Louis was the man to beat in recent years in the long-distance races in the Dender region. Top results followed one after another at a rapid pace. Countless regional and provincial mentions in the Long Distance Championships were the inevitable consequence. In 2015, he surpassed everything and everyone and thus won the coveted title of 1st National Champion Long Distance Old Pigeons!
On December 15, 2022, the passing of Louis struck us like a bolt from the blue. Three months earlier, we had a chat over drinks and said goodbye with the words: “Until next season.” Who could have guessed then that this would be the last time we spoke? Unbelievable. Our thoughts went out to your wife and daughters. What a difficult time for them, but also for Raf, with whom you had played together in recent years and pushed to the national top of pigeon racing. Now, nearly a year later, we hope to shine a spotlight on you and your pigeons one last time, the recognition you all deserve, and give a good home.
Baasrode, a district of Dendermonde on the banks of the Scheldt. This is where Louis was born and raised. Coming from a pigeon racing family, both Louis' father and grandfather were good pigeon fanciers who particularly excelled in the sprint races. You could always find the young lad at the lofts or he was enlisted to basket the pigeons. It was here that the pigeon bug caught him.
It was only a matter of time before Louis stood on his own feet as a pigeon fancier. This was in 1990 in Mandekensstraat, where the focus was on the middle-distance races. During that period, Louis became the Overall Champion five times in a row.
After this successful period, new challenges were sought. From 2004 onwards, he would focus solely on the long-distance races.
In 2010, he moved to his current address and brought in reinforcement, among others, from Raf Bijl. Raf not only helped Louis with good pigeons but also supported him with advice and assistance. After Raf's total sale in 2015 due to health issues, they decided to extend their collaboration.
A first highlight came immediately in 2015 when they won the coveted national championship for Long Distance Old Pigeons with the following results.
1st returned 2nd Returned
Valence Nat. 6542d. 205 264
Montauban B 1996d. 164 24
Jarnac B 1994d. 80 104
Libourne B 2469d. 9 29
Not only nationally but also at several other levels, championship titles were amassed. Among others, King Long Distance FCD and Overall Champion Long Distance FCD. However, despite the many titles, there was no stagnation, and substantial investments were made.
Reinforcement was sought and found with the top loft Marc & Geert Pollin (Snellegem).
2 daughters from Hamilton (1st Provincial ace pigeon KBDB Large Middle Distance 2010),
1 son from Son Nestbrother Joe and 1 son from Son Prov.St-Junien with daughter Dortmunder came to Baasrode.
But primarily, the foundation couple Pollin (3040227/18 x 3040214/18) produced immediate fireworks and is found numerous times in the pedigrees.
The 3040227/18 is a son of Limo who was paired at that time to a grandchild of Rudy (Founder pigeon at Gaby Vandenabeele and now world-famous)
The 3040214/18 is again a daughter from the Zonale winner Tulle at Pollin, who in turn is a son from Dortmund, with a daughter As-Trix. In short, the top of the bill from Snellegem.
From this couple, several offspring are for sale that have already produced many 1st prize winners, including:
4115056/19 (son of the foundation couple) and father of Limoges Yearling.
Limoges Yearling (650/20) won in 2021
Limoges club 1/ 415
FCD 1/ 1176
Prov. 4/ 2473
Zone 5/ 2883
Nat. 23/ 9218
In 2022, this contender won 4th Provincial Ace Pigeon Long Distance
Limoges 7/ 456
14/ 5108
Brive 2/ 196
7/ 1759
Tulle 18/ 253
74/ 2625
Unfortunately, this doffer fell behind this season (2023).
The next goal was the big Long Distance. For this, a hen came from De Smeyter-Restiaen (Line Laval, Cas & Peggy), 1 hen from De Coster Noë (mainly De Smeyter-Restiaen blood), 2 hens from d’Hondt Freddy and a doiver from Marc De Cock (Marc's top pigeon Rockefeller was bought at Raf's total auction, and this doiver descends from that line).
Through Piet Blancke & Appie Pas, the noble Barcelona bloodlines from New Laureaat (Luc Wiels/Batenburg-v/d Merwe) and Jeff (Rans Stijn & Jeroen) also came to the lofts. Both international winners from the race of races from Barcelona.
Unfortunately, it has not come to fruition, and the offspring from these pigeons could not be tested over the distances for which they were intended.
However, I believe we can speak of a unique opportunity for enthusiasts of the longer distances to strengthen themselves. Take advantage of it.
Below is a summary of the titles and best performances that Louis has gathered over the years together with Raf.
