Smeets – Penris - Urmond ( with a small basket 3x Top 100 National Barcelona )
27 Mar 2020
Visiting a new colony just across the border with Belgium and Holland, in Urmond live Robin Smeets and Piet Penris. They run this colony together since Robin got the hold of it in 1999, it took another 5 years before also Piet started racing pigeons but from the beginning on it went really well. First on the short distance race but in 2010 they had 4 pigeons on Perigeux where 3 of them raced head of the race. Since then they started focussing on the extreme long distance races and from 2018 they got rid of all the short distance pigeons and the only goal now are the ZLU races.
When you win immediately the 2nd International Marseille against 9,387 pigeons after such a decision you know that you did good. But for the stunt we went over there was Barcelona 2019. They only basketed 3 pigeons and won the 26th, 52nd and 79th National against 4,132 pigeons. With such a result you can already show off. On an international level it was 52,129 and 181 against 15,981 old pigeons.
The last years Barcelona become even more heavy then before which made that there are only few pigeons that race a second international race in the same year. Their “Lucky 38” did do this, 53rd National Barcelona and then 33rd National Narbonne. What a class full pigeon. He is also a 1/2 brother to the 2nd international Marseille 2018 and his mother is from the old strain of Florizoone x Brothers Kuypers. I'm curious what this one will do in 2020.
Top results 2017-2019
1 Euroregio Agen yearlings 2019 ( 1 hour ahead )
1 Provincial Agen yearlings 2019
1 1 Series Barcelona 1+2+3 International 2019
1 Series Barcelona 1+2+3 Holland 2019
1 Euroregion series Barcelona 1+2 2019
2 Series Barcelona 1+2 Holland 2019
2 International Marseille 9,387 old 2018 “Benny Batman”
2 Nationaal Marseille old 2018 “Benny Batman”
2 Nationale Ace bird Barcelona 2016-2018 “Avatar”
4 National Champion Marathon ZLU 2017
6 International Ace bird Barcelona 2016-2018 “Avatar”
6 National Ace bird Marseille 2016-2018 “Benny Batman”
13 International Ace bird Marseille 2016-2018 “Benny Batman”
How do you race the old and yearlings ?
We have a racing team of 24 hens and 30 cocks, until last year we raced everything on widowhood until Agen and afterwards the hens would go on nest. As we noticed that this gave even better results we will race the hens on nest from their first race on that is important for them from this season on.
During the winter period we only breed out of the best old pigeons. No other coupling will follow until the season starts.
What is of importance for them is the training in Spring and during the season itself. The widow cocks train mostly twice a day unless they train really hard the first time as we don't want them to train off all their energy. The hens are being trained depending on the system they are on at that moment, if they are on nest we will toss them until 50km and when they are on widowhood they will train around the loft twice a day.
The goal is that the old pigeons have 2 international race or with exception 3 races but these are mostly the pigeons who did Pau. The old race in April and May on a weekly base and get mostly Limoges (which is being replaced by Montluçon in 2020), a first test in June. The team is being divided after that over the International races. For the yearlings it is off importance that they do Limoges – Agen en Narbonne.
So in 2019, the hens raced on widowhood until Agen and could have a nest after this race before Narbonne. They were basketed on 10 days breeding with a much better result. In 2020 they will be basketed twice on 10 days breeding and they will train quietly and will have a short race in between as well.
Widow cocks on the extreme long distance on classic widowhood…
Yes, we are maybe one of the few lofts that still do this but as the results are good we are going to keep on to this system. The pigeons always get to see their hen before the race, at the beginning it won't be too long but once the nice races are up this will be about one hour.
At arrival they are being locked up with their partner, at the beginning they are waiting but once the longer races are up they will only being placed on the loft from the moment the cocks get home. They don't want to make the other cocks crazy so they give them separate food and drinks and can stay together until the day after in the morning. You would say that this would make the other cocks crazy, but don't think so.
