The Algarve Golden Race in Portugal is one of those one-loft races that the international pigeon world always eagerly awaits. Organiser Rui Emidio and his team have had it made for several years and were able to welcome 7,102 pigeons from 1,445 different fanciers this year as well. Of those, 4,276 pigeons were at the start for the Silver race yesterday.
The first Belgian pigeon to reach the finish line in this semi-final was one of Freddy and Jacques Vandenheede. Just a week after the debates on the national flights in Belgium were closed, and where the brothers from Zingem once again played a leading role with various stunt results and national ace pigeons (you can read more about this here), they are also making their mark on the one loft race stage.
Their pigeon, BE22-4137569, took 2nd place with a speed of 1289m/min and earned the corresponding 30,000 euros. They came in just 1 sec. too short against German Team Wolfsberg to take the win.
If we take a look at the pedigree, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. The father is 'Manzoni', who won no less than 5x top 67 national on long distance races:
- 2. Nat. Jarnac 5,371 p.
- 13. Nat. Brive 9,278 p.
- 24. Nat. Libourne 3,950 p.
- 63. Nat. Limoges 13,561 p.
- 67. Nat. Limoges 9,661 p.
- ...
'Mazoni' is a son of 'Miracle Ace', himself 1st Nat. Ace pigeon KBDB Long Distance and (grand)father of, among others:
- 3. Nat. Ace Pigeon allround KBDB 2020
- 5. Nat. Ace Pigeon Long Distance KBDB 2020
- 6. Nat. Ace Pigeon Longer Middle Distance KBDB 2022
- 8. Nat. Ace Pigeