Louis KEIRSMAKERS, Nijlen - (B) Wins Vierzon interprovincial 8.410 old birds -2009

Yet the interprovincial race (Antwerp-Brabant-Henegouwen) could count on a good participation of 8.410 old birds and 4.618 yearlings, or a total of 13.028 pigeons… which were liberated at 8am that Saturday, and were supported by a strong SW-wind, very high speeds of around 107 Km per hour. Many speed cameras on the route were scorching when the flock of pigeons passed them at this high speed.

Louis Keismaekers from Nijlen triumphs
In the end it was Louis Keirsmakers from Nijlen who had the highest speed of 1784,32 m/min… clocked at 12h28’03” for 478,198 Km, and who was the interprovincial winner against 8.410 old birds… directly the highest speed of the entire convoy of 13.028 pigeons… and this with a small lead from Frans Frans from Bondheiden who had 1782,49 m. Both fanciers also had 2 pigeons in the top-10 at provincial level with a 1° + 8° Prov Antwerp for Louis Keirsmakers, and a 2° + 10° Prov for Frans Frans against 2.802 old birds.
The winning 2 year old hen from Louis Keirsmakers, ring B07-6219558 and now renamed ‘Lady Vierzon’… is not just any old pigeon, and already has a complete recital of top prizes to her name. She has already flown the following honours list (per 10):

Salbris             66 p.        9    (456 Km)
Vierzon           209 p.        11
Toury           415 p.        22    (385 Km)
Melun        1.386 p.    23    (313 Km)
Vierzon     Prov    1.314 p.    24
Melun        2.893 p.    30
Toury        1.042 p.    32
Bourges       287 p.        33    (481 Km)
Toury        1.612 p.    44
Salbris           717 p.        55
Toury        3.190 p.    61
Argenton Zone    2.095 p.    164    (558 Km)
Vierzon     I.Prov    5.076 p.    174
Bourges Prov    2.532 p.    179
Argenton Nat    6.177 p.    267
And now 1° Interprov Vierzon 8.410 old birds!

The pedigree of this ‘Lady Vierzon’ betrays her class. Her father is the ‘Chequered 714/04’, self a top racer with 2/425, 7/927, 11/369, 13/943, 21/391, 33/846, 40/945, 44/840, 66/1755 etc… (and comes self out the line 1° Prov Montlucon 1.800 p.  in ’04 and 2° Semi-Nat Montlucon 11.568 p. in ‘05: the ‘Late 02” 462/02 who is then a full brother of the 1° Ace pigeon ‘As-Lise’…. X ‘Chequered 583/99’ from Alfons Hens. Mother is the chequered 042/06 who is a half-sister of the 327/08 that won 1° Le Mans 192 p. and 9° Prov 1.391 p.
Louis Keirsmakers also won the 1° + 3° Prize in the club in Brevel against 214 old pigeons with his 2° + 1° nominated pigeon respectively and achieved 3 prizes from 3 pigeons by the old birds… and 2/3 by the yearlings! 
That there was condition in the loft was proven by the pigeons the week before from Etampes, when all 26 racing pigeons were basketted and achieved a very fine 20/26 wherefrom no less than 14 pigeons were classified per 10. As preparation for this Vierzon the pigeons flew 2 x Quiévrain, 2 x Noyon, and once from Etampes. At the moment Louis has 13 racing couples which are raced in ‘total widowhood’… it is the 2nd season that Louis has applied this system. Last year, 2008, this was a success, and 2009 seems to be a wonderful continuation. Yet this success from Vierzon was a week earlier than planned… because Louis actually wanted to ‘peak’ towards the ‘national Bourges’ next week. Before leaving for Vierzon the partners were shown for the first time this season… and this seemingly ensured an extra stimulant, with the interprovincial victory as a result. The plans at the moment are to enter the entire team for Bourges, and also the team that shined from Vierzon will be amongst them… they have proved that their condition is ‘top’, so that Louis can hardly leave them at home.  
The total number of pigeons in the loft is, in addition to the 13 racing couples, another 16 breeding couples and 60 youngsters, next to what Louis calls 16 ‘place couples’. He places the eggs of the breeding couples and the best racing couples under these couples and they raise them. The cocks of these ‘place couples’ are then used in the summer as partners for the young hens in widowhood… very handy, since their loft lies next to the compartment for the youngsters.
This victory from Vierzon is not the first time for Louis Keirsmakers, in 1998 he won 1° National Bourges 48.892 youngsters, and had the fastest pigeon from more than 75.000 participating pigeons.  In 2004 he won 1° Prov Montlucon 1.800 Yearlings, and precisely a year later the 2° Semi-Nat Montlucon 11.568 p. with the same pigeon. Last year, 2008, the team of youngsters gave him a stunt performance in the closing Gueret with the following result:
Gueret  Zone B  5.692 Youngsters    5,35,110,1275 (5)
        Nat 14.784 Youngsters    5,67,199,2760 (5)
By the 199° prize nationally the first 3 nominated had been clocked, which gave Louis the first series at national level with both 1+2 and 1+2+3 nominated!

Living proof that the Keirsmakers-colony is based on a loft of class pigeons, mainly originating from pigeons from father Albert, van Gommaar Leysen out Pulderbos (via his brother-in-law Frans Rombouts out Nijlen), van Echelpoel out Nijlen (a Sprint champion), Alfons Hens-Nijlen, Dirk Van Dyck-Zandhoven, Walter Roziers-Berlaar, Luc Bart & Jurgen Geerinckx-Wommelgem, Maurits Voets-Kessel etc…  So as you can see says Louis, I often obtain something, because I have a strongly inbred stock of pigeons… that’s why from time to time a drop of ‘fresh blood’ is more than necessary. That’s why he often exchanges pigeons with his brother Jef Keirsmakers (also winner 1° Nat Bourges for the yearlings in ’93), whereby of course only the best are exchanged… with the aim of maintaining a high level in both the colonies!

The Keirsmakers family is also a pigeon family with a long tradition. Father Albert had 4 sons, wherefrom he was able to make 3 interested in our pigeon sport. In the family loft each one of them had his own loft, although it was father Albert who always made the final decision as to how the pigeons would be nominated or bet on! Brother Paul continued racing together with his father from the family loft… while both Jef and Louis (in 1990) started to race independently after they were married, and followed the road strewn with success in their favourite sport! God knows what they will do in the following weeks, starting this weekend from Bourges… because with ‘top condition’ in the lofts, the pigeons are capable of anything! Louis Keirsmakers… a colony to keep an eye on over the next few weeks, so much is certain! Hereby our congratulations to the Louis Keirsmakers family with their magnificent victory from Vierzon!