With Bourges national from Aug. 10, the 9th national win for Davy Tournelle, not yet 40 years old, is a fact. Formerly played under his name but since a year he flies in combination with his Chinese friend Chen. The name Hua Feng is the name of his loft in China. 
The beauty of the Bourges story is that Chen was in Belgium and thus witnessed the arrival of the national winner live. Several videos on social media nicely captured their “joy dancing.” 
The 2nd great thing about the Bourges story is that the national victory was won by “Tiësto Mulan” (B23-2029041) a beauty of a blue hen with a very strongly pigmented eye. 
The name refers on the one hand to pigeon “Tiësto” (the basic breeder of Davy) and “Mulan” a mythical figure in the history of China. And let “Tiësto Mulan” just be in the running for the national KBDB ace pigeon championships. With this 1st prize national she sharpens her coefficient very much and will finish on the 3rd podium place. 

“Tiësto Mulan” can thus put next visitation card 2024 on the table:

3rd National ace KBDB great middle distance yearling
1st National Bourges 7,617b.
5th National Sancoins 12,962b.
7th Melun 2,034b.
66th National Bourges 9,654b.
106th National Bourges 18,785b.
213th National Argenton 17,666b.
215th National Argenton 17,177b.

In Rummen, they began the season with a 170-strong flight team. This includes 66 cocks and 104 hens. No total but the system of class widowhood is used. The cocks have a fixed partner, the hens have 1 cock per 2 hens. One round is bred from the racing cocks and this year, for the first time, also from the racing hens. 

Early March, once the weather permitted, we started training. Driving, a lot of driving. For 2-3 weeks, they were driven every day up to the border (120 km). After this training period, they go every week. During the season, the weeks there is no national race, the pigeons are also driven to the border. At home they train once and preferably twice a day. The cocks can train freely and the hens are kept flying with the flag. Before the flight, the hens get to see their partner, the cocks do not. When they return home, the cocks are allowed to see their partners until it's dinner time at 17:00, then they separate. The hens can see their partner, but can't reach it. 

On the menu are the mixtures of Anthoons (recup and sport select) and the Energy mixture of Versele-Laga. Davy likes to keep feeding simple and always gives full feed. Every day they get peanuts and sweets. As for by-products, Tournelle is a loyal user of Röhnfried products. 

"Tiësto Mulan"
B23-2029041
1st National Bourges 7,617 yearbirds

Distance: 491km
Velocity: 1,389 m/m

Stefan Mertens