Toppers of the past seasons
NL 16-1795838 “Lucky 38” Chequered whitpin cock
This 3 year old cock isn't the first the best, in 2017 and 2018 he had races from Issoudun and Limoges to St.Vincent. He was always there, but in 2019 he raced twice an international race which was even better, 33rd National and 53rd National !
33 Nat Narbonne ’19 2,352b
53 Nat Barcelona ’19 4,129b
129 I.Nat 15,981b
63 Npo St.Vincent ‘18 1,706b
90 Npo Limoges ‘17 2,109b
167 Npo Issoudun ‘18 4,709b
199 Npo Dax 4,772b
Father NL 12-1892105 Light chequered
Super breeder
Father to ao. “Benny Batman” 2 I.Nat Marseille ’18 9,387b
Gr.F. NL 09-1497008 H Nijsten
Son to “NL 99-623” H Nijsten x “NL 07-327” Granddaughter 606 Best Long Distance pigeon
over 5 year Fondspiegel ‘99
Gr.M. NL 03-1510079 Daughter 606 H Nijsten
Daughter “NL 92-606” Best long distance over 5 jaar Fondspiegel ’99 x “NL 99-987” Lei Kurvers
Mother NL 07-1077197 Kuypers x Florizoone
Super breeding hen
Mother to “563” 3 Nat Bordeaux jl ’11
Gr.F. NL 04-1136827 Dark
Son to “BE 00-126 R Florizoone x “NL 00-688” Kuypers
Gr.M. NL 04-1136826 Kuypers x Florizoone
NL 13-1539677 “Avatar” Light chequered cock
2 Nat Ace bird Barcelona 2016-2018
6 I.Nat Ace bird Barcelona 2016-2018
12 I.Nat Ace bird Barcelona 2016-2017
This top cock raced 11x prize on 12 basketing with amongst other these 3 fantastic results on Barcelona.
51 Nat Barcelona ’16 5,239b
133 I.Nat 17,729b
115 Nat Barcelona ’17 4,504b
367 I.Nat 17,026b
227 Nat Barcelona ’18 3,912b
627 I.Nat 15,700b
Father NL 04-1136825 Blauw – Gebr.Kuypers
Gr.F. NL 95-2377829 Inbred Beatrix - Gebr.Kuypers
Father Beatrix x Zus Beatrix
Gr.M. BE 00-3167127 Blue – R Florizoone
Daughter to “BE 97-230” Son Primus Inter Pares Florizoone x “BE 98-003” Daughter Witneus
Primus Inter Pares Barcelona 1993-1997
Mother NL 10-3049812 Diamantje Jellema
Gr.F. NL 09-3949867 Light chequered – Jellema x Bax
Son to “NL 06-777” Grandson Zwart Goud x “NL 06-739” Zus Stef
Gr.M. NL 09-3949851 Light chequered – Jellema
Daughter “NL 06-100” Son Bergerac cock x “NL 06-701” Jelle 701
Guidance
The racing pigeons get Paloma Breeding / Moulting until the races are up, then we switch onto Purification and Gerry Plus at the beginning of the week and we use Duo Sport Paloma at the end of the week which will be added with candy and peanuts.
The widow cocks always get their food separately in their box while the hens will be fed mutually until they go onto nest.
At arrival they are always electrolytes waiting and 100% purification will be fed.
As extra we like to believe in vegetable from the garden such as carrots, red beet and also a lot of garlic is being given.
For the medical story we pay a lot of attention in April, a short distance race with cold head wind can kill your entire season so we will interfere quicker than during the summer itself. With interfering we mean a cure for the airways so these will be open and we don't have to give a long antibiotics cure.
In a matter of tricho we always treat them when they are breeding and during the season itself depending on the results. We focus only on a few races so it is only necessary to treat them once or twice during the season itself.
A new colony that we got to know a bit more now, Piet & Robin a big congratulation from the entire Herbots Team.
Buelens Kim
