Figures don’t lie: 1st + 2nd Zone Chateauroux, 2nd Zone Issoudun, 28x top-50 zonal, 6th national all-round ace pigeon, 2nd Provincial Ace Pigeon Great Half Distance Old, 7th Provincial Ace Pigeon All-Round Old, 9th Provincial Ace Pigeon All-Round Yearlings, 9th Provincial Champion Great Half Distance, 5th World Best Pigeon Long Distance, 3rd General Champion Great Half Distance “F.C.D.”... And this is just talking about the past season 2022!
How it began
Sonia (56) started in the pigeon sport in 1987 through her husband Danny Van den Bossche. At that time, primarily sprint and small half-distance races were played. The old strain with which everything began consisted of 60 young pigeons from Danny’s parents, then Hoebeke-Van den Bossche, now 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)
- “Induraïn” (472/94)
- “Ronaldo” (618/96): 1st National Ace Pigeon Speed
- “Grijze 400” (400/03): Best Belgian Long Distance Pigeon on 4 national flights 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 were additional reinforcements from pigeons of Jo Ronsijn (Appelterre) and Dany Leus (Herzele), and even more Vandenabeele pigeons were brought in. From Temmerman-Arijs came around 30 young pigeons in 2017, which also achieved very good results, and from Yvan Van den Bossche (then Van den Bossche – Van den Steen) comes the currently best breeding pigeon in Sonia’s loft; this is a cross-product of Yvan Van den Bossche, Bjorn Haak, Erik Limbourg, and Jan & Gustaaf De Bisschop.
The system
Over the years, the Van der Maelen household gradually transitioned to the great half distance and long distance. Naturally, a few 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, a few young ones are also ringed from the best flyers.
The flying team consists of 17 old widowers and 24 yearlings that are played on total widowhood with about the same number of old and yearling flying hens. These are paired at the end of February and incubate for about 10 days, allowing them to come on widowhood around the end of March. They are not darkened, but they are supplemented with light from late June from 5:30 AM to 10:30 PM. Before the basketting, the pigeons have about half an hour to fly together and upon returning from the flight, they can stay together until the evening or even the next morning.
For the young pigeons, motivation occurs both on nest and on the trap door. They are often taken away to about 40km and then race back with the organization. With a north wind, this is only Quiévrain (50km), in good weather conditions, they go directly to Noyon (156km). “In recent years, the young pigeons from the 1st round were not darkened; the 2nd round was. Both rounds were later also supplemented with light. Since our 2nd round pigeons were always too late on the national results due to not being trained on time because of the darkness, in 2023 the 1st round will be darkened and the 2nd round will not,” according to Sonia and Danny.
Nutrition and care
For feed, the family in Aspelare relies on Beyers' mixes: Galaxy Light, Galaxy Energy, and Vandenabeele mix. On the day of basketting, hemp seed is added after the usual feeding as an extra. Regarding by-products, Sonia and Danny use the Schroeder-Tollisan and Herbovet products. Furthermore, all pigeons are vaccinated against pox, paramyxo, and paratyphoid. For the young pigeons, vaccination against the Rota virus is also planned.
Overview of zonal top-50 in 2022
1st Chateauroux (2) (476 km) 240 Old
Fastest pigeon of 2574 Pigeons
2nd Issoudun (455 km) 1758 yearlings
2nd Chateauroux (2) (476 km) 240 Old
3rd Argenton (1) (502 km) 2736 Yearlings
5th Argenton(3) (502 km) 590 Old
