We could start taking it for granted, Ludo Claessens who outclasses the opposition time and again. But what the wizard from Putte has now pulled out of his hat can be added to his long list of Superstunts'. This week he pulverised the opposition in the National NPO race from Orleans and achieved his 7th (!!) NPO victory from Orleans, something no-one has ever done before!
Insiders could have predicted it, because with a gentle northern wind and good pigeon weather, there is only one man to beat in District 2 in the middle distance races. For Ludo it was the 19th (!!) Prov. RI victory from Orleans since 1980, against an average of 3.000 pigeons!
It wasn't just the one pigeon. Ludo, as usual, had a magnificent series with the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 9th, 17th, 36th, 50th,
National NPO against 9.142 pigeons. This with only 23 pigeons entered for the race. And we haven't finished because included in the first 6 pigeons were the first 5 nominated! In other words, by the 36th Nat. NPO all 5 first nominated pigeons were home
In one word: Phenomenal! The above mentioned Nat. NPO result gave the following Prov. RI result: against 2.087 pigeons he began with 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10 (first five nominated now home), 13, 14, 20 (9 in the first 1%), 30, 57, 71, 90, 108, 129, 143, 153, 168 (18 in the first 10%) and 20 from the 23 in the first 25%
Supercrack-dynasty
What the legendary Supercrack 69' has done in the past has already been written about and below you can find the overview again. With all respect for what this wonder pigeon has achieved, we have to say that his successor has risen, and maybe in a better adaptation, namely Jonge Supercrack', not coincidentally a son of the old Supercrack 69'. Hold on fast while you read what this pigeon has already achieved in his young career:
Jonge Supercrack' NL03-0375941 won:
1st Prov. RI Orleans 2003 against 1.853 pigeons
1st Prov. RI Orleans 2004 against 2.672 pigeons (old)
(Updated up to and including 2006')
During the 3 years 2004, 2005 and 2006 there were only 2 youngsters bred per year from Jonge Supercrack', always hens and three of these hens have together won:
5th Prov. RI Orleans 2004 against 1.787 pigeons (youngsters)
7th Prov. RI Orleans 2005 against 2.935 pigeons
2nd Nat. NPO Orleans 2006 against 8.322 pigeons
In 2007 the first cocks were bred from Jonge Supercrack'. And indeed, you've guessed it:
1st NPO Orleans 2007 against 9.142 pigeons
3rd NPO Orleans 2007 against 9.142 pigeons
The 1st and 3rd prize winners from NPO Orleans last weekend are 2 full brothers! To make it clear that was not just a stroke of luck: The cock who won 1st Nat. NPO this weekend, NL07-3728152, was the week before the fastest from St. Quentin Prov. RI against 3.889 pigeons. His brother, who won 3rd Nat. NPO Orleans, was Ludo's 2nd pigeon in the same race and won the 4th Prov. RI against 3.889 pigeons. A new superbreeder has risen! The hen paired with Jonge Supercrack' is the Vedetje', a pigeon bought in December 2006 in the total sale of Embregts-Theunis. Ludo was attracted by the achievements of this yearling hen: as a youngster she did really well and as a yearling she proved herself with multiple prizes in the first 1% from some very tough races. The icing on the cake was the top results from the late races (=sprint). Once Ludo had held her, he knew straight away that he had to take her back home to Putte. And what a result, the first youngsters she bred straight away won a 1st and 3rd Nat. NPO!
Season 2007
In 2007 Ludo was having his best season ever. He was really looking forward to the middle distance races. The first middle distance race shattered all his dreams. Pithiviers turned out to be a disaster race. In just one day, Ludo lost 9 pigeons who had jointly already won 36 first prizes! Two weeks later he lost the pigeon that had won 1st Prov. RI Ace pigeon Long Distance youngsters, in 2006 the fastest from St. Quentin against ca. 9.000 pigeons. The widowhood team was reduced from 21 to 11. Ad Schaerlaeckens, who was also affected by Pithiviers, decided in 2007 to stop racing with old pigeons. Ludo competed in a few races with a handful pigeons and won amongst other things 1st Prov. RI Chantilly against 2.533 pigeons, as well as the fastest from12.003 pigeons! After that he didn't take part in the first three races for youngsters. With only the short race from Strombeek as training, the youngsters were entered for Bouillon (180km) on the 14th of July. They raced against 2280 pigeons and began with 4, 6 and 7. A week later, from Arlon, they began with the 5th prize against 2175 pigeons. The Prov. RI-races followed with multiple top prizes every week: Creil Prov. RI, 6753 pigeons: 23, 24, 30,
(25/49). Chantilly Prov. RI, 3216 pigeons: 1 (6 min. free), 33, 39, ... (11/20)
In-between from St. Quentin: 336 pigeons: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
Orleans I, 818 pigeons: 3, 19, 20, 21, 33, 39, 43,
(Prov. RI, 2801 pigeons: 7, 51, 52, 54,
). Then another in-between race from St. Quentin, 938 pigeons: 1, 4, 5, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 45, 50, 51, 52 (already 16 pigeons home), finally 20/24 won prizes. In the District against 3.889 pigeons it was once again a direct hit: 1, 4, 5, etc.
A few special youngsters:
NL07-3728152 Supervedette
1st Nat. NPO Orleans 9.142 pigeons (also fastest Orleans-pigeon from provinces 1, 2 and 3. In other words, more than 20.000 pigeons!). 1st St. Quentin 938 pigeons (also fastest Prov. RI 3.889 pigeons), 5th Arlon 2.175 pigeons and 54th Prov. Orleans I 2.801 pigeons.
NL07-3762452 "Dark hen"
From Mr. Tours x Laat Donker Simply (late hen from Simply The Best x Donker Favorietje) Won 1st Prov. RI Chantilly against 3.216 pigeons with 6 minutes advantage. Her nest brother NL07-3762453 won 3rd Prov. RI Orleans 2.087 pigeons (is 6th Nat. NPO Orleans 9.142 pigeons), 6th Bouillon 2.280 pigeons and 52nd Prov. RI Orleans I 2.801 pigeons.
NL07-3762470 "White hen"
From the steady couple Favoriet 65 x Witje 59. Won by the last three Prov. RI races: 7th Orleans I 2.801 pigeons, 10th Orleans II 2.087 pigeons and 33rd Chantilly 3.216 pigeons.
NL07-3728138 "Red hen"
From Vos 03 x Miskleur Grote. Won by the last four Prov. RI races: 9th Nat. NPO Orleans 9.142 pigeons, 39th Chantilly II 3.216 pigeons, 68th Chantilly I 4.739 pigeons and 102nd Orleans I 2.801 pigeons. SUMMARY SUPERCRACK69 PALMARES' + SUPERCRACK69 FAMILY' (Opmerking bijplaatsen boven dit 2e bestand: Updated up to and including 2006')
Text & pictures : Thomas Gyselbrecht
Edited : Martin Degrave