Mark Valentijn St. Willebrord (N-Brabant - Netherlands) Wins 1st National Agen ZLU Yearlings

At the end of June and beginning of July, as usual every year, the pigeon calendar is busy. 
On Friday 30 June, a national long-distance flight with morning release was scheduled. Sectors 1 and 2 would fly from Bordeaux and sectors 3 and 4 from Ruffec. On Friday also the release of International Agen ZLU for old and yearling pigeons. And on Saturday (moved or postponed to Sunday) also a middle distance flight, the Grand Prix Train Grande Vitesse. And also a weekend when in many departments the training flights for the youngsters start. Then on Monday we basket again for the next international marathon flight, Barcelona. Hats off to all the staff in the staking rooms or basketing centres who organise everything down to the last detail to let the fanciers enjoy the flights. Sometimes it is taken for granted that these people are always ready and often selflessly. Perhaps a pint extra for these people. 
 

Release Friday, June 30
At Agen, the early morning (7am) was cloudy with a temperature of about 17°C and a moderate wind from the west. A rain area north of Agen moved away to the east. In Agen, there was still a wait for clearings with good visibility. At 8.15 am the signal then sounded for unloading at the trotting and racing track, the Hippodrome de Beau on the Avenue du Quercy in Beaumont de Lomagne. On the flight line there were clouds but good visibility and a moderate, predominantly north-westerly wind. 
The second flight day unfortunately a frontal disturbance moved over the Netherlands, Belgium and France from west to east in the morning with heavy to full cloud cover and periods of (drizzle) rain. 

Unfortunately, the founder, Les Amis du Bordeaux Télévie, saw the number of internationally entered old and yearling pigeons decline again this year. Now there were 29,688, compared to 33,796 last year. A decline of no less than 4,108 pigeons. 
In the Netherlands, too, we see the number of pigeons basketed declining again. In 2022 a total of 12,193 old and yearling pigeons were basketed, now there were a total of 10,755. 1,438 fewer pigeons were basketed. In the Netherlands, 5,296 pigeons were entered among the yearling birds. Last year there were 6,174 yearlings. And that is now 878 less than last year. 
For the very many yearlings, Agen ZLU meant the long-distance baptism in a possible great career. 

At what time would the first report of a yearling on the shorter distances in France appear on the PIPA site. How would they catch the first pigeons in the other countries and who would clock the earliest pigeon where in the Netherlands. The social media were in full swing in the afternoon and evening and people were keeping in touch with each other and emailing each other. That same day there were also arrivals from national Bordeaux and Ruffec. So plenty to follow. 
After almost 10 hours of flying, the first report came from a yearling pigeon from France in the western town of Naves. Here Sebastien Cressin caught a yearling at 6.14pm at a distance of 723km. This would give a speed of 1237 m/min. It was soon followed by the first report of a yearling pigeon from Belgium and this came from Marienbourg Here François Michaux clocked at 18.13 and this at a distance of 740 km. This would also give a speed of 1237 m/min. 
From Germany came the first report of a yearling from Zweibrücken and this by Bauer und Frau. They clocked their pigeon at 7pm at a distance of 770 km. Good for a speed of 1193 m/min.

Given the predominantly north-westerly wind, would the eastern side have the advantage? The course in France as well as in Belgium soon indicated they had nevertheless kept to the western side with a single pigeon against Luxembourg. Would this also be the case in the Netherlands? 
Now it was waiting for the first Dutch yearling. Where would she fall and with whom. Tension rose as the evening approached. How many fanciers on the shorter distances didn't nervously scan the skies to see if a pigeon was reporting. 
The redeeming message among the yearlings appeared on the ZLU site just before 8 pm. Roger Wijnands from Vroenhoven (Belgium) even reported two yearlings at 7.54pm. They had covered the distance of 846 km at an average speed of 1211 and 1210 m/min. 
Eventual national winner was Mark Valentijn from St. Willebrord, a church village in the municipality of Rucphen in the province of North Brabant. When Mark reported his pigeon, which he clocked at 8pm, he quickly moved to the top of the reporting list. The 892km distance his yearling had covered at a speed of 1266m/min. It would later turn out that this speed was good for the National win in the yearlings. Internationally at a provisional 8th place in the yearlings. 