6th Argenton (1) 4002594-20 2928 Old
6th Argenton (1) 4002518-20 2928 Old
6th Libourne (746 km) 965 Yearlings
6th La Souterraine (542 km) 726 Old
11th Souillac (685 km) 1414 Yearlings
13th Chateauroux (2) 2334 young
18th Bourges(1) (436 km) 4401 Old
20th Brive (659 km) 1759 Old
21st Brive 1903 Yearlings
26th Argenton (2) 1515 Old
28th Argenton (1) 2736 Yearlings
29th Argenton (1) 2736 Yearlings
31st Argenton (2) 1515 Old
36th Issoudun (455 km) 1758 Yearlings
37th Libourne (746 km) 965 Yearlings
38th Chateauroux (2) 2334 young
40th Bourges (1) 3869 Yearlings
40th Souillac (685 km) 1256 Old
43rd Argenton (1) 2736 Yearlings
44th Issoudun 1070 Old
45th Bourges(1) 3869 Yearlings
48th Bourges (1) 3869 Yearlings
49th Argenton (2) 1778 Yearlings
Beautiful results 2022
04-17 Noyon (156 km)
Zandbergen
296 Old + Yearlings: 1-7-12-22-25-45-71-80-82-93 (35 participated)
204 Yearlings: 1-3-6-10-11-23-37-39-54-63-64-67-68 (31 participated)
De Reisduif Appelterre
371 Yearlings: 2-16-20-21-22-40-49-50-53-57-65-72-89-102-103-108-108-118-120-122 (46 participated)
04-24 Noyon (156 km)
Zandbergen
351 Old + Yearlings: 1-9-10-11-12-15-18-40-46-68-70-81-82-91-92-102-109 (36 participated)
186 Yearlings: 1-2-3-4-5-7-8-13-15-29-30-35-36-43-46-61 (31 participated)
De Reisduif Appelterre
452 Yearlings: 5-6-7-12-13-20-23-25-28-33-34-38-42-43-45-50-52-54-59-69-71-75-80-97-105-111-132 (44 participated)
04-30 Ecouen (229 km)
Hafo-Dender
2009 Yearlings: 7-12-66-91-101-112-124-149-172-173-197-203-205-231-239-268-315-317-322-355-396-403-459-495-502-575-589-613 (49 participated)
05-07 Sermaises (310 km)
De Reisduif Appelterre
382 Old + Yearlings: 7-10-29-124 (6 participated)
247 Yearlings: 4-13-79 (4 participated)
Hafo-Dender
3923 Old + Yearlings: 43-66-232 (6 participated)
2058 Yearlings: 34-102 (4 participated)
05-08 Noyon (156 km)
Pajot-Dender
1629 Old: 4-30-31-33-33-59-63-66-86-89-92-118-174-177-202-204-227-227-269-272-311-311-315-320-322-339-359-421-429-509 (47 participated)
1067 Yearlings: 3-19-20-33-35-44-46-49-66-96-98-114-128-129-154-176-176-179-184-191-200-239-245-298 (40 participated)
05-14 Orleans (355 km)
Hafo-Dender
4489 Old + Yearlings: 49-59-75-75-94-104-118-120-148-151-152-160-162-257-264-294-383-467-494-524-579-580-650-661-701-703-785-791-798-846-887-914-1002-1015-1112-1126-1167-1269-1388-1412-1467 (42 participated)
2401 Old: 23-57-148-396-527-579-641-667 (13 participated)
05-28 Bourges (436 km)
National Zone B1
4401 Old: 18-91-329-375-618-769-979-1048 (13 participated)
3869 Yearlings: 40-45-48-65-67-136-152-164-170-191-243-357-389-460-593-595-619-628-799-804-880-905-909-933-945 (56 participated)
05-28 Sermaises (310 km)
Hafo-Dender
1564 Yearlings: 13-31-65-93-123-195-395-473 (12 participated)
06-04 Argenton (502 km)
National Zone B1
2928 Old: 6-6-54-75-107-424 (9 participated)
2736 Yearlings : 3-28-29-43-78-109-125-141-191-192-231-269-327-339-345-359-433-551-619-667-382 (45 participated)
06-11 Sermaises (310 km)
Viane
193 Yearlings: 1-11-13-18-22-26-27-29-31-35-42-43-44-49-53-63 (22 participated)
292 Old + Yearlings: 1-14-19-25-29-33-34-36-40-44-54-55-56-58-65-73-86-88-91-92-93 (26 participated)
06-11 Chateauroux (476 km)
Viane
284 Old: 6-14 (6 participated)
471 Yearlings: 14-143 (6 participated)
06-18 Argenton (502 km)
Viane
304 Old: 7-10-43-58-61-65(7 participated)
National Zone B1
1515 Old: 26-31-116-174-196-225 (7 participated)
1878 Yearlings: 49-79-181-292-303-384 (15 participated)
06-18 Sermaises (310 km)
Viane
223 Yearlings: 2-7-10-13-19-21-26-27-36-37-40-42-43-47-50-54-57-58-64-68-70-71-73 (47 participated)
06-26 Issoudun (455 km)
Viane
219 Old: 6-9-40-53-54 (6 participated)
