Louis was the man to beat in the long-distance races in the Dender region in recent years. Top results followed one after another at a rapid pace. Numerous regional and provincial mentions in the Long-Distance Championships were the inevitable consequence. In 2015, he surpassed everything and everyone and won the coveted title of 1st National Champion Long-Distance Old Pigeons!
On December 15, 2022, the news of Louis's passing hit us like a bolt from the blue. Just three months earlier, we had spoken to each other over drinks and said goodbye with the words: “See you next season.” Who could have guessed back then that this would be the last time we spoke? Unbelievable. Our thoughts go out to your wife and daughters. What a difficult period for them and for Raf, with whom you played and soared to the national top of the pigeon game in recent years. Now, almost a year later, we hope to put you and your pigeons in the spotlight just one more time, as you deserve, and give them a good home.
Baasrode, a part of Dendermonde on the banks of the Scheldt. It is here that Louis was born and raised. Coming from a pigeon fanciers' nest, both Louis's father and grandfather were two good pigeon fanciers who excelled mainly in the sprints. You could always find the young lad at the lofts or involved in basketting the pigeons. It was here that the pigeon bug caught him.
It was only a matter of time before Louis stood on his own legs as a pigeon fancier. This was in 1990 in Mandekensstraat, where the focus was on the middle distance. During this period, Louis became General Champion no less than 5 times in a row.
After this successful period, new challenges were sought. From 2004 onwards, he would solely focus on long-distance races.
In 2010, he moved to his current address and sought reinforcement from Raf Bijl among others. Raf not only helped Louis secure good pigeons but also supported him with advice and assistance. After Raf's complete sale in 2015 due to health issues, they decided to expand their collaboration further.
A first highlight came immediately in 2015 when they managed to win the coveted national championship Long-Distance Old Pigeons with the following results.
1st release 2nd Release.
Valence Nat. 6542d. 205 264
Montauban B 1996d. 164 24
Jarnac B 1994d. 80 104
Libourne B 2469d. 9 29
Not only on a national level but also at various other levels, the championship titles piled up. Among others, King Long-Distance FCD and General Champion Long-Distance FCD. However, despite the many titles, there was no resting, and substantial investments were made.
Reinforcements were sought and found at the top loft Marc & Geert Pollin (Snellegem).
2 daughters from Hamilton (1st Provincial ace pigeon KBDB Great Middle Distance 2010),
1 son from Son Nestbroer Joe and 1 son from Son Prov.St-Junien with daughter Dortmunder came to Baasrode.
But especially the base pair Pollin (3040227/18 x 3040214/18) immediately produced fireworks and is found numerous times in the pedigrees.
The 3040227/18 is a son of Limo, who was then paired with a grandchild of Rudy (Base pigeon at Gaby Vandenabeele and now world-famous)
The 3040214/18 is again a daughter from the zonal winner Tulle at Pollin, who in turn is a son of the Dortmunder, with a daughter As-Trix. In short, the top of the bill from Snellegem.
From this pair, several descendants are available for sale, who have already produced numerous 1st prize flyers, including:
4115056/19 (son base pair) 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 champion became 4th Provincial Ace Pigeon Long-Distance
Limoges 7/ 456
14/ 5108
Brive 2/ 196
7/ 1759
Tulle 18/ 253
74/ 2625
Unfortunately, this doffer lagged behind this season (2023).
The next goal was the big Long-Distance. For this, 1 hen 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 doffer from Marc De Cock (The father of Marc's top pigeon Rockefeller was bought at the total auction from Raf, and from this line, this doffer originates).
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 flight of flights from Barcelona.
Unfortunately, it was not meant to be, and the descendants from these pigeons could no longer be tested over the distances for which they were intended.
I think we can speak here 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, together with Raf, has collected over the years.
Top performances Zonal/Provincial
- 2016 : 1st Zonal B1 Limoges II 3089 Old
- 2017 : 1st Interprovincial Chateauroux +/- 6000 Old
- 2018 : 1st Zonal B1 Jarnac 1243 Old
- 2018 : 1st Zonal B1 Tulle 1339 Yearling
- 2018: 2nd Provincial Limoges I 3427 Old
Some top performers at the racing loft
- 666/20 : Best pigeon currently at 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
- 16th Noyon 1479d., 16th Sermaises 362d.
- 643/20 : 100% Pollin
- Brother of 048/20:
- Won as a 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 zonal winner Tulle Pollin
- 336/22 :
- 1st Tulle, 10th Souillac, 10th Aurillac, 39th Bourges, 78th Orleans
- From Son Limo x Daughter zonal 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
- General Champion Long-Distance De Reisduif
- 2nd Champion Long-Distance 1+2 Yearling 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 Middle Distance Young
2019
- 2nd General Champion Long-Distance 1+2 Land van Aalst
- 1st General 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 point race O + J 1+2+3
2018
- 4th Provincial Champion Long-Distance Old & Yearlings
- General 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
- General Champion FCD Long-Distance
- General Champion Long-Distance De Reisduif