Christiaens – De Smedt (Pamel) had a super season in the marathon

The extreme long distance races, a specialization in itself where the peak period is not long, but everything has to go well and be right at the right time. The colony of Dirk Christiaens and Kristel De Smedt from Pamel in Flemish Brabant has been one of the best lofts I know in the field of extreme long distance for several years. They have a constant and after their racing career they place the best pigeons in the breeding loft on which they can then continue to build. You see this now, especially after a super season, where descendants come to the fore who are children or grandchildren of other proven racers from a few years ago.

If we go back to the end of June, it was the first test for Agen National for yearlings, it was going to be a tough flight and the arrivals did not follow each other in quick succession. They only did that in one loft in our country and that was here. The pigeons came hard and fast, it was great to see how Dirk had 25 pigeons at home on the day of the release, after only 5% of the yearlings in the whole of our country were home.

The pigeons had shown their condition at Argenton the previous flight, so Dirk knew it could be a nice flight from Agen. But of course you can never be sure and Dirk will never judge or shout about this in advance. Afterwards you can conclude that the feeling was right. 

On to the next flight for this team and that was Narbonne. On the same day of release, there was not a single pigeon at home in our country, which would make it even harder. Around 7:25 in the morning the first pigeon, which at that time was also reported 1st National as a yearling, arrives here in Pamel. We had to wait and see what this would be, but being flagged as 2nd National and 3rd International is fantastic. The 2nd pigeon was clocked half an hour later and won 3rd National and 4th International against 10,924 yearlings, which once again proves how hard this flight was. A total of 5 pigeons were clocked in the first 100 nationally and 30 prizes out of 56 pigeons. The team has completed their assignment and Dirk can go into the winter with peace of mind.

Championships 2024

1st Provincial Champion marathon yearlings KBDB
1st Provincial Ace Pigeon marathon yearlings KBDB
1st Provincial Champion marathon yearlings KBDB
1st Barcelona Masters ( 1st + 2nd nominated ) 
1st Marathon Club (Antwerp-Brabant-Hainault) 
2nd Barcelona Masters ( 1st nominated ) 
2nd Provincial Ace Pigeon marathon yearlings KBDB
3rd National Ace Pigeon marathon yearlings KBDB
3rd Provincial Ace Pigeon marathon yearlings KBDB 
5th National Ace Pigeon marathon yearlings KBDB
6th National Champion marathon yearlings KBDB
6th National Champion marathon yearlings KBDB
7th National Ace Pigeon marathon yearlings KBDB
9th Provincial Ace Pigeon marathon yearlings KBDB
10th Provincial Ace Pigeon marathon yearlings KBDB
12th Provincial Ace Pigeon marathon yearlings KBDB
13th Provincial Ace Pigeon marathon yearlings KBDB
14th Provincial Ace Pigeon marathon yearlings KBDB
15th Provincial Ace Pigeon marathon yearlings KBDB
16th Provincial Ace Pigeon marathon yearlings KBDB
17th Provincial Ace Pigeon marathon yearlings KBDB
20th Provincial Ace Pigeon marathon yearlings KBDB
25th National Ace Pigeon marathon yearlings KBDB
27th National Ace Pigeon marathon yearlings KBDB

Top results in the extreme long distance in 2024

At Agen she achieved a fantastic series with the yearlings, it was an incredible train that followed and resulted in a high prize percentage. The belief and condition were absolutely great to continue this at Narbonne after Agen and of course they did this again with several top pigeons and a great series.

