Jean, Franck and Nathan Bodson (Heure-le-Romain) 1st National Champion KBDB middle distance old + yearling 2023

The 2023 season was nothing short of "sensational" for the tridem Bodson from Heure-le-Romain, part municipality of Oupeye (located in the province of Liège ).

A banging season with the highlights being: 

1st National Champion Small Middle Distance KBDB 2023
4th National Ace pigeon KBDB Middle Distance 2023
8th National ace KBDB Middle Distance 2023
8 x 1st Provincial Liege for the old and yearling birds

The results of the 2023 season are downright impressive and since numbers still say more than words, we are happy to put them on the table. A total of 401 pigeons were basketed, of which 355 won prizes. Good for a prize percentage of 84% , including no less than 62% of the prizes won per 10-pair. Besides these exceptional results, there were also 8 provincial victories, one inter-provincial victory, one semi-national victory and no less than fifteen victories won in the "Indépendante de Liège" consortium, where the competition is not to be underestimated. 
For those who do not know, the KBDB national championship of middle distance old/early pigeons is won by the fancier with the best coefficient (1st and 2nd signed) on 5 middle distance flights. Family Bodson - thanks to following top results - was allowed to stand on the highest scaffold during celebration of the national KBDB champions:

06/05 Melun: 1st and 5th Prov. against 1,248d. (old)
13/05 Melun: 26th and 15th Prov. against 2,178b. (old + yearling)
20/05 Melun: 5th and 1st Prov. against 965b. (old)
27/05 Melun: 2nd and 3rd Prov. against 1,581b. (old + yearling)
16/07 Bourges: 26th and 1st Semi-Nat. against 2,698b. (yearling)

Introduction

It all started with Jean and son Franck Bodson. This tandem is certainly not an unknown name for fanciers from the Walloon region. For many years, this colony has distinguished itself in two disciplines, namely speed and middle distance racing, resulting in several honourable mentions in the provincial and national KBDB championships.  
The name of Nathan was recently added to this formidable father-son duo. Nathan is the grandson of Jean and the nephew of Franck who, having had his own loft at his parents' home, now devotes himself entirely to the "family loft" if we may put it that way. Three generations of the Bodson family have come together to be even stronger together! They have already more than succeeded in the 2023 season.
The daily management of the colony is in the hands of Jean, the patriarch, who turned 87 this year. Despite his blessed age, it is he who, 365 days a year, is responsible for all the care (letting out pigeons, cleaning lofts, feeding, etc...). His slogan is short and sweet. "To succeed in pigeon racing, nothing is left to chance!" If you ask us, Jean might be more than right. 
Franck and Nathan support daddy/daddy Jean as much as they can. If necessary, they assist to lighten the load and together they discuss important matters such as which pigeons will be basketed for which races, whether anything needs to be done in terms of care, etc..

Overview of the colony

The colony is supported by 16 breeding pairs that raise two rounds of youngsters every year. The racing team consists only of cocks, which are 15 old and 15 yearlings. They are played according to the classical widowhood system. The widowers live in 2 sections and the hens arrive at the beginning of February. The racing team is allowed to breed for a maximum of 10 days and then the nest is broken off and the hens disappear into the aviary. A good 3 weeks later, when April has already started well, the hens return to the loft and now they are allowed to breed for 4 days and then widowhood is a fact. Remarkably, our national champions concentrate solely on playing with the cocks. Nathan says: "We know that the game with the hens starts to take the upper hand on all fronts, especially when several days of basket are involved. The problem is that when we also focus on the hens, we need an extra loft and since Grandpa Jean takes care of everything, we don't want to burden him with extra work. As long as we are happy from the results of the cocks, we are going to keep pulling this card. Who knows what the future holds."
During the season, the widowers are fed separately. Drinking is done from a common drinking pot. Before the season, Bodson family sits in the waiting room of vet Boskamp (NL) and on his recommendation, treatment is or is not given. Last season, the forme was directly under the flight crew and at no time did we have to treat with antibiotics. Only against tricho was the well-known "yellow drops" administered weekly. 
As for feed, Beyers' Galaxy mixtures and Versele-Laga's Subliem mixtures are on the menu. In terms of by-products, we follow the schedule of Dr Boskamp, who markets his own Bonifarma products.
Another striking observation is that the Bodson family only trains their youngsters. Nathan defends his statement "It is very striking how everyone complains of the many losses with the youngsters. Fanciers who have so many empty trays after a few races that they simply give up. For many years, we too shared in the blows and that's why we decided together to only raise our youngsters about 10 times ourselves and if necessary to fly a 60km race. Only the young hens are played full time as youngsters. 
Will we lose a lot of yearling birds? No, that's not so bad. Last season we had 15 inexperienced yearling cocks and the losses were very limited. We feel very good about this and also in 2024 our youngsters will see the inside of a basket with difficulty."