289 Yearlings: 1-5-13-18-19-23-27-28-35-37-41-41-47-51-52-61-68-69-70-72-73-76-80 (36 participated)
Nat.Zone B1
1758 Yearlings:2-36-85-102-103-129-155-159-214-222-232-233-264-269-305-322-323-326-330-331-342-363-442 (36 participated)
07-02 Sermaises(310 km)
Viane 275 Young: 3-5-6-7-10-11-12-13-15-17-22-28-38-42-44-45-47-59-78-84-91 (40 participated)
07-09 Brive (659 km)
National Zone B1
1759 Old : 20-126-158-225 (4 participated)
1903 Yearlings: 21-121-147-166-274-313-356 (8 participated)
07-15 La Souterraine(543 km)
Viane
150 Old: 1-23-25-44 (5 participated)
National Zone B1
723 Old:6-114-129 (5 participated)
National
4907 Old: 43-690-773 (5 participated)
07-16 Orleans (355 km)
De Reisduif Appelterre
220 Young: 1-8-13-16-25-28-31-35-46-51-60-62-63-65-66 (37 participated)
07-17 Noyon (156 km)
Zandbergen
212 Young: 2-6-9-10-13-15-18-24-27-36-43-63 (29 participated)
08-06 Libourne (746 km)
Viane
58 Yearlings: 1-5 (8 participated)
National Zone B1
965 Yearlings: 6-37-205
08-14 Noyon (156 km)
De Reisduif Appelterre
672 Young: 3-5-10-13-17-22-24-27-81-89-102-103-106-108-119-123-126-135-136-137-158-164-166-190-209-210-215-221 (63 participated)
Zandbergen
396 Young: 5-9-16-23-29-35-40-46-60-65-73-106-118 (30 participated)
08-21 Argenton (502 km)
Viane
132 Old: 1 (3 participated)
National Zone B1
590 Old: 5 (3 participated)
National
5166 Old: 51 (3 participated)
08-27 Argenton(502 km)
National
2276 old: 72-94-117-123 (7 participated)
09-04 Noyon (156 km)
Pajot-Dender
60 Old : 1-2-3-4-5-8-9-11-15-19-20 (23 participated)
09-04 Noyon(156 km)
Zandbergen
243 Young: 1-2-5-7-8-11-13-16-17-18-21-32-33-35-41-41-43-47-52-56-58-59-60-64-65-68-71-72-77 (77 participated)
09-10 Chateauroux(476 km)
Viane 81 Old: 1-2-5-7-11-13-16-19-20-27 (19 participated)
F.C.D. 219 Old:1-2-11-17-22-31-39-47-50-71 (19 participated)
Provincial 325 Old: 1-2-9-15-22-32-42-51-55-85-103 (19 participated)
***1st Provincial of 4629 pigeons***
National Zone B1: 240 Old: 1-2-10-15-23-32-42-47-49 (19 participated)
***1st National Zone B1 of 2574 pigeons***
09-11 Noyon (156 km)
Zandbergen 209 Young: 1-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-13-16-18-21-23-25-26-27-28-29-33-36-37-40-41-45-46-59-63-66-67-69 (72 participated)
09-18 Momignies (89 km)
Deftinge: 155 Young: 1-2-4-5-7-9-10-17-18-21-23-26-32-34-37-39-51 (26 participated)
09-18 Momignies (89 km)
Zandbergen
89 Old: 1-3-5-8-9-10-11-14-15-16-17-18-20-21-22-25 (24 participated)
94 Young: 1-6-8-11-12-15-16-17-19-20-21-24 (19 participated)
10-02 Momignies(89 km)
Zandbergen 81 pigeons: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-9-9-11-12-17-20-22-25 (18 participated)
10-09 Momignies(89 km)
Zandbergen 126 pigeons: 1-4-7-9-11-15-15-17-24-27-29-31-32-38-41 (46 participated)
Championships 2022
6th NATIONAL ACE PIGEON ALL-ROUND KBDB OLD + YEARLINGS 2022.
2nd Provincial Ace Pigeon KBDB Great Half Distance Old East Flanders 2022.
7th Provincial Ace Pigeon All-Round Old KBDB East Flanders 2022.
9th Provincial Ace Pigeon All-Round Yearlings KBDB East Flanders 2022.
9th Provincial Champion Great Half Distance Old KBDB East Flanders 2022.
2nd Champion Long Distance and Great Distance Yearlings “F.C.D.” (+/- 500 members) 2022.
2nd Ace Pigeon Great Half Distance Old “F.C.D.” (+/- 500 members) 2022.
3rd General Champion Great Half Distance “F.C.D.” (+/- 500 members) 2022.
3rd Champion Great Half Distance Old “F.C.D.” (+/- 500 members) 2022.
1st General Champion “The Fast Flyers Zandbergen” 2022
5th World Best Pigeon KBDB Long Distance “FCI” 2022
5th National Ace Pigeon Great Half Distance on 8 national flights “Pipa Ranking” 2022
8th National Ace Pigeon Great Half Distance on 8 national flights “Pipa Ranking” 2022