Agen Prov 855 yearlings: 1,7,8,10,11,12,13,17,19,21,22,27,29,31,32,33,37,40,41,45,46,48,48 ,50,51, 70,75,77,82,… 46/66
Agen Nat 7,396 yearlings: 7,68,70,82,86,106,121,146,163,172,192,219,224,231,232,233,262,271, 274,303,312,316 ,326,379,385,…42/66

Narbonne Prov 745 yearlings: 1,2,5,8,15,16,18,19,23,4,25,29,31,34,37,53,54,60,61,74,… 34/56
Narbonne Nat 5,553 yearlings: 2,3,37,50,94,103,120,130,166,168,170,213,224,252,261,377,389,425,447,551,… 30/56
Narbonne Int.Nat 10,924 yearlings: 3,4,66,83,147, 159,181,195,244,253,256,321,337,382,399,602,625,680,719,825,1087,… 31/56

Barcelona Prov 782 old : 5,22,29,… 5/8
Barcelona Nat 6,310 old : 32,117,166,… 5/8
Marseille Nat 2,082 old : 34,… 2/3
Perpignan Nat 4,850 old : 17,48,… 4/11

Nest game is still running smoothly

Dirk is a fervent supporter of the nesting game and used to ask for advice about it to master this game, which he has now sharpened up a bit here and there. 

We start as a young pigeon where it all starts, a young pigeon does not receive any medication here and will have to build up resistance in a natural way with a view to its further career. The oldest young pigeons usually fly 2 national flights and the youngest group usually flies one provincial flight. Whether it is a coincidence or not, the best yearlings belong to the group of the youngest young pigeons that flew 1 provincial race. The young pigeons only fly in the evening and this is usually 30 to 45 minutes. The old and yearling pigeons are raced on a nest, all pigeons are together (yearlings and old pigeons). The pigeons are separated after the season and after basketing in Perpignan the straw in the loft is removed, this straw is only returned after the first coupling has taken place in the spring. From then on, the hygrometer is set to 70% to keep the humidity under control and there is also a fan in each loft to remove the dirty air from the loft.

During the winter period the pigeons are released separately 2 to 3 times a week so as not to make the pigeons too stiff or too fat. They are then left loose until the end of April before the first coupling takes place. In the beginning, the cocks and hens train every other day and this is increased by 15 minutes and then 5 minutes each time. The pigeons know this all too well and soon they are within 60 minutes of flying. There will only be a switch to training twice a day from mid-May. 

The pigeons are always located in 3 lofts that are connected to each other and where all the pigeons fly together. This way, motivation and attention for each other remains and the mutual urge is somewhat stimulated. I darken these from February 3 to May 10 and they get 10 hours of light per day. Afterwards, the days are systematically made longer and from May 25 they have the normal length of the day. They are illuminated from the longest day of the year from 5:00 AM to 9:00 AM in the morning and 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM in the evening. 

The pigeons always train twice a day, I like trained pigeons and they know this so well that the pigeons from an extreme long distance flight also train again with the other pigeons the next day. It is like a cyclist who can complete a training ride after a tough race without any hard effort. In the height of the season, the pigeons train here at 5:30 am in the morning and from 9:15 pm to 10:15 pm in the evening. The reason for training in the evening is really to learn to continue flying in the twilight.

Training during the week is no longer necessary due to this intense training schedule. I will only train if I do not take the pigeons on an intermediate flight due to the bad weather and then I drive the pigeons myself up to a distance of 70 to 80 km. If the weather forecasts are not really favorable, no risks are taken and the choice is made to deliver the pigeons themselves up to a distance of 80 km. We don't take any risks here to lose the litters.

Basketing at 10 to 14 days of incubation

At the beginning of the season, the pigeons are divided into 4 teams that are equipped to fly 2 extreme long distance flights. The pigeons are always basketed at 10 to 14 days of incubation and, based on this, their nest is then dismantled in the preceding period. The pigeons will always lay irregularly during the first laying of the year, but once they start the season this will be much easier. 

In the meantime the pigeons rarely fly an official flight in the meantime, I usually drive a flight up to 70 to 80 km on the Saturday before basketing and that's it. Then I decide for myself whether the weather is good and when I release them. 

