In 30 years of (heavy) long-distance racing, almost as many provincial, national, and international victories. This achieved with a simple system and with an unfavorable location right at the edge of Belgian territory. We can only agree that the quality of the pigeons is paramount here!
Breeding Development
The Willems family has been involved in pigeon sport for several generations. Albert's father (68) was already playing with pigeons, and the torch was passed from father to son, and later also to grandson Michel (48). As is the case with many enthusiasts, initially, the Willems household focused on sprint racing, before switching to heavy long-distance racing at the beginning of the 1990s. At the foundation of the colony, in the early years, we find pigeons from Wijnands (Maastricht) and Peter Wijnants (Oostende), and of course also the own strain, namely "Gerda," 1st int. Barcelona '96.
More recently, pigeons descended from Jelle Jellema (via Comb. Beckers – Lelystad) were added to the strain. There was also reinforcement from Silke Jellema, PWA van der Meulen, and Cor de Heijde (all 3 via R. Van Geerdink – Hoogerheijde).
Nesting Play in Its Most Simple Form
The beautiful brick lofts were built by father Albert himself and accommodate 38 breeding pairs and approximately 150 old and yearling racing pigeons, supplemented with 100 young pigeons from 2 rounds. The breeders are put together early (beginning of December), and the young from these are simply trained up to about 350 km. They are not darkened or artificially lit.
The racing pigeons are regularly played on nest, neither darkened nor artificially lit. Normally, they used to be paired at candle mass, but now they can just spend a few weekends together without coming to nest. From mid-January, they are released again, and daily training starts at the beginning of February. For training, they head straight to the more centrally located Isnes, near Namur (+/- 100 km).
In terms of feed, all pigeons receive a molting mix from Natural throughout the year, including the breeding pigeons! For the racing pigeons, Albert feeds them 2 tablespoons per day, and leading up to the major races, he feeds them a rich mixture from Beyers for about 5 days.
Also, supplements are not to be missed but only in very limited amounts: compounded grit and a homemade brew of thyme, onions, and garlic.
Veterinarians Vandersanden and Peeters enjoy complete trust. Before the season, there is a check for paratyphoid, and vaccination against paramyxo takes place. During the racing season, there are checks for the important races, and additional treatment is given if necessary to ensure the airways are completely clear.
Provincial and National Results 2023
- 1st prov. Champion 1+ 2 Marathon KBDB '23
- 1st MKFV Overall Champion 1st entry Marathon '23
Pau
