after “Hubert,” was the second shot in the dark. The Gabor line not only produces first prize winners up to 500 km but also good breeding pigeons. The father of “Lorena” is a pigeon from this strain. Lorena is the best pigeon they have ever had in their loft, and after two years of racing, “Lorena” may now showcase her qualities in the breeding loft.
Through Geert, they also got to know Willy Sander from Aarsele. Willy also had gold under the roof. He didn’t just race well, but many enthusiasts succeeded with his type. Two hens moved to Petegem, which immediately yielded the desired results. Last year, Willy reluctantly had to give up his pigeons due to health reasons. At Willy's loft, there were 12 breeders, of which seven had a provincial victory on their record or an ace pigeon title. Once again, seven pigeons reinforced the breeding loft, including the winner of the 1st provincial at Chateaudun.
Through Lieven Lannoo, they also received several pigeons from the Gevaert-Lannoo strain. These pigeons also perform excellently in the breeding loft; their best young pigeon this season (8th prov. all-round ace pigeon East Flanders) is from the Lannoo – Van Hoe strain.
Pigeon Stock
Every year, they breed around 50 young pigeons and race with 18 widowers: 9 males and 9 females. Here, it’s not about quantity but quality!
Care
Each member of the tandem has specific tasks. Eddy releases the old pigeons around 8:00 AM and cleans the lofts. Patriek takes care of the young pigeons after work and releases the hens around 7:00 PM. They have four locations where they send pigeons. Eddy goes to Ruiselede and Zulte, Patriek to Aalter and Zeveren.
The old pigeons receive feed from Beyers, while the young pigeons get the racing mix from Bernard Lefebre. Against trichomoniasis, the pigeons get yellow drops weekly, and they are also very satisfied with Brockamp products.
When averaging the last 5 seasons, they achieve around 16 first prizes per season. This season, there were 23. Thus, we can state that they have won first prizes in all races from Arras to Argenton in recent years.
Championships
They do not specifically race for championships. The pigeons are sent in both East and West Flanders, making it difficult to place in the provincial championships. The young pigeon that ranked as the 8th prov. all-round ace pigeon had a coefficient of around 4 out of 5 races in East Flanders (including 3 first prizes); the 6th race was not ranked by tens. That pigeon did achieve an early prize but in West Flanders. However, they do not want to complain about it: “after all, it is our own decision.”
In the local club in Zulte, they are champions this season with young pigeons north of Paris and 4th in races north of Paris. Zulte is the only club where they send pigeons almost weekly. In the past, they were champions in Waregem for 5 consecutive years on the middle distance, also winning the inter-West Flanders supercup and a 3rd provincial ace pigeon title on the middle distance in East Flanders!
Eddy & Patriek want to thank once again the people with whose pigeons they have succeeded!
- Van Renterghem G Aarsele (Vandenabeele Gaby strain)
- Sander Willy Aarsele (sons and daughters from the founding couple)
- Teirlinck Filip Astene (daughter from 1st national Argenton)
- Van Steenbrugge Eric Kruisem
- Van den Bossche F & J Zwijnaarde
- Lannoo – Van Hoe (Gevaert - Lannoo strain)
- Van Lancker Charles Heurne – Eine (gray strain)
- This year collaborating with Vertriest Freddy Bevere – Oudenaarde
- Basselier Dylan Deinze
- De Rese Hans Latem
Results Season 2024
- Roye 150 d: 1-3-4-12-13-25-26-27 …..11/14
- Roye 118d:1-6-16-17-21-23 ….7/8
- Arras 326d: 1-8-9-24-25-32-33 …..14/18
- Clermont 141d:4-8-9-11-20 ….9/10
- Clermont 276d: 1-3-15-21-26 ….7/16
- Clermont 321d: 1-24-25-26 …..12/16
- Clermont 515d: 1-2-6-7-10-12-20-40 ….11/14
- Clermont 417d: 1-2-12-23-25 ….9/12
- Clermont 441d: 1-10-12-21-22 ….15/21
- Pontoise 318d: 1-4-12-13-22-34 ….8/12
- Pontoise 377d: 6-9-12-16-17-18-30-33 …..14/15
- Pontoise 334d: 3-4-6-18 ….9/12
- Fontenay 322d 1-20-26 ….8/11
- Chateaudun 95d: 1-2-4-12-13-15 5/5
- Orleans 769d: 4-5-7 3 /4
- Orleans 1150d: 4-5-7-13-53 4/5
- Toury 986d: 1-27-54-82 6/8
- Montoire 258d: 3-6-10-18-33 ….16/18
- Bourges 205d: 6-39-45 3/3
- Argenton 357d: 2-26 national 14745 d: 21 – 399
Some Top 25 Rankings Provincial & National Last Seasons
- Chateaudun East Flanders 95d 1-2-4
- Orleans interprovincial 1150d 4-5-7-13th
- Issoudun zone 1146d 5th
- Orleans prov 7205d 9th
- Montoire prov 3781d 13th
- Chateaudun interprov 4068d 14th
- Bourges zone 6626d 15th
- Issoudun national 8151d 17th
- Argenton national 14745d 21st
- Toury prov 11163d 23rd