The yearlings from Agen were normally raced at Blois and then coupled. Because bad weather was forecast that weekend, they went to Argenton a week later and brooded for a week less than planned for Agen. Between Agen and Narbonne the pigeons themselves were taken away once to a distance of 70-80km and furthermore the training at home was the measure of value. If you see for yourself that the flights are tough enough and that the pigeons will have a tough flight from Narbonne, you can also give the pigeons some rest now and then. 

One more little tip that Dirk gave, the eggs of the couples are always collected after laying and placed in an incubator. On the Sunday evening before basketing for a flight, these eggs are returned to the hen and they are always basketted with 4 eggs. These are 2 real eggs of their own and 2 lime eggs. Everyone can test whether this is the golden tip for success next season.

3 National Ace pigeons marathon yearlings with the double Agen – Narbonne 2024

BE 23-2064709 “Narbonne Master II”
3 National Ace marahton yearlings KBDB 2024

 3 NAT Narbonne                5.553p
 4 INT.NAT                          10.924p
68 NAT Agen                       7.396p

Father BE 16-2007397 Night Flyer
Won himself 18 Nat Narbonne (clocked 2:46 am)
Son of “BE 15-083” Louis Van den Eynde x “BE 14-144” Granddaughter “New Laureaat” 1 Int.Nat Barcelona Luc Wiels 

Mother BE 20-2005240 Daughter Corry – Inbred Brother Nadal 
Daughter of “BE 08-111” Brother Nadal A & P Gyselbrecht is a super breeder and father of 5 x TOP 100 National x “BE 15-845” Corry himself won 8 + 15 Int. Nat Marseille hens and 20 Nat Pau

BE 23-2064703 “Narbonne Master I”
5 National Ace marahton yearlings KBDB 2024

    2 NAT Narbonne              5.553p
    3 INT.NAT                       10.924p
106 NAT Agen                     7.396p

Father BE 16-2007350 Brother New Laureaat – Luc Wiels
Brother of superstar “New Laureaat” 1 Int.Nat Barcelona 
Son of “BE 03-639” Grandson Arthur Alex Rans x “BE 04-750” Laureaat Lady is granddaughter “Laureaat Barcelona” Gyselbrecht

Mother BE 20-2117147 Daughter Ed – Stijn & Jeroen Rans
Daughter of “BE 10-709” Ed – De Clercq – Vervaeren is father of “Frans” 1 Nat Perpignan x “BE 16-119”

BE 23-2064675 “Ruby Champ”
7 National Ace marahton yearlings KBDB 2024

 50 NAT Agen                     7.396p
 70 NAT Narbonne             5.553p

Father BE 18-2010909 Rudi – Stijn & Jeroen Rans
Son of “BE 13-289” Frans 1 Nat Perpignan x “BE 16-395” Elsie 395 De Smeyter – Restiaen  

Mother BE 16-2007426 Daughter Super breeder Son Cancellara
Won 30 Nat Perpignan – 57 Nat Narbonne – 80 Nat St.Vincent – ​​97 Nat Pau
Daughter of “NL 10-255” Son Cancelarra – Jan Pol x “NL 11-746” Rode Gebr.Limburg is mother of 6 x TOP 100 National

Other highlights of the 2024 season

BE 19-2015546 “Sproet Cancellara”

  17 NAT Perpignan ’24  4.850p
  38 NAT Perpignan ’22  3.766p
  69 NAT Perpignan ’23  5.722p
166 NAT Barcelona ’24  6.310p
250 NAT Narbone ’20     4.120p
279 NAT Barcelona ’23  6.533p

Father NL 10-1734255 Son Cancelarra – Jan Pol
Super breeder and father of 17-20-30-30-38-42-43-48-48-57-69-70-80 National Marathon
Son of “NL 07-261” Cancellare I .Roobol won 26 Nat Perpignan and 114 Nat Tarbes x “NL 09-140” Granddaughter Baldato 1 Nat Ace Pigeon Marseille 2009 I.Roobol 