Top Performances Regional/Provincial
- 2016: 1st Regional B1 Limoges II 3089 Old
- 2017: 1st Interprovincial Chateauroux +/- 6000 Old
- 2018: 1st Regional B1 Jarnac 1243 Old
- 2018: 1st Regional B1 Tulle 1339 Yearlings
- 2018: 2nd Provincial Limoges I 3427 Old
Some Tops on the Racing Loft
- 666/20: Best pigeon currently on the racing loft.
- 3rd Tulle, 4th Tulle, 4th Brive, 4th Vierzon, 6th Aurillac, 9th Cahors, 10th Libourne, 17th Limoges
- 20th Best Long Distance Pigeon PIPA RANKINGS 2023
- From Half Brother Rockefeller Marc De Cock x Daughter Hamilton Pollin
- 394/22: Brother 666/20
- 12th Argenton
- 15th Souillac
- 42nd Aurillac
- 55th Tulle
- 048/20: 100% Pollin
- 4th Libourne
- 11th Aurillac
- 21st Tulle
- 26th Limoges
- 29th Vierzon
- but also 16th Noyon 1479d., 16th Sermaises 362d.
- 643/20: 100% Pollin
- Brother of 048/20:
- Won as yearling 1st Provincial Tulle
- 2nd Aurillac, 9th Orleans, 9th Libourne, 10th Limoges, 10th Tulle
- Brother of 048/20:
- 041/21: Won in 2023
- 4th Limoges, 6th Tulle, 18th Libourne
- From Grandson Son Limo x De Smeyter-Restiaen line Laval
- 665/20:
- 1st Ecouen, 1st Sermaises, 7th Bergerac, 9th Souillac, 14th Cahors, 19th Limoges, 27th Orleans, 39th Vierzon
- From Pollin x De Smeyter-Restiaen
- 628/20:
- 2nd Libourne, 11th Ecouen, 11th Sermaises, 13th Limoges, 17th Vierzon, 18th Ecouen, 19th Tulle, 30th Limoges
- From Son Limo x Daughter zonale winner Tulle Pollin
- 336/22:
- 1st Tulle, 10th Souillac, 10th Aurillac, 39th Bourges, 78th Orleans
- From Son Limo x Daughter zonale winner Tulle Pollin
- 332/22:
- 3rd Tulle, 10th Argenton, 12th Limoges, 13th Libourne
- From Grandson Son Limo x De Smeyter-Restiaen line Laval
Some Results from 2023
Vierzon 209 old: 1-3-12-14-20-27-33-35-41-47-68-69 (12/16)
Cahors 84 old: 7-9-13-14-16-17 (6/16)
Limoges II 131 old: 4-10-13-17-21-26-36 (7/9)
Limoges 174 yearlings: 2-11-12-18-24-38-43-45-53 (9/13)
Bergerac 58 old: 7-8-13-18 (4/4)
Aurillac 102 old: 2-6-7-9-11-25 (6/6)
Libourne 82 old 2-4-9-10-18 (5/5)
Libourne 121 yearlings: 13-28 (2/3)
Souillac 88 old: 9-11-13-18 (4/4)
Souillac 108: 10-14-15 (3/3)
Vierzon 247 old: 1-4
FCD 1933 old: 5
Tulle 101 old: 3-6-10-11-17-19-21-24 (8/13)
Tulle 222 yearlings: 1-3-16-40-47-55-74 (7/13)
Championships
2023
- 6th Provincial Champion Long Distance
- 1st Champion Long Distance 1+2 Old De Reisduif
- Overall Champion Long Distance De Reisduif
- 2nd Champion Long Distance 1+2 Yearlings De Reisduif
- 2nd Champion Long Distance FCD
2022
- 4th Provincial ace pigeon Long Distance Old
2021
- 1st Champion Middle Distance Young De Reisduif
- 1st Ace pigeon middle distance Young
2019
- 2nd Overall Champion Long Distance 1+2 Land van Aalst
- 1st Overall King Long Distance Land van Aalst
- 1st Champion Long Distance Old 1+2+3 Land van Aalst
- 1st Champion Long Distance Old 1+2 most prizes Land van Aalst
- 1st Champion Long Distance Yearlings 1+2+3 Land van Aalst
- 1st Champion Long Distance 1+2 Yearlings most prizes Land van Aalst
- Winner points race O + J 1+2+3
2018
- 4th Provincial Champion Long Distance Old & Yearlings
- Overall King FCD Long Distance & Heavy Long Distance 1+2
- Champion FCD Long Distance most prizes
2016
- 8th National Champion Long Distance
- 1st Champion FCD Long Distance 1+2 most prizes
2015
- 1st National Champion Long Distance Old
- King Long Distance FCD
- Overall Champion FCD Long Distance
- Overall Champion Long Distance De Reisduif