At the end of last year, the flags in Meigem were flown at half-mast. On 3rd November 2020, Carlos Lannoo passed away. He formed a combination together with Paul Gevaert, two super fanicers, that are renowned worldwide and raced under the name of Gevaert-Lannoo. This was the end of one of the most successful stocks within international pigeon sport on the middle distance, and all their pigeon were auctioned.
Paul Gevaert was at a loss. How should he continue without his racing partner and friend Carlos? Without his stars and favourite pigeons that brought him fame but above all, joy. Paul kept one round of 24 youngsters from his breeders to be able to continue with pigeon racing…but all alone? He had his doubts and thought about quitting. Until his wife Daisy stepped in. Together they would ensure Geveart-Lannoo would not be forgotten and make Carlos proud. Proud that the continuation of their colony was ensured. This time focusing on the young birds, under the name Paul Gevaert.
Immediately the 1st and 5th Prov. Ace pigeon… 2nd and 11th National Ace pigeon KBDB
In their first season, it looked as if Paul Geveart never left. Not everything was perfect from the start. Firstly, part of the summer youngsters were still too young to breed with. Pairing them was not always a success and only 17 early youngsters were ringed in the first round. Several youngsters from the 2nd round were added, resulting in a total of 30 young birds which were all bred form unproven 2020 summer youngster. With this young bird team Paul and Daisy began their restart, taking on the country’s best fanciers…a tough task.
Paul and Daisy stayed true to who they are and held on to their philosophy…achieving sensational results with few pigeons. They initially were careful with their young racers due to poor weather conditions in June and July, but the competition knew that Paul Gevaert was a fancier to keep an eye on. His pigeon skills are on point, and it didn’t take long before the 1st prizes and top results came rolling in. No need for masses of pigeons, but success with a ‘small basket’ of topclass pigeons! Just as during the glory times of Gevaert-Lannoo.
Paul didn’t have to wait for his first big victory. On provincial Orleans of 23 July, he managed a sensational result, taking his first Provincial win after his restart. Besides the victory, out of 18 basketed pigeons 15 pigeons flew prizes 1:10:
23/07 Orleans Prov 3,049 young birds:
1-26-28-37-76-85-107-130-154-155-193-240-241-275-304-877 (16/18)
Club 394 young birds: 1-7-8-14-22-25-29-36-45-46-57-68-69-75-80-179 (16/18)
It confirmed the potential of these youngsters, that in the weeks prior had already won 1st Clermont 279 young birds and 1st Sermaises young birds. Later several 1st prizes, 1st-2nd prizes and 1st-2nd-3rd prizes followed on Sermaises, in addition to series of top results on national heavy middle distance races.
The highlight came at the end of the season, when the results of the Provincial and National KBDB championships were announced. Paul and Daisy ranked 2 of the 30 youngsters they bred amongst the Provincial and National KBDB Ace pigeons. Who can match that? They did more than rank amogst the ace pigeons, as they took 1st Provincial and 2nd National Ace pigeon Middle Distance KBDB with Ace Orleanske…the winner of 1st Prov. Orleans. This fantastic hen won the title with the following results:
Video Ace Orleanske: 1st Prov. & 2nd Nat. Ace pigeon Middle Distance KBDB 2021
-Ace Orleanske BE21-4167001
1st Prov. Ace pigeon Middle Distance KBDB 2021
2nd Nat. Ace pigeon Middle Distance KBDB 2021
1st Prov Orleans 3.049 p.
1st Sermaises 285 p. – 2nd Verbond 1,462 p.
1st Sermaises 148 p. – 4th Verbond 943 p.
4th Sermaises 581 p.
Father: Brother 91 Platina BE20-4083091
Full brother to super hen Platina: 1st Prov. and 5th Nat. Ace pigeon Middle Distance KBDB 2016. Son to Willy BE13-4035076 x Perfecta BE BE13-4035080.