An exciting moment
Mark was still in the yard with some pigeon fanciers from the village and father Jan, who is now enjoying his retirement, watching the pigeons from the National race Bordeaux. Mark had 27 yearlings with him on this. Looking at the PIPA site to see how Agen went in France and Belgium was not really an option. When a 15th pigeon arrived, a scratch, it was not registered on the system. Mark went into the loft to see which pigeon it might be and then nerves start playing tricks. One of the letters remarked that it might be a pigeon from Agen. Then the pigeon was quickly found. Quickly held on the antenna, but no beep. When Mark wet the chip ring, it did beep. Time 20:00:02. Surely it had taken several minutes. After reporting to the NIC Hoogerheide, it came on top of the ZLU reporting list. Now we had to wait for reports from further distances. As time went on, it became clear that it would be the 1st National. From then on, the phone did not stay quiet. Congratulations came in from everywhere and a small party could begin. Mark says it was an intoxication he found himself in. Sometimes really unfathomable, you are lived for a while. Mark also clocked pigeons on the first flight day at 21.06, 21.09, and 21.28, 22.08, 22.30 and 22.42 and the next morning at 6.02 and had 13 at home till 8.09. 
 

The "Bommel" 1st National Agen Yearlings 

The "Bommel" which became national winner of Agen ZLU yearlings bears ring number Nl22-2217283 and was played on double widowhood. He was given the name "Bommel", derived from the nickname grandpa Marijn used to get in the village. Mark did not know what it stands for. 
In his year of birth "Bommel " went into the basket until Orleans and won three prizes. As a yearling he did two races to 180 km and went 4 times to the Melun races organised in Hank. These releases bring spread in the pigeons and so they learn to orient themselves better, says Mark. 
The Friday before basketing for Agen, Mark drove to Vlissingen (80 km) and the cocks and hens were released at 20.30 hrs. When they returned home, they were allowed to stay together until the next day. Then they were separated and did not come together again before basketing. 

The "Bommel" is an inbred cock after the well-known "Den Rooie Duuk" of the Comb. Ham-Bartels from Wintelre (N-Br). It is a quiet inconspicuous cock. When he arrived after just over 12 hours of flying, he still looked prime and showed himself at home in his nest box. 
His father is the "Black 038" from '17 sired by the Comb. Ham-Bartels. This "038" is also father of the 4th and 10th Ace pigeon in the IFC Hoogerheide ('22). A very good breeding pigeon with Mark.
Gr. father is a son of "Den Rooie Duuk" of Comb. Ham-Bartels which was 1st Golden crack in 2007. Kind Jan Bullens from Oirschot. 
Gr. mother is the "130" of '12 sired by Ko van Dommelen. Line "Paasborstje".
His mother is the "558" from '21 also from the Comb. Ham-Bartels 
Gr. father is the "715" from '15 and is also a son of "Den Rooie Duuk"
Gr. mother is the "998" from "11 is a half-sister of the "Black 038" and the "715 "and is thus a daughter of "Den Rooie Duuk" 
See also the pedigree chart.
 

Valentijn partnership 

Mark runs the Valentijn partnership with his mother Lian and are involved in growing strawberries, blackberries and raspberries. In the full season, as many as 20 seasonal workers are busy picking the fruit in the fields. A busy doings and long working days and so time for his hobby remains limited during that period. Grandpa Marijn, who lived next door to his parents, was a pigeon fancier and one of the many that the Willebrord pigeon nest had at the time. He had more of a penchant for breeding than playing. Mark always went to watch when the pigeons came home and helped grandfather with basketing and taught him how to work with the system. When grandfather suffered too much from respiratory problems, he sold the pigeons. But the microbe stayed with Mark. He often came into contact with local fanciers and in 2000 he made his entry into pigeon racing and built his first loft in his yard according to his own principles. By reading and watching videos, he had an idea about the so-called 'open box system'. He built himself a 12-metre long racing loft with six sections. Each section has a run which is only open at the front. He used sandwich wood (10 cm thick) as building material. The ceiling in the loft is closed and the windows are open day and night. In this way, he created a good climate in the loft and considering his achievements in his early pigeon fancier existence, he had it right. 

A second loft with a length of 9 metres is for the around 100 youngsters. The breeding pigeons house in two separate lofts. 

Long-distance only 

Mark, 37 and married to Gerdi have a 6-year-old daughter Charlotte and a 3-year-old son Teun. Together with his young family and his duties within the company, he has a busy life and his free time is sometimes limited. Therefore, he decided to participate only in the national long-distance flights and an occasional ZLU flight. In the full season, when harvesting the fruit and training and taking care of the pigeons, it is sometimes hard work. He only breeds youngsters from the 30 breeding couples he currently owns. The youngsters he breeds from these are darkened in order to play them well in the feathers until Orleans. If they win prizes, that's a bonus. His racing team consists of 35 couples which he plays on total widowhood. This team consists of about 50 yearlings. 

He pairs these racers at the beginning of April and lets them breed dirty. In that period, they were basketed several times on the races of Brabant 2000. After incubating they were widowed. 

Until the big flights start, Mark baskets them 4 times in Hank. Sometimes a few days before basketing he does a short flight. As the season was quite heavy the last few weeks, he decided not to let the yearlings fly a day long distance race. 

The hens have two divisions available and the widowers 4 divisions. Both cocks and hens train twice a day. In the morning, Mark is present on the farm at 6 o'clock and back home at 7 o'clock. After breakfast, he releases the hens. Then the cocks. The last few weeks the pigeons trained very well. Sometimes for an hour and a half, especially the hens, Mark says. At noon, the youngsters are released until about 4 to 5 pm. Then the hens and then the cocks are released again. He applies the rotation system. After training, they then enter the cocks' wards. The sexes do not meet before basketing. It would cause too much commotion, Mark believes. 

Harry Ham of the combination Ham-Bartels his mentor.
When Mark started with pigeons, he was looking for a good fancier where he could buy pigeons. On the Marktplaats site, he found a fancier who offered young pigeons. This was the combination Ham-Bartels from Wintelre in Brabant. They bought a young pigeon and immediately clicked when they collected it. Since then, many pigeons have moved to Willebrord, and not only pigeons but also good advice on care, playing and breeding. There is weekly contact and in the winter Harry is present in Willebrord to put together the breeding couples together with Mark. Harry is a very good teacher and unfortunately such enthusiasts are too few. Especially when it comes to starters. 
Especially pigeons from the line of "Den Rooie Duuk", with a list of honours to make your mouth water, is the common thread of Mark's breeding loft. "Den Rooie Duuk" was among others 2nd in the Category E marathon Olympiad Dortmund in 2009, became in 2007: 1st Golden Crack, 1st Pigeon Champion Zuiderkempen, 2nd Ace Pigeon National Fondspiegel, and 5th National Pigeon Champion Multi-day Long Distance. It also proved to be an unparalleled breeder. Sometimes a pigeon is added via a purchased voucher. But the core remains the Ham-Bartels pigeons. 

Care and medical aspects.
As mentioned, Mark is busy with his business and young family and for that he chose simple care. This means that during the racing period, he feeds one mixture namely Vanrobaeys Revolution Sport and the last 2 days Vanrobaeys Top Energy as a bonus. In the feeder always enough food and after half an hour the dis is cleared. When they come home they get Beute Olympic MG and a protein powder. Then three days (Ma-Di-Woe) Beute LTW and before basketing vitamins for birds from the local pet shop. Before the season he goes for a check-up with De Weerd and if something is wrong with them something is provided. During the season, only if he notices that the performance does not stay good or they do not train well, he goes for a check-up. The week before basketing for St Vincent, he gave another 4-day cure with Orni Special and WN Rood from de Weerd. And that was all. He consults a lot with Harry Ham about the ups and downs of the pigeons. 

Finally
Just three years as a pigeon fancier and already winning a 1st National in a prestigious race is something few can do. Mark is still building up his loft and already knows how to hold his own. In 2022 in Brabant 2000 he won Bordeaux (2769 d) 34-100-116-119 -121 and 11 out of 16 and Agen (ZLU) 1-75-98-99 against 737 d and 9 out of 16 with 37th Nat Agen ZLU (6174 d). On Narbonne in Br. 2000 18-19-23-79 against 606 d and 11 out of 20. And this year on St Vincent in Brabant 2000 against 1301 d 41-51-125 and 8 out of 17. And on Bordeaux against 2574 d. 28-42-109-110-127-163-249-257 and 13 v.d. 27. And now the 1st National from Agen ZLU against 5,296 d. We will definitely hear from him more often. 

Marcel Görtzen