The beauty of the pigeon sport, that also fanciers who despite their efforts to their potential can also win a national flight. This was proven again last weekend by Omer Hooylaerts from Houwaart (located near Tielt-Winge). Despite the retirement age Omer still works as a self-employed person in his Opel garage. His drive...helping people and finding only satisfaction in the work with “satisfied customers.” 

Pigeon racing is pure hobby...and in 2014 Omer had a top year with 7 rankings Top-10 national! But afterwards things went a bit wrong. Due to too busy professional activities, too little free time and having the disadvantage of not being able (wanting) to select at all.  Omer: “My lofts were full of pigeons and during the weekend I gave them away. I like to see pigeons coming home from a race” he defends his method. “But... I also felt it couldn't last like this. It all became too much. 

I am good friends with Albert Derwa. We are old classmates and Albert kept saying I had way too many pigeons. My selection knife needed to be sharpened much sharper and when I had over 700 pigeons, I made a serious selection. I think as many as half were selected out. Albert saw that it was good. And indeed...since then I have everything under better control

1st National Vierzon

“Never thought this would ever happen to me,” Omer continues ”I can still see him, not an inch from the wrong direction, storming in. Not a second lost. 
I had just watched how many meters the first pigeons did and immediately I felt that this was a very early pigeon. My name appeared as 1st national young pigeon, it was anxious minutes hoping no one from the “back” would appear. 
The winner was “B24-2089752”, a blue cock hanging around his neck with a youngster of about 15 days. Probably he will have drawn his motivation from there. Whether I always play my youngsters on nest? Yes and no... I just let them do it but if, like this year, they have to sit an extra night or if there are losses, then the nesting (read motivation) is also gone. But, the national winner was paired with one of the decoy birds. She continued breeding and so suddenly there was a youngster in the nest dish. 
Whether I have a pedigree card of the winner? Another such story. My pigeon bookkeeping is non-existent and since I often re-pair, I know who the mother is (I bought a coupon from Pascal Ariën and received 4 eggs), but not who the father is. I have a suspicion, but am not 100% sure.
For the rest, there are few if any secrets to discover in Houwaart and the wise advice of Albert Derwa is listened to as much as possible. 

Omer...congratulations on this national victory and who knows what will follow.

Good luck

BE24-2089752
1st National Vierzon 16,895 youngbirds

Distance: 457km
Velocity: 1,307.66 m/m

NO PEDIGREE AVAILABLE

Stefan Mertens