Martial Maindrelle, 25 area victories since 2013.
One year ago, we published a report about the same loft and our title made no compromise as we said Martial became the French sensation of his era (click here to check the report). We talked about the coming Olympiads in Budapest and which were at the time the number one target for this fancier, moreover seeing the performances of his two best pigeons, Cannonball and Nico. They formed then what was probably the best racing duo from 2013. But the best thing about this story is that they managed to do the same in 2014. A magical racing pair, the dream of each pigeon fancier. Two aces able to book the most prestigious titles to their names.
One year later, nothing has changed except the fact that Martial achieved his Olympic ambitions, making Cannonball one of the most respected racing pigeon at world level. He represented France in Budapest in 2015 in the all round category. His loftmate, Nico, classified himself as 1st French pigeon as well but in the category A. But Martial also managed to classify a third pigeon in these Olympiads with Juliet, a pigeon 'made in PIPA auction' as her two parents were bought on PIPA, and who represented her country in the yearlings category. Three Olympic pigeons in only one season: can you ask for more?
While reading such classifications, we might think that everything is easy. But it's totally the opposite. It's only the result of a hard work. Martial is as good a racer as a breeder. When you study his pigeon strains, you quickly notice that there is a common link between each pigeons and that nothing is hazardous. It is with great care that Martial studies his pigeon breed to make the best pairings possible. In fact, he seeks for the absolute top: pigeons being better than the others and able to book victories in large amounts of pigeons. Afterwards it's up to the fancier to manage his racing team to reach the top. And Martial is also a top fancier as he was one of the first to import new racing systems in his area. You can't be surprised to see him winning the 15 first prizes of a race with several thousands of pigeons. Since 2013, he has already won 25 victories in his area and the count is currently at 7 for 2015!
Let's have a look at the best pigeons from his team:
- Olympic Cannonball (FR12-33321)
'
Olympic Cannonball' at the Olympiads.
1st Pigeon Olympic France Cat D (Budapest 2015) - 8th Worldwide 1st Pigeon Pré Olympic France Cat D (Brno 2014) - 8th Worldwide 1st National Ace Pigeon France '13 (-500 km)
1. St Maure 1,610 p. '14 (235 km) 1. Poitiers 1,589 p. '13 (286 km) 1. Ruffec 1,272 p. '13 (345 km) 1. Vivonnes 853 p. '14 (303 km) 1. Poitiers 618 p. '13 2. Cognac 1,084 p. '13 (380 km) 2. Roullet 1,050 p. '13 (393 km) 2. Poitiers 728 p. '13 (after loftmate) 4. Bergerac 892 p. '13 (476 km) 6. Niort 1,540 p. '13 (309 km) 6. Jarnac 1,342 p. '13 (380 km) 8. Marmande 576 p. '13 (511 km) 9. Poitiers 1,072 p. '13 11. St Maure 1,508 p. '15 11. Poitiers 849 p. '13 19. Fontenay 652 p. '13 (295 km) 31. Treignac 1,523 p. '14 (429 km)
Click here to check his pedigree.
- Nico (FR12-105008)
4th National Ace Pigeon -500km '13 1st Pré Olympic Pigeon France Cat A (Brno 2014) 1st Olympic Pigeon France Cat A (Budapest 2015) - 20th Worldwide 1st Provincial Ace Pigeon '14 1. Poitiers 728 p. '13 (286 km) 2. Poitiers 1,589 p. '13 2. Poitiers 1,072 p. '13 2. Fontenay 652 p. '13 (295 km) 2. Poitiers 618 p. '13 3. Cognac 1,084 p. '14 (380 km) 3. St Yriex 446 p. '14 (416 km) 4. Poitiers 849 p. '13 6. Ruffec 1,274 p. '13 (345 km) 7. Jarnac 1,342 p. '13 (380 km) 8. Niort 1,540 p. '13 (309 km) 10. Poitiers 512 p. '12 13. Ste Maure 1,508 p. '15 (235 km)
His nestmate, Nikos (FR12-105009), is also a very talented racer:
1. Poitiers 1,072 p. (286km) '13 1. Nexon 829 p. (399km) '15 5. Ruffec 1,460 p. (345km) '14 5. Cognac 1,084 p. (380km) '13 6. Marmande 576 p. (511km) '13 8. Jarnac 1,342 p. (380km) '13 12. Ste Maure 1,508 p. (235km) '15
Let's finish with the third jewel of the racing loft, Juliet (FR13-042468), which represented France as well in the last Olympiad in Budapest in the yearling category.
- Juliet (FR13-042468)
1st Olympic bird France Cat G Budapest '15 ( 16th Worldwide ) 1st Ace Pigeon MD 'Colombophilie en France' 2014 3rd National Ace Pigeon France '14 (-500 km) 2nd Provincial Ace MD Prov 2014 6th Provincial Ace Yearling 2014 6th Provincial Ace Yb '13 13th Provincial Ace General 2014 14th Provincial Ace Speed 2014 1. Bergerac 602 p. '14 2. Fédéral 1,329 p. 1. Roullet 522 p. '14 2. Vivonnes 791 p. '15 2. Niort 848 p. '14 3. Ruffec 1,460 p. '14 3. Ste Maure 1,610 p. '14 3. Souillac 720 p. '14 3. Saumur 652 p. '13 9. Poitiers 416 p. '13 23. Vivonnes 638 p. '14 33. Treignac 1,523 p. '14 38. Ste Maure 1,508 p. '15 38. Poitiers 620 p. '13 40. Bergerac 437 p. '13
Start of the season 2015
19/04 Ste Maure (235 km) - 1,508 pigeons: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 37, 38, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48, 72, 75, 81, 92, 116, ... (44/58) 10/05 Niort (309 km) - 2,431 pigeons: 1, 15, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 50, 63, 64, 65, 68, 70, 77, 146, 159, ... (28/56) 17/05 St Yriex (416 km) - 1,494 pigeons: 1, 2, 3, 4, 14, 30, 43, 45, 56, 58, 69, 73, 79, 113, 116, 122, 127, 128, ... 24/05 Vivonnes (303 km) - 791 pigeons: 1, 2, 4, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 23, 31, 34, 44, 45, 67, 68, 70, 73, 75, 76, ... (25/33) 14/06 Niort (309 km) - 790 pigeons: 1, 12, 23, 60, 93, ... (8/11)
Martial, congratulations on all these performances and good luck for the rest of your career!