Lots of Jo and Florian Hendriks pigeons

Nathan continues: "It is sometimes claimed that certain fanciers have it in their fingers to choose the better pigeons. Fanciers who have seen everything with a glance, well I think my grandfather is such a person. In 2013, we visited Dutch champions Jo & Florian Hendriks and immediately it was bingo. Especially a brother and sister of "National Harry" ("National Harry" became FCI World Champion and won 1st Nat. Chateauroux 7,503d among others. - 2nd Nat. Argenton 9,512d. - 2nd NPO Montluçon 4,201d. etc..) picked up like the best butter on our existing base built from pigeons of Jonckers Johnny & Yves among others. The Jonckers pigeons we bought had a lot of "Vandenabeele Gaby blood" running through their veins. You can say that currently 70% of our breeding base consists of Hendriks pigeons and 30% our former strain.

Speaking of a good breeding pair

Although our tridem has some "good breeding pairs" under its pans , one pair in particular is responsible for most of the recent successes of this colony. The pair in question is "1006983-13" (nicknamed "Le Tardif") and 1042694-12 ( called "La 694") 

"Le Tardif" is a cross between pigeons of Johnny Janssens (Eksel) from whom a number of pigeons were bought in 2007 and the pigeons of Johny Jonckers.  "La 694" is a 100% Jonckers hen, with Vandenabeele origins. 

This pair are the (grand)parents of more than a dozen pigeons that won first prizes, 5 of which are currently in the breeding loft where:

1143517-2015 : won: 2 x 1st , 3 x 2nd, 47 prizes of which 38 per 10-pair. Is father of 1st Prov Lorris, 1° Prov Melun, 1° Prov Melun, 2° Prov Lorris, 2° Prov Melun,...
1143518-2015 : 3 x 1st, 1 x 1st Provincial, 2 x 2nd, 73 prizes including 52 per 10-pair
1139117-2016 : 2 x 1st, 1 x 2nd, 30 prizes including 22 per 10-pair
1148841-2018 : 2 x 1st, 36 prizes including 30 per 10-tal

Some toppers

1027015-21 - "Carlos

In 2023 he won

06/05: 1° Prov Melun 1966 b. (Old + Yearling)
10/06: 1° Dizy-le-Gros 1319 b. (Old + Yearling)
27/05: 2nd Prov Melun 1581 b. (Old + Yearling)
20/05: 5th Prov Melun 965 b. (Old)
13/05 : 28th Prov Melun 2229 b. (Old + Yearling)
03/06 : 51° Prov Melun 2497 b. (Old + Yearling)

In 2022 he won : 

1° Prov Lorris 364 d. (Yearling)
2° Prov Melun 768 b. (Yearling)
5° Prov Melun 1214 b. (Yearling)
13 prizes of which 9 prizes per 10

