Haak-Soen (Moerbeke)1st Nat (z) Chateauroux – 3rd National 7,099b.

Moerbeke: In 2015 Bjorn Haak and David Soen decided to work together and to form a ‘pigeon team’. Both gentleman could already show the necessary letters of recommendation but seen that both Bjorn and David have a full-time job and have to combine it with a family with growing up children it was a great idea to go for pigeon sport together.
Both have a prelove for the greater middle distance race and these are marked in fluorescent on the racing calendar. Races such as Argenton, Chateauroux, La Souterraine, Bourges, and so on…make their level of motivation raise time after time again.
We have to say as it is…you always have to take the tandem Haak-Soen into account. This was also the case on the national race out Chateauroux (the replacement for Gueret) where their beautiful chequered cock “Wout” (B19-4011629) won the 1st prize national zone against 950 old pigeons and the 3rd national against 7,099 old pigeons !

“Wout” is a guy that doesn’t have to be shy when they ask for his palmaris. This is how he already won : 

4th Prov. Bourges 5,011b. (147th Nat. Bourges 8,585b.)
4th Noyon 159b.
6th Gueret 266b.
7th Chevrainvilliers 346b.
8th Vierzon 318b.

He is also out of one of the proven breeding lines. 
Father is “Little Orange King” (B15-4106111 – got as an egg from Filip and Jo Herbots). “Little Orange King” is a grandson to the famous “Orange King” (1st Nat. Orange 3,869b.). A breeding line where many fanciers already succeeded with. 
Mother is “Miss Belga” (B13-4006727), this hen won at David 1st Angerville 2,025b. – 2nd Orleans 379b. – 3rd Souppes 191b. – 6th Angerville 2,530b. – 10th Angerville 281b and became 12th National Ace bird Middle Distance KBDB .

Motivated?
“Motivation pigeons is always difficult” starts Bjorn his story “normally we never show a hen at the day of basketing but at the day of basketing for Issoudun we did show their ‘ladies’. ‘Wout’ was basketed super motivated but failed. The coincidence is that we same him coming home out of the right direction one hour after the prizes. Just as he was racing for the 1st prize. We looked at each other and thought the same thing without saying a word…this one has to go to Chateauroux and see…with that same power he came home but not seriously within time! 

A short introduction
Bjorn is in a manner of speaking born on a pigeon loft. Father Frans was a fanatic short distance racer and together with mother Amanda they could let a drinking pot win a first prizes. They only had one secret…only the good pigeons that were selected each year could stay. After the passing away of father Frans it was Bjorn together with his mother Amanda who continued racing the pigeons with success.
Also David was infected with the pigeon virus via his father and his godfather. David raced always on his own name. In 2013 he became 13th National Champion Smaller Middle Distance KBDB. 
But as mentioned before it didn’t became easier for neither of them to race the pigeons on a certain level due to a full time job and young children who’s hobbies also have to be supported. The tasks are being divided really well where David takes care of the breeders and Bjorn together with his mother Amanda take care of the widowers, racing hens and youngsters. The base of the colony is formed by pigeons from Eddy Anckaert, Jozef Wellemans, Martin de Roover, Eric Brootcoorens and Herbots Brothers.

The racing team 2021 existed out of 20 widow cocks, 12 racing hens and about 100 youngsters. The old and yearling pigeons are being raced on pure widowhood, so with a home staying partner. 
The widowers are being coupled beginning of January and could raise a couple of youngsters. No 2nd coupling was done in Spring. Via the short distance races and the middle distance races it went to the national races. 
During the season the widowers train once a day in the morning but are being fed twice a day in feeding trunk. On the menu they have the Plus I.C. mixtures from Versele-Laga. In a matter of side products they use the products out of the gamma of vet Van der Cruyssen as Winner. Energy Boost, Recuperation pills, Conditional mix, Power Fly,…are given almost on a weekly base. 
In a medical way they go about 3 weeks before the start of the season for a check-up. They got the advice to clear the pigeons from ornithes and since then no cures were given anymore. They were also cleared from trichomoniases and afterwards the know ‘yellow drop’ goes on a weekly base in the beak. Striking is that the pigeons suffered a cocci infection a bit more than last year. 

The winning of this zonal victory makes the East-Flanders tandem wanting more results at this level and we are convinced that these will follow. The entire Herbots team grant you it with all their hart.