- prov. 279 pigeons: 12 – 13 – 29 – 39 – … 7/14
- nat.C 371 pigeons: 6 – 7 – 22 – 35 – … 6/14
- nat. 3080 pigeons: 172 – 181 – 465 – … 4/14
Agen yearlings
- prov. 504 pigeons: 8 – 19 – 32 – 34 – 60 – 63 – 68 – … 28/67
- nat.C 712 pigeons: 8 – 19 – 34 – 37 – 63 – 65 – 68 – 72 – … 21/67
- nat. 6667 pigeons: 122 – 233 – 427 – 696 – 715 – … 16/67
Barcelona
- prov. 922 pigeons: 4 – 14 – 23 – 31 – 54 – 67 – 70 – 79 – ... 9/12
- nat.C 1036 pigeons: 6 – 16 – 26 – 38 – 71 – 89 – 91 – 98 – … 9/12
- nat. 6533 pigeons: 176 – 361 – 451 – 572 – 730 – ... 9/12
Narbonne yearlings
- prov. 637 pigeons: 3 – 13 – 21 – 26 – 33 – 36 – 38 – 52 – 56 – 61 – 65 – 78 – … 29/49
- nat.C 809 pigeons: 12 – 57 – 63 – 68 – 76 – 78 – 81 – 95 – .. 22/49
- nat. 6100 pigeons: 44 – 341 – 375 – 441 – 480 – 500 – 512 – … 25/49
Perpignan
- prov. 666 pigeons: 2 – 20 – 81 – 103 – 125 – 127 – … 12/15
- nat.C 828 pigeons: 2 – 23 – 81 – 103 – -125 – 129 – … 11/15
- nat. 5782 pigeons: 11 – 319 – 630 – 915 – 990 – … 10/15
References in 2023
- 1 National Perpignan '23 at Milovic M. & D. Essen is 85% Willems A&M
- 5. Golden Algarve Final '23 is 85% Willems A&M
Provincial and National Results 2022
Pau prov. 331 pigeons: 10 – 18 – 23 – …(5/12)
nat. 3734 pigeons: 345 – 506 – 578 – …(12/25)
Barcelona prov. 877 pigeons: 3 – 11 – 78 – 95 – … (9/14)
nat. 6560 pigeons: 49 -110 – 772 – 824 – 949 – ...(7/14)
Marseille prov. 363 pigeons: 36 – 42 – 44 – 45 – …(6/8)
nat. 2326 pigeons: 242 – 268 – 276 – 276 – ...(5/8)
Narbonne prov. 568 pigeons: 16 – 26 – 34 – 37 – 60 – 93 – 107 – … (17/54) (Yearlings)
nat. 6013 pigeons: 155 – 237 – 297 – 308 – 523 - …(9/54)
Perpignan prov. 459 pigeons: 10 – 23 – 48 – 66 – 72 – …(6/12)
nat. 3766 pigeons: 167 – 405 – …(3/12)
Provincial Victories and Top Rankings
- 1992: 1 Cahors
- 1993: 1 Narbonne; 2 Narbonne
- 1994: 1 Barcelona; 2 Barcelona
- 1996: 1 Barcelona; 1 Bordeaux
- 1998: 1 Narbonne
- 1999: 1 St-Vincent; 2 Bordeaux
- 2001: 2 Jarnac
- 2002: 1 Jarnac
- 2003: 2 Barcelona; 2 Barcelona hens, 2 Perpignan
- 2004: 1 Barcelona; 1 Barcelona hen.
- 2005: 1 Bordeaux; 2 St-Vincent
- 2008: 1 Bordeaux; 2 Bordeaux, 1 St-Vincent
- 2009: 1 Bordeaux
- 2010: 2, 3, 4 Barcelona, 4 Pau, 2 Tarbes, 3 Soustons
- 2012: 1 Pau; 1 Orange
- 2014: 2, 4 Pau; 3 Agen; 3 Barcelona, 1 Perpignan
- 2015: 2 Brive; 2 Perpignan; 3 Narbonne, 4 Barcelona
- 2016: 3 Libourne; 2 Marseille
- 2017: 1 Barcelona
- 2018: 2, 4, 6, 8 Agen
- 2019: 1, 2, 3 Narbonne
- 2020: 2 Limoges
- 2021: 1, 2 Agen; 4 Marseille; 4 Narbonne
- 2022: 3 Barcelona
- 2023: 4 Barcelona; 3 Narbonne; 2 Perpignan
Other Top 10 Rankings
- 1993: 6047 pigeons: 2, 3, 10 National Narbonne
- 1996: 1078 pigeons: 2, 5 National Bordeaux
10068 pigeons: 1 National Barcelona
1604 pigeons: 1 National Barcelona Hen.
20129 pigeons: 1 International Barcelona
4156 pigeons: 1 Internat. Barcelona Hen.