Mother BE 11-2006324 Sproet Perpignan
Won 6th National Ace Pigeon marathon KBDB 2015
Won 21 Nat Perpignan 5,254p – 48 Nat Perpignan 6,248p – 77 Nat Barcelona 7,791p
Super breeding hen
Mother of 6 Nat Narbonne – 16 Nat Agen – 52 Nat Agen – 55 Nat Narbonne
Daughter of “NL 09-466” Super Impac M.Tekin x “BE 02-963” Granddaughter Vanbruane II via Jan Van Engelen

BE 23-2064705 “Agen Master”
1 Provincial Agen 855p (7th National 7,396 yearlings)

Father BE 21-2013581 Hendrik Somsonetta
Son of “880/12” Hendrik is 2nd National Ace Pigeon Barcelona 2017-2018, he won, among others, 30 Nat Barcelona and 43 Nat Barcelona 
x “226/13” Somsonetta Jan Vanermen is half-sister 1st National Agen 7,396 yearlings 2024 

Mother BE 19-4195596 Checkered
½ sister 15th National Barcelona, ​​92nd National Agen
Daughter of “055/15” Roderik Carlo Gyselbrecht is son of “Nathan” 16th Inter.Nat Barcelona. x “NL 085/11” Daughter Miss Gijsje. 
This is a super breeding hen and is mother of 20 Nat Pau, 36 Nat Marseille, 38 Nat Marseille, 45 Nat Marseille, 66 Nat Agen

BE 21-2013561 “Barcelona Master”
5 Prov Barcelona 782p (32 National 6,310p)

Father BE 12-2162880 “Hendrik” 
This topper was 2nd Nat. Ace Pigeon Barcelona '17-'18, 5th I.Nat Ace Pigeon Barcelona '17-'18. 
He won 30 Nat Barcelona 7,874p – 43 Nat Barcelona 7,438d 
Son of “255/10” Son Cancellara is a super breeder x “664/03” Granddaughter Laureate Barcelona Gyselbrecht 

Mother NL 1213085/2011 Daughter Miss Gijsje - Arjan Beens 
Super breeding hen 
Mother of 20 Nat Pau , 36 Nat Marseille, 38 Nat Marseille, 45 Nat Marseille, 66 Nat Agen 
Daughter of “NL 830/08” Mr.Beautiful Arjan Beens himself won 33 NU Brive + 89 NU St.Vincent x
 “NL 874/08” Olympic Miss Gijsje Arjan Beens herself won 6 Nat Brive 18,246p – 7 Nat Montpellier 10,253p – 7 Nat Cahors 11,054p – 15 Nat Brive 12,332p

Accompaniment

During the moulting period the pigeons are given 3 to 4 brands mixed with a good moulting mixture. I keep this up until New Year's and then add linseed oil with brewer's yeast or vitamin Ral every day. Add a bulb of garlic to the drinking water, which I then top up for 3 to 4 weeks and then change. I do not apply this principle during the season. 

From New Year until March 1, I give them 1/6 parts Rui and 5/6 parts Barley. From March 1 to April 1 they will get Rui again. 

During the season I mainly use Vliegmix 2 from Aidi together with the 4 to 5 last days of Aidi Long Distance. I put the latter in a pot near their nesting dish so that they are sure to eat enough of it and they are also fed plenty of peanuts during the last few days. Usually they train first and I feed them, followed by peanuts for dessert. 

The pigeons are treated for paratyphoid at the end of October and receive another short treatment in the spring, followed by a vaccination. This year it was March 23. In February I usually vaccinate them against smallpox and 3 weeks later against paramyxo herpes. All medical supervision here is in the hands of Wim Boddaert. 

The treatments that were done here this season were 1 treatment for the respiratory tract over the food at the end of May and for tricho this was mid-May. The pigeons are always given a tricho pill when basketed for the international flights and when they return home, there are yellow drops in the drinking water for disinfection. The latter is for all pigeons. 

Dirk and Kristel congratulations on these fantastic achievements from the entire HERBOTS TEAM.

Buelens Kim