Van Herreweghe-Mannes - Meerbeke: Fastest provincial La Souterraine 3,475b. - 2nd National 5,243b.

Going back to the national flight La Souterraine of July 20. A race with temperatures above 30 degrees and then you already know enough. 
Provincial winner East-Flanders and also the fastest of all 3,475 La Souterraine racers was hen "Virginia" (B22-4116225) of the well-known tandem Nico Van Herreweghe - Caroline Mannes from Meerbeke.
"Virginia" flew the 544km at an average speed of 1,319.62 m/m and also took 2nd prize national against 5,243 old birds. The 2nd place is perhaps the most thankless but it did give Nico and Caroline the motivation to go for the ultimate 1st prize national. "Dreaming is not forbidden hey" Nico knows to say and he is right.

Coming back to "Virginia". This hen is definitely not a one-dayer because as a yearling she showed her class by winning the 35th National Argenton 14,171d.

This season – 2024 - she excelled with
2nd National La Souterraine 5,243d.
59th National Bourges 24,006d.
74th National Bourges 6,713d. (The week after winning 2nd National La Souterraine)

A yes..still important to mention. In 2023, this tandem won 1st Provincial Ace Pigeon KBDB Large Half Distance and 2nd World Best Pigeon Half Distance. Results many of us can only dream of.

FROM SPEED TO HEAVY MIDDLE-DISTANCE !

Nico Van Herreweghe inherited pigeon sport from his father, as a small "pagadder" he was very busy in the loft. They played pure speed , later when he and his wife Caroline moved to Meerbeke in 2011 he would dominate speed. Quievrain was his favourite race and he did it with the type of father and Platteau Kristof . In 2013 the strain of Peter Stakenborg came into the loft . For years he would play this game . Year after year, fewer pigeons took part in this surely popular race until in...

2016 MADE THE SWITCH !
Despite the tandem still winning the 1° Provincial Ace Pigeon on speed in 2015 with a 100% Stakenborg pigeon, the move to the middle and heavy middle distance became a fact. Surely most fanciers need a few years to run with it when they make such move . This was not the case here.
We can see that Nico had foreseen himself making the move by the type of pigeons he bought. The basis remained Stakenborg which was reinforced with types of Brugmans Sabrina , Jespers Vanderwege, André Roodhooft and Gevaert-Lannoo . In 2016, they immediately won a 2° Provincial La Souterraine against 4390 youngsters .

SYSTEM WITH HENS !
The difference between now and then is that on speed races, only hens were used in classic widowhood. Today, the heavy middle distance races are played exclusively with hens . At the end of November they are paired breeders and racing hens. 18 couples of breeders plus another 8 breeding couples where the eggs of the best breeding couples are put under. The eggs of the best racing hens are shifted and then they can lay again and raise this nest themselves. Once the youngsters reach a certain age, the hens are removed from the loft and go to their racing loft. For the racers old and young we use the Aidi mixtures, the hens receive a light feed on Sunday and Monday and are fed from Tuesday onwards. Wednesday and Thursday the sport mix will be full. Another food that is used for the breeders when they are resting is the Vaessen mixture that was introduced by Franky Appelmans. Probelfly is used as by-products.
At the end of February, the hens enter the racing loft where they stay until the end of the season. Once the weather permits, they are trained in small steps. Once they arrive at the races above Paris, the cocks are put in a half-box and they can see each other for about two minutes. Then they can get together for a few minutes and are basketed. In the beginning of the week they can enjoy a bath, the loft is cleaned twice a day. Once a day they are left outside for 1 hour each time , on Wednesday before basketing they are taken away for about 35 km . Grit and vitamins are always available and when they arrive home, there are electrolytes in the drinking water. The hens are basketed almost every week , if it is not a very long distance race it is Noyon . Maximum 3 middle distance races in a row.

Stefan Mertens