- 1997: 1974 pigeons: 3 National Bordeaux
5694 pigeons: 10 National Narbonne
- 1998: 3022 pigeons: 3 National Bordeaux
- 1999: 1742 pigeons: 1, 7 National Brive Hens
- 2001: 5672 pigeons: 10 Semi-National Jarnac
- 2002: 6856 pigeons: 1 Semi-National Jarnac
- 2004: 12275 pigeons: 8 National Barcelona
- 2005: 10020 pigeons: 10 National St-Vincent
2177 pigeons: 4 National Bordeaux
- 2008: 3197 pigeons: 5, 6 National Bordeaux
7356 pigeons: 5 National St-Vincent
- 2009: 3098 pigeons: 4 National Bordeaux
- 2010: 8517 pigeons: 9 National Soustons
12697 pigeons: 5, 6, 8 National Barcelona
- 2012: 1989 pigeons: 2 National Pau
4443 pigeons: 2 National Orange
- 2014: 3180 pigeons: 10 National Agen
6248 pigeons: 7 National Perpignan
- 2015: 9049 pigeons: 9 National Brive
- 2016: 3697 pigeons: 8 National Libourne
- 2021: 5805 pigeons: 11 National Narbonne
- 2023: 5722 pigeons: 11 National Perpignan
National Championships KBDB
- 12 nat. racing hen Rhône '12 with “Nr. 1”
- 2 nat. racing hen Long-distance '14 with “Reuben”
- 4 nat. racing hen Rhône '16 with “Daniel”
- 3 nat. racing hen Rhône '18(4/4) with “Olivia”
- 9 nat. racing hen Rhône '18(3/3) with “Olivia”
- 7 nat. racing hen Long-distance yearlings '19 with “Anita”
- 6 nat. racing hen Barcelona '17-'20 with “Annemie”
- 10 nat. racing hen Barcelona '20-'21 with “Rita”
- 7 nat. Champion 1+ 2 KBDB Marathon '23
- 20 nat. racing hen Long-distance yearlings '23 with 271/22
National Barcelona Results
- 1988 10086 pigeons: 115 (1/3)
- 1989 11656 pigeons: 56 (1/6)
- 1992 11399 pigeons: 49 - … (10/25)
- 1993 13343 pigeons: 30 - 67 - 190 - …(9/16)
- 1994 11214 pigeons: 27 - 32 - 89 - 118 - 152 - 166 – 220 - 205 – 218 – 220 – 269 – 286 – 328 – 360 – 368 -…(26/50)
- 1995 9452 pigeons: 139 - 199 – 381 - … (37/63)
- 1996 10068 pigeons: 1 - 17 – 35 – 45 – 49 – 74 – 93 – 108 –128 – 129 – 136 – 207 – 262 – 279 – 280 – 304 - … (47/78)
- 1997 12731 pigeons: 96 – 122 – 230 - … (18/76)
- 1998 12678 pigeons: 72 – 127 – 191 - 223 – 247 – 249 – 257 – 391 - … (35/81)
- 1999 13966 pigeons: 97 – 110 – 118 – 121 – 317 - … (38/100)
- 2001 13161 pigeons: 84 – 144 – 151 – 210 – 314 – 318 - … (18/49)
- 2002 13021 pigeons: 54 – 138 – 161 – 180 – 181 – 277 – 279 – 369 – 370 - … (18/38)
- 2003 11847 pigeons: 27 - 155 – 394 - …(15/39)
- 2004 12275 pigeons: 8 – 45 – 75 – 123 – 125 – 154 – 164 - … (30/56)
- 2005 12298 pigeons: 157 – 226 – 249 – 253 – 258 – 299 – 326 – 366 - … (37/76)
- 2009 13503 pigeons: 42 – 106 – 131 – 159 – 204 – 219 – 251 – 294 – 314 – 319 – 382 – 387 (50/84)
- 2010 12657 pigeons: 5 – 6 – 8 – 24 – 35 – 63 - 86 – 112 –184 – 209 – 360 – 364 - … (29/73)
- 2011 12170 pigeons: 212 – 254 – 335 – 355 - …(28/56)
- 2012 11590 pigeons: 243 – 287 – 484 – 549 – … (13/60)
- 2013 10542 pigeons: 44 – 173 – 230 – 325 – 330 – 356 – 758 – 845 – …(15/38)
- 2014 8764 pigeons: 12 – 42 – 222 – 381 – 682 – …(16/36)
- 2015 7791 pigeons: 56 – 135 – 168 – 239 – 332 – 420 – 424 – 675 – 728 – 736 – … (17/33)
- 2016 7629 pigeons: 273 – 345 – 397 – 483 – 514 – 618 – 644 – 787 – …(16/45)
- 2017 7874 pigeons: 20 – 371 – 377 – 466 – 597 – 731 – …(14/27)
- 2018 7438 pigeons: 171 – 269 – 306 – 536 – 544 – 612 – 745 – … (19/70)
- 2019 7301 pigeons: 18 – 96 – 115 – 299 – 603 – 723 – 734 – 766 – … (14/26)
- 2020 6178 pigeons: 29 – 174 – 367 – … (5/18)
- 2021 6913 pigeons: 117 – 294 – 470 – …(3/9)
- 2022 6560 pigeons: 48 – 110 – …(7/14)
2023 6533 pigeons: 176 – 361 – 451 – 572 – 730 – … 9/12