1027035-21 - 100% Hendriks Jo & Florian

In 2023 he won :
4th National Ace pigeon KBDB small middle distance 2023 

20/05 : 1° Prov Melun 965 b. (Old)
27/05 : 3rd Prov Melun 1581 b. (Old+Yarn)
06/05 : 5th Prov Melun 1248 b. (Oude)
30/04 : 6th Prov Trèlou 1457 b. (Oude)
13/05 : 17th Prov Melun 2229 b. (Oude+Jaarse)
03/06 : 35th Prov Melun 2497 b. (Oude+Jaarse)

In 2022 he won : 

1° Rethel 156 d. (Yearling)
3° Prov Melun 630 b. (Yearling)
5° Cul des Sarts 1008 b. (Yearling)
12 prizes including 11 prizes per 10

B21-1027025

In 2023, he won :
8th National Ace pigeon KBDB small middle distance 2023 

20/05 : 4th Prov Melun 1547 b. (Old)
13/05 : 6th Prov Melun 2229 b. (Old+Year)
06/05 : 7th Prov Melun 1248 b. (Old)
30/04 : 8th Prov Trèlou 1408 b. (Old)
03/06 : 12th Prov Melun 2380 b. (Old+year)
16/07: 24th Semi-Nat. Bourges 2064 b. (Old)

In 2022 he won : 

9° Prov Lorris 364 d. (Yearling)
9th Prov Orleans 264 d. (Yearling)
10° Cul des Sarts 1008 b. (Yearling)
12 prizes including 11 prizes per 10

1028737-19 - 100% Hendriks Jo & Florian :

He won the following prizes:

1° Inter Prov Vierzon 2002 d. (Old + yearling)
1° Prov Gien 907 b. (Old)
2° Dizy-le-Gros 246 b. (Old)
4° Prov Lorris 357 b. (Old)
6° Prov Lorris 2879 b. (Old + yearling)
8° Prov Melun 1475 b. (Old)
9° Prov Melun 615 b. (Old)

1° Provincial ace KBDB Liege Small Middle Distance 2021
39 prizes including 29 per 10

Some impressive results of the 2023 season:

30/04 : Trèlou 1457 duiven (Oude) : 
6, 10, 11, 15, 16, 33, 87, 92, 104, … (11/13)
06/05 : Melun Prov 1248 duiven (Oude) :
1, 5, 7, 17, 47, 48, 60, 80, 87, 89, 133, … (13/13)
06/05 : Rethel 1408 duiven (Jaarse) :
1, 2, 16, 17, 20, 22, 52, 90, 111, … (13/16)
13/05 : Dizy le Gros 1183 duiven (Jaarse) :
1, 2, 18, 19, 37, 44, 48, 55, 57, 76, 97, 98, … (16/16)
13/05 : Melun Prov 1425 duiven (Oude) :
5, 7, 11, 14, 20, 30, 62, 99, 129, … (12/13)
20/05 : Melun Prov 965 duiven (Oude) :
1, 2, 5, 12, 31, 36, 54, … (8/9)
20/05 : Trèlou 1001 duiven (Jaarse) :
7, 25, 32, 34, 38, 45, 47, 65, 80, 81, 90, … (16/16)
20/05 : Vierzon Interprovincial 2017 duiven (Oude+Jaarse) :
1, 111 (2/4)
27/05 : Melun Prov 1581 duiven (Oude+Jaarse) :
2, 3, 7, 30, 34, 61, 62, 124, … (11/12)
03/06 : Melun Prov 2497 duiven (Oude+Jaarse) :
11, 12, 28, 35, 51, 53, 55, 83, 85, 121, … (17/17)
03/06 : Rethel 635 duiven (Jaarse) :
2, 3, 4, 15, 18, 19, 21 (7/7)
10/06 : Dizy le Gros 1319 duiven (Oude+Jaarse) :
1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 16, 48, 71, 76, 112 (14/17)
16/07 : Bourges Semi-Nat. 2698 duiven (Jaarse) :
1, 26, 91 (3/3)

 

It is a very pleasant introduction to these national champions middle distance 2023. We are going to keep an extra eye on their results next season as we expect many more top results from this motivated family.

We wish them every success