Jespers-Vanderwegen - Holsbeek (BE) amazing with 2nd, 4th and 5th National Bourges against 30.759 youngsters

Three talents arrived home at the same time … to achieve the 2., 4. and 5. National from 30.759 pigeons. And once again a child of  ‘Kleine Dirk’ x ‘Fleur’ with National glory; as if they are saving the best for the Queen’s classic!

“A tough season,” sighs Herman Jespers in answer to the question concerning the preparations for the  National races for youngsters… the specialists from Holsbeek were not spared disappointments in 2010 either. “The group was affected by adeno three times and on the day of basketting we even decided to keep ten extra pigeons home due to ‘one eye cold’ …” There was a rock solid trust placed in the forty pigeons allowed to defend the honour of Herman Jespers and Johnny Vanderwegen. “They looked perfect. We were hoping for an early pigeon that would be early Nationally.”

There were tense moments around one o’clock in the Kortrijksebaan. “We learned from PiPa that, calculated to the time of the fastest pigeon at that moment by Casaert, we would have to clock just after one to have an early pigeon. We peered hopefully in an easterly direction when just before one o’clock four pigeons thundered home. One stray, but three for us. We knew straight away that they were early.” When we reported them to the club in Herent, where they were the first three pigeons, our assumptions were confirmed. “I was very happy when they entered the traps quite quickly,” says Johnny, “a few years ago we had 5 from La Souterraine in the pouring rain, and they remained on the roof … and cost us the 5 first Nationally. Of course we would have liked to have won now, but our first pigeon went directly inside … then you are beaten by worth … although 2-4-5 National also feels like a real  victory!”

2nd National Bourges

Herman saw straight away that that it was his favourite pigeon, BELG10-2035044 which was first inside. The blue hen was not nominated first for nothing. “Two weeks ago she won 2nd prize from Pithiviers … and I started noticing her more and more. Of course the choice is made easier when you know that she is a product of our stock cock ‘Kleine Dirk’ x top breeding hen ‘Fleur’.” And with these words Herman comes directly to the couple which have caused so many furores and in 2010 have once again won the first National. “Very strange, these pigeons seem to be in their element in the National liberations … they can have an amazing lead.”

Pedigree : 2nd national Bourges

When Herman then backs up his statements with facts, you can only conclude that ‘Kleine Dirk’ x ‘Fleur’ is an unprecedented couple … they also bred the fabulous ‘Nathalia’, winner of 2. Nat. Zone Bourges against 10.321 pigeons, 4. Nat. Bourges against 31.824 pigeons and 1. Dudelange against 237 pigeons ... but also super cock ‘F16’, Best youngster of Belgium over the 3 Nationals!!  The list of direct super descendants of ‘Kleine Dirk’ is then:

- ‘F16’:    Best youngster of Belgium over the 3 Nationals youngsters in 2008 with a.o. 6. Nat. Argenton against 25.583 pigeons, 8. Nat. La Souterraine against 21.258 pigeons, 20. Nat. Zone Bourges against 13.350 pigeons
- ’044-10’: 2. Nat. Bourges against 30.759 pigeons

- ‘Nathalia’: 4. Nat. Bourges against 31.824 pigeons

- ‘Dora’: 22. Nat. Argenton against 23.078 pigeons

- ‘Loetcha’: 43. Nat. Bourges against 32.762 pigeons and 1. prov. Chateauroux

‘Kleine Dirk’ is also grandfather of a.o.:

- ‘Bourgeke’: 
                1. Nat. Zone Bourges against  8.973 pigeons
- ‘010-10’:     4. Nat. Bourges against      30.759 pigeons
- ‘082-10’:     5. Nat. Bourges against      30.759 pigeons
- ‘Bliksem’:   15. Nat. Bourges against      31.824 pigeons
- ‘424-07’:    26. Nat. Bourges against      31.824 pigeons
- ‘Marina’:    13. Nat. Argenton against     20.844 pigeons
- ‘Ariane’:     2. prov. Blois against        1.601 pigeons
- ‘Babe’:      11. Nat. La Souterraine       21.271 pigeons

- ‘Balloneke’:   

1e. Bourges against    439 pigeons,
1e. Pithiviers against 488 pigeons, 
1e. Pithiviers against 290 pigeons,
21e.Interprov.Chateauroux against 8.216 pigeons; 
54e.Interprov. Argenton   against 4.640 pigeons.

‘Kleine Dirk’ comes directly from Dirk van Dyck and is a grandson of his famous ‘Bourges’ … ‘Fleur came as an egg via Ad Schaerlaekens and is a grandchild of his icons ‘Ace Four’ and ‘Home Alone’
The blue hen beat her three loft companions

4th. & 5th. National Bourges

The blue cock BELG10-2035010, was also clocked ten seconds after the 044 and with this good enough for the 4. National, comes out a direct Van Dyck cock, this time a grandson of ‘The Rambo’ which was paired with ‘The Orleanske’, 1. prov. Orleans against 10.034 pigeons. He was paired with ‘Misterie’, a direct daughter of, once again, ‘Kleine Dirk’, who this time was coupled with the ’98-231’ (out ‘Jarnac hen’), the mother of ‘Dora’, ‘Loetcha’, ‘040/05’ and grandmother of many other National top prize winners. The 5. National winner BELG10-2035082 complements the ‘Kleine Dirk’s ‘ supremacy in this National Bourges; she is bred from ‘The 500’ hen (out ‘Kleine Dirk’ x ‘Fleur’); she bred a.o. ‘Mira’, 9. Nat. La Souterraine against 21.258 pigeons. Father of 082 also comes from Dirk van Dyck and is inbred to ‘The Bourges’.

Pedigree 4th national Bourges

Herman and Johnny race their young colony ‘naturally’ and can hardly see any difference in the performances of the winter youngsters of those born later. Just before the competitions they are usually given conditioning powder; nothing else. It will surprise nobody that especially the Van Dyck pigeons are held in high esteem in the lofts of Jespers-Vanderwegen. “When we saw that ‘Kleine Dirk’ bred so magnificently we bought a few more pigeons from Dirk in 2008, and out two of these we have no bred another two National top prize winners!” They are crossed with the old basis of the (step)father-son duo, who supplement each other in the care. “Generally I coach the racing pigeons and Johnny the breeders; but we also help each other when necessary. Two always see more than one; according to us that is the greatest added value of combination racing.” The men are looking forward to the next three Nationals with a great deal of hope; the first one is in the pocket. “We hope to be able to enter one of the three top pigeons for the National Ace pigeon competitions, for which ‘F16’ has already been crowned previously. We will do our best to realise this dream.”

Pedigree 5th national Bourges