Team BDS has been quite dominant these days. And they cracked open another bottle of champagne right before we published this article, to celebrate their 1st National Narbonne YLs, won in the lofts of Dr. Piet Blancke.
Bart Declerck, Dirk Speybroeck and Dr. Piet Blancke - the members of Team BDS
Team BDS has been quite strong throughout the season, although their main focus is now the national long distance. They decided to change tactics about two years ago. At the time, the BDS pigeons were particularly successful in the provincial and national longer middle distance, with an occasional top prize in the long distance. Their excellent achievements gradually turned this family into an internationally renowned pigeon breed, with the descendants of such invaluable bloodlines as Aske, Bieke, Aagje, Frieda, Chateauke and Sproete Blois having won top prizes across the globe.
Meanwhile, the team is increasingly focussing on the long distance, as their recent investments are all aimed towards long distance racing. Two years ago they sold their successful middle distance racing and breeding team, to focus on the national long distance instead. It proved a successful move, looking at their achievements so far.
In the weekend of 21st of July Team BDS demonstrated what pigeon racing at the higest level looks like, as they excelled yet again in the national race from Libourne (about 735km). Their results were quite remarkable: they had as many as six pigeons in the national top 30, winning a 3rd-4th-9th-19th-... National of 4,354 yearlings (with a total of 11 basketed yearlings), and a 24th-30th-... National of 4,605 old birds (with 10 old birds basketed).
In addition, the winners of a 3rd and 9th National in the yearlings' race for BDS/Speybroeck were the second and first nominated (in that order), and this marked the first series of top results (with their 1st + 2nd nominated) at national level! Along with that comes a provincial victory in the yearlings' race in West-Flanders for BDS/Clarisse. Does it get any better?
We noticed that 4 out of 6 pigeons in the national top 30 are related to the bloodline of New Kaasboer, the former breeding ace of the PIPA Elite Center (PEC). Today, three sons of this New Kaasboer are in turn producing talented new youngsters. And one of these super class breeders (which has been auctioned on PIPA) became the sire of a 1st Nat. Agen of 4,405 YLs (and a 1st Internat. Agen hens) for Dr. Piet Blancke in 2017.
BDS/Speybroeck in the running for ace pigeon titles
That's right! His team of widower cocks reflects the level of suprempacy that Team BDS has displayed on a regular basis. The long distance exam for the yearlings started on 5th of July with the national race from Limoges. Their second exam followed in Libourne, and Tulle will probably be the closing race. The first two pigeons to be clocked from Limoges happen to have been equally successful in the race from Libourne, which in turn led to a 5th and 8th place (after Libourne on 21st of July) in the preliminary ranking for National Ace Pigeon long distance & extreme long distance yearlings KBDB. Let's take a look at some numbers.
05/7 Limoges Club 488 YLs: 1-3-19-51-52-117-147 (7/14)
National 10,783 YLs: 27-60-327-817-819-2040-2525 (7/14)
05/7 Limoges Club 473 olds: 6-12-46-49-92-98-139-146 (8/9)
21/7 Libourne Club 176 YLs: 1-2-5-10-17-42-51 (7/8)
Provincial 885 YLs: 3-5-9-35-64-212 (6/8)
National 4,354 YLs: 3-9-19-116-227-795-920 (7/8)
Their 2nd and 1st nominated came home first (as 3rd and 9th National)
21/7 Libourne Club 205 olds: 2-9-10-30-39-64 (6/6)
Provincial 1,071 olds: 12-49-53-147-189 (5/6)
National 4,605 olds: 30-140-157-478-609-905 (6/6)
Again, the team won a 2nd and 10th at club level, and a 30th-157th National with their first two nominated birds.
We take the time to take a closer look at these magnificent racing birds and ace pigeons:
-Ace Veschoot BE18-3106324
5th place - candidate for Nat. Ace Pigeon long distance & extreme long distance YLs KBDB (on 21/7) 9th Nat. Libourne 4,354 p. ’19 27th Nat. Limoges 10,783 p. ’19
He is a 100% Joël Verschoot bird, bred from two direct pigeons from Ingelmunster:
Sire: Blue Verschoot BE13-3003291
He is the sire of the 324, and the sire of a 1st Pontoise 411 p. He was bred from one of Joël Verschoot's stock pairs: Ally BE07-3034246 x Houfflijntje BE07-4084429. They are for instance the parents of Annelies, winner of a 2nd Nat. La Souterraine.
Dam: Daughter Cees BE15-3006209
A daughter of the winner of a 1st Nat. Brive 8,337 p. and a 2nd Prov. Argenton 2,650 p.: Cees BE11-3048658 (a grandson of golden stock breeder 'As' of Joël Verschoot) x Zody BE14-3004761 (a daughter of 1st Nat. Agen 5,313 p. Den Agen BE12-3041931 x Virginie BE12-3041948, herself a daughter of stock pair Ally x Houfflijntje).
Click here for the pedigree of Ace Verschoot
-Kaasboer 301 BE18-3106301
8th place - candidate for Nat. Ace Pigeon long distance & extreme long distance KBDB (on 21/7) 3rd Nat. Libourne 4,354 p. ’19 60th Nat. Limoges 10,783 p. ’19 7th Club Bourges 409 p. – 195 N. Zone 4,277 p. Son of 1st Nat. Agen & 1st Intnat. Agen Hens 2017
Sire: Kaasboer 720 BE14-4215720
A direct PEC. He is a son of top class breeder New Kaasboer BE09-6111600, from Gaston Vd Wouwer (bred from the world famous stock breeder Kaasboer BE98-6335690 x Geerinckxhen BE08-6259169) x Lucky 002 BE11-4097002 (a daughter of a top breeder of De Rauw-Sablon: Lucky 848 BE00-4065848 x Daughter Marseille BE05-4130520 Aelbrecht).
Dam: Joëlle BE15-3109330
Winner of a 1st Nat. Agen 4,405 p. ’17 – 1st Internat. Agen Hens – fastest of 9,740 pigeons (BDS/Blancke).
She is a daughter of Grandson Kaasboer BE14-4215738 (from a joint breeding with the PEC; a son of New Kaasboer BE09-6111600 x Bliksem Donna BE09-3097539) x Inbred Blue Angel BE13-3076200. Inbred Blue Angel is a daughter of Rainman BE11-4245800 (1st Nat. St.Vincent 3,161 p. NL for Martin De Poorter) x Blue Angel BE08-3190061 (the dam of Rainman and a daughter of stock pair Perigueux x Corry bij Rudi De Saer).
Click here for the pedigree of Kaasboer 301
Kaasboer 720: he is now the sire of a 3rd Nat. Libourne of 4,354 YLs and a 30th Nat. Libourne of 4,605 old birds in 2019 as well
The lofts of BDS/Speybroeck are home to two other top class birds that claimed a national top 30 prize in Libourne: 19th yearlings and 30th Nat. old birds.
-De 290 BE18-3106290
19th Nat. Libourne 4,354 p. 96th Prov. Orleans 2,721 p. 819th Nat. Limoges 10,783 p. 6th Clermont 148 p.
Sire: Kaasboer 719 BE14-4215719
A direct PEC. He is a son of top breeder New Kaasboer BE09-6111600, coming from van Gaston Vd Wouwer (bred from the world famous stock breeder Kaasboer BE98-6335690 x Geerinckxhen BE08-6259169) x Lucky 002 BE11-4097002. Lucky 002 is a daughter of Lucky 848 BE00-4065848 (the miracle breeder of De Rauw-Sablon) x Daughter Marseille BE05-4130520 Aelbrecht.
Dam: Magic 380 BE14-3152380
Winner of a 41st Intnat. Agen 4,563 hens ‘18, a 68th Intnat. Perpignan 2,915 hens ’16, an 18th Prov. Perpignan 719 p. ’18 – 106th Intnat. 3,065 hens, an 86th Intnat. Pau 3,015 hens ’17, 141st Intnat. Perpignan 3,528 hens ’17, a 610th Nat. Limoges 13,493 p. ’16, a 165th Intnat. Agen 2,011 hens ’16, etc. She comes from a crossing of Rudi De Saer x Marc & Geert Pollin (line of Monty-De Saer x Mortifer-Pollin)
Click here for the pedigree of Kaasboer 290
Kaasboer 719: the sire of a 19th Nat. Libourne 4,354 YLs in 2019
-Kaasboer 755 BE17-3074755
30th Nat. Libourne 4,605 p. ’19 41st Nat. Brive 4,384 p. ’18 Half brother of Son Joëlle 301/18
Sire: Kaasboer 720 BE14-4215720
A direct PEC. He is the sire of Son Joëlle: 3rd Nat. Libourne, 60th Nat. Limoges… (see earlier)
Dam: Daughter Mortifer BE10-3164205
A direct Marc Pollin. She is a daughter of Mortifer BE03-3002141 (Olympiad Pigeon Dortmund 2009, 2nd Nat. Montauban 5,438 p., 9th Nat. Limoges 6,617 p., 20th Nat. Limoges 12,266 p.) x Daughter Amira’s Dirk BE08-2145245 (inbred to the world famous Kleine Dirk of Gerard Koopman).
Click here for the pedigree of Kaasboer 755
1st Prov. and 4th Nat. Libourne YLs, and 24th Nat. Libourne old birds for BDS/Clarisse
The lofts of Joël Clarisse (a caretaker for Piet Blancke) claimed two other top prizes in the national top 30 in Libourne, including a provincial first prize with the yearlings in West Flanders. We briefly introduce you to these two athletes as well:
Raider 154: winner of a 1st Prov. (West Fl.) & 4th Nat. Libourne Yearlings
-Raider 154 BE18-3106154
4th Nat. Libourne 4,354 p. – 1st Prov. 726 YLs in West Fl. 61st WVOU Fontenay 4,356 p.
Sire: Bliksem Raider 172 BE13-3076172
Winner of a 64th Chateauroux 2,780 p., 66th Nat. Argenton 9,228 p., 94th Nat. Argenton 12,187 p. He is a son of Raider BE12-3114060, a half brother of Rainman (1st Nat. St.Vincent 3,161 p., bred from Monty BE08-3190047 De Saer x Zus Ulrike BE09-3097476, a sister of a 1st Prov. Bourges ’11) x Daughter Fryda’s Bliksem 688 BE07-4272688 (from top breeder Fryda’s Bliksem BE04-3001595, a son of Bliksem Gaby Vandenabeele x Petra BE05-4147339, a daughter of IJzeren, 3rd Nat. Ace Pigeon Long Distance KBDB).
Dam: Zola BE15-3109034
1st Nat. Zone La Souterraine 2,545 p., 69th N.Zone Chateauroux 6,055 p., 98th N.Zone Argenton 3,794 p. etc. She is a daughter of top breeder Hamilton 192 BE11-3050192 (the sire of an 11th Nat. Ace Pigeon longer middle distance KBDB) x Ocean BE13-3145779, a 100% De Saer and a full sister of Favoriet (bred from Champion BE09-3040476, a son of stock dam ‘t Goedje x Bliksemgirl BE09-3149960)
Click here for the pedigree of Raider 154
Bliksem Raider 172: himself a great racing bird, and now the sire of a 1st Prov. and 4th Nat. Libourne of 4,354 YLs in 2019
We end this series of national top prize winners of Team BDS with the winner of a 24th Nat. Libourne, which again stems from the Kaasboer bloodline:
-Kaasboer 697 BE17-3074697
24th Nat. Libourne 4,605 p. 44th Nat. Chateauroux 13,098 p. 69th Nat. Bourges 19,133 p. A full brother of 730-17: 89th Nat. Argenton 19,859 p. 86th Prov. Vierzon 4,856 p.
Sire: Grandson Kaasboer BE14-4215738
From a joint breeding of the PEC and Team BDS. He is a son of New Kaasboer BE09-6111600 x Bliksem Donna BE09-3097539 (from Fryda’s Bliksem BE04-3001595 x Donna BE00-3280289, a direct Gaby Vandenabeele)
Dam: Daughter Cancellara BE12-4215195
A direct Eddy & Maarten Leutenez. A daughter of Cancellara BE10-4071241, a full brother of ‘Bolleken’ (winner of a 4th Intprov. Blois 3,683 p. and a 15th Intprov. Tours 2,357 p.) x Mooi Blauwke BE11-4288277, bred from Grote Milan BE08-4070090 x Bolleke 2000 BE10-4007833. Bolleke has won 9 provincial and interprovincial top 100 prizes, and she is a daughter of stock dam Bolleken bij E.&M. Leutenez)
Click here for the pedigree of Kaasboer 697
Kaasboer 738: the sire of a 1st Nat. Agen 4,405 YLs in 2017, and of a 24th Nat. Libourne 4,605 olds in 2019
Successful new bloodlines for BDS
After looking at some of these fantastic racing birds and their origins, it has become clear that Team BDS has a bright future ahead with so many talented birds in their collection. They challenged themselves by shifting their focus towards the national long distance, and this transition appears to have been a great success so far. Keep in mind this is only the beginning: this is their second season in the long distance, and yet they have already been surprisingly successful, winning for instance 2 national first prizes. These fanciers clearly have a feel for choosing the right investments for the long distance, and for combining the most valuable bloodlines in the breeding loft. This team is obviously being led by very skilled players. It has resulted in a long series of top prizes and perhaps a number of national ace pigeon titles KBDB later on. We have yet another success story for Team BDS on our hands.
Right before the publishing of this article, Dr. Piet Blancke claimed a 1st National Narbonne of 3,590 yearlings in his own loft. This is his second national victory in two years' time. It is the icing on the cake after a fantastic month of racing (July) for Team BDS. More on this national victory later.