Racing at the highest level
It was one for the books. There aren't enough adjectives in the world to describe the result Freddy and Jacques Vandenheede managed on the (inter)provincial race from Blois-Montoire on September 4th. With the wind coming from the East/Northeast and the sun shining bright, it was beautiful pigeon weather as fanciers would call it. Here is an overview of the magnificent results:
Blois-Montoire Club 660 young birds:
1-2-3-4-5-8-9-10-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-21-22-23-24-25-27-29-30-34-35-36-38-38-44-
46-47-48-49-50-51-53-54-56-57-58-59-60-61-62-63-64-65…
In the club 48 prizes 1:10 were achieved, and a total of 147 prizes out of 273 basketed pigeons.
Blois-Montoire Provincial 4,518 young birds:
1-2-4-4-6-9-10-11-14-17-20-22-23-25-27-35-37-38-40-43-51-56-59-78-80-83-94-94-102-106-
108-109-110-111-111-113-119-122-127-128-128-130-132-134-135-137…
An overwhelming display of power, with 28 pigeons in the provincial Top-100, 101 prizes 1:10 and a total of 152 prizes out of 273 basketed pigeons (their complete young bird loft in 2021).
Interestingly, the first 8 pigeons to be clocked, taking Top-10 spots at the club level...all take Top-11 spots on the provincial level.
An incredible performance. Some critics say that the large number of basketed pigeons are the reason behind the successes. Although, every fancier should ask themselves how they manage to dominate the playing field year after year, like the brothers have done since they started their partnership. Breeding loads of pigeons and participating is not difficult. However, taking the win with such series and price percentages certainly is! Freddy and Jacques are a national treasure, the 'National NR. 1' in our sport on the national middle distance and long distance classics. The Wout van Aert and Remco Evenepoel of pigeon sport if you will. For 13 uninterrupted years, they have been at the top of the game. In all those years, the fierce competition hasn't found a way to put an end to their supremacy. Getting to the top is one thing, staying there for so long is an even more impressive feat.
A national winner or National Ace pigeon KBDB on the brothers' lofts is never sold. These pigeons always get a spot on the breeding lofts. The many (large) offers of money are ignored. No one in the world owns a larger elite breeding loft consisting of 1st National winners and National KBDB Ace pigeons, nearly all bred and won on their own lofts! The mass of top genes and pairing possibilities supply a new generation of world class pigeons every year. This may well be what makes the difference. In combination with the skills Freddy and Jacques have to take care and prepare their pigeons to be in the best possible shape. It is a complete package in which pure class and drive are found back in both the pigeons as their owners!
1-2-4-4-6-9-10-11… Provincial Blois-Montoire
As the results display, there was no stopping the Vandenheede pigeons on the provincial classic from Blois-Montoire. A race across 400km on which the brothers basketed their complete young bird team (2nd-3rd-4th round), most of which have little racing experience. The goal is to give these birds the chance to become experienced racers for 2022 and the years after. We would like to further introduce the pigeons that managed a Top 11 provincial result, starting with the 2 pigeons taking 1st and 2nd Provincial. Noticeable is the share that the superior stock breeder Mattheo has in the pedigrees of these racers. Mattheo himself is a direct son to golden stock pigeon Limoges 261/91 of De Rauw-Sablon (son to the golden Dream Pair: Albert x Paoala), and father to the 1st-6th and 14th National Ace pigeon KBDB, and in 2021 also grandfather to 2nd Nat. Limoges 9,756 p. (Wonderful Mattheo). Just like his father he is a superstar with fantastic breeding qualities.
1st Provincial Blois-Montoire 4,518 young birds:
This victory was on account of the hen Blauw Choco BE21-4007041, daughter to Cuckoo BE15-4130035 (1st Prov. Chateauroux 5,335 p., 1st Prov. Argenton 2,400 p., 2nd Prov. Vierzon 7,369 p… and grandson New Freddy: 1st Nat. Ace pigeon Middle Distance KBDB 2010) x Mother Money Maker BE16-3116170 (mother to Nathalie: 1st Nat. Souillac 4,056 p. and 7th Nat. Ace pigeon Allround KBDB 2018).
2nd Provincial Blois-Montoire 4,518 young birds:
Only beat by one loft mate, it was BE21-4007440 arriving 2nd. Bred from Marvin BE14-4279729 (inbred breeding result from father x daughter, with Art Nouveau: Father Vapeur, 1st Nat. Bourges 22,499 p. and Science Fiction, 1st Nat. Tulle 6,345 p., to which he is paired) x Granddaughter Mattheo BE20-4214000 (daughter Fantast: 1st Nat. Libourne 6,134 p. x Annelise: 1st Nat. Ace pigeon Middle Distance KBDB ’13, daughter Mattheo).
Placing 4th Provincial are 2 pigeons that were clocked at the same time. -BE21-4007222: previously won 3rd Sermaises 373 p. Bred from Last Son Major BE17-4200370 (son to Majoor (who in turn is son to Topkweker Freddy) x Annelise: 1st Nat. Ace pigeon Middle Distance KBDB ’13, daughter Mattheo) x Aryana BE07-4093331 (1st Argenton 5,763 p… and bred from two grandchildren to Delirium, paired to breeding icons Frans and Dromer, both De Rauw-Sablon).
-BE21-4007189: bred from New Picasso BE19-4084242 (full brother 6th and 14th Nat. Ace pigeon KBDB) x Ashley BE14-4000469 (granddaughter Kaasboer-Vd Wouwer paired to a granddaughter to Blauwe Prins – Pros Roosen).
De other 4 pigeons, placing 6th-9th-10th and 11th in a nutshell:
-6th Provincial BE21-4007382: bred from Geschelpt BE17-4200105 (son to Grauzone x daughter Mattheo) x Valeska BE15-4130282 (from Fantast: 1st. Nat. Libourne 6,134 p. x Shona: daughter New Ace: 1st Nat. Ace pigeon Long Distance KBDB ’12 Wilson Dekens x daughter Topkweker Freddy).
-9th Provincial BE214007528: bred from Doctrine BE17-4200398 (1st Prov. Orleans 6,375 p.) x Chanelleke BE17-4200286 (daughter Mattheo).
-10th Provincial BE21-4007396: bred from Miracle Annelise BE17-4200431 (son to Miracle Ace: 1st Nat. Ace pigeon Long Distance KBDB ’13 x New Annelies, full sister Annelise: 1st Nat. Ace pigeon KBDB and daughter Mattheo) x Rocky Girl BE18-4236716, direct Marc De Cock (full sister Rockefeller: 1st Nat. Ace pigeon Allround KBDB ’18).
-11th Provincial BE21-4007445: bred from Hot Spicy Junien BE12-4186003 (1st St.Junien 1,364 p. and grandson Topkweker Freddy) x La Borgata BE16-4260928 (full sister to 1st Nat. Argenton 13,629 p. and to Boaz: best Limoges pigeon in Belgium 2015-’16).
Dominating and winning…the Vandenheede pigeons seem to have a patent on these types of race results. On provincial Blois-Montoire this once again became clear with a true ‘one-loft-show’ spectacle. It is pigeon sport on a level that is out of this world. The gentlemen have truly outclassed their competitors, an amazing performance. Congratulations!