Mother: Rudia BE20-4083045
Full sister New Rudy 15: winner 1st Nat. Zone Chateauroux 5,679 p. in 2020. Daughter to Bliksem Gaby BE12-3127548 (direct Gaby Vandenabeele and son to breeding icon Rudy) x Crown Princess BE16-4248203 (daughter 1st Prov. Bourges; Rambo Junior x Princess 95: 1st Prov. Ace pigeon Middle Distance Old birds & YL KBDB in 2016).
Paul has found a new super couple is shown by a full sister to Provincal Orleanske, bred in the 2nd round - BE21-4167022 - won 1st Clermont 279 young birds. 2x 1st prize winners bred from this young couple...jackpot!
Besides Ace Orleanske, another Paul Gevaert star managed to finish as 5th Provincial Ace pigeon Middle Distance young birds KBDB and 11th Nat. Ace pigeon Allround young birds KBDB...his name; Clooney I. This rising star also became 1st Ace pigeon Heavy Middle Distance young birds in Fondclub Eeklo.
Video Clooney I, 5th Prov. and 11th Nat. Ace pigeon KBDB 2021
-Clooney I BE21-4167025
1st Ace pigeon Heavy Middle Distance Fondclub Eeklo 2021
5th Prov. Ace pigeon Middle Distance KBDB 2021
11th Nat. Ace pigeon Middle Distance KBDB 2021
5th Clermont 668 p.
8th Orleans 394 p. – 28th Prov 3,049 p.
8th La Souterraine 494 p. – 27th N.Zone 2,337 p.
18th Argenton 683 p. – 44th N.Zone 3,816 p.
24th Blois-Montoire 494 p. – 161th Prov 4,518 p.
38th Chateauroux 409 p. – 190th N.Zone 2,284 p.
Father: New Rudy BE20-4087716
Full brother to the mother of Ace Orleanske, as well as a full brother to New Rudy 15: winner 1st Nat. Zone Chateauroux 5,679 p. in 2020. Daughter to Bliksem Gaby BE12-3127548 (direct Gaby Vandenabeele and son to breeding icon Rudy) x Crown Princess BE16-4248203 (daughter 1st Prov. Bourges; Rambo Junior x Princess 95: 1st Prov. Ace pigeon Middle Distance Old birds & YL KBDB in 2016).
Mother: Gina BE19-3129839
Direct Gino Clicque. All four of her grandparents became 1st National KBDB Ace pigeons in 2017 and 2018. She is a daughter to Mr Fantastic Prince BE17-3135360 (son Mr Fantastic and Golden Princess, both 1st Nat. Ace pigeon KBDB in 2017) x Golden Lady BE18-3131299 (bred from Golden King x First Lady, also both 1st Nat. Ace pigeon KBDB in 2018).
It is an unbelievable feat to manage these results in the first year of a restart. Besides the successes in Meigen-Deinze, there were plenty of references from colleague fanciers of victories and top results with Gevaert-Lannoo pigeons. For instance, the victory, 1st Prov. Vierzon 4,131 young birds, of club member Eric Claus from De Pinte in 2021 with a descendant to the lines of stock pigeon King Gaby (Gevaert-Lannoo) paired to a Gevaert-Lannoo hen from the Bliksem lines. Moreover, the combination Vandenabeel-Van Paeschen not only won 1. Nat. La Souterraine 3,118 p. in 2021 with Juliana BE19-4050573, but this hen also became 2nd Olympiad pigeon 2020-'21 Cat B...and is a granddaughter to wonder hen Platina (Gevaert-Lannoo).
Quality over quantity
Paul Gevaert exemplifies that you don't need 100 or 200 pigeons to be successful in pigeon sport. More than successful... as he contends for the top spots on a national level and challenges the big lofts and professionals. Class and quality will always beat quantity. Class is clearly present on the lofts of Paul Gevaert. His youthful colony - all pigeons from 2020 and younger - have shown to have what it takes and Paul and Daisy can look forward to the coming seasons. Paul Gevaert is back on track. A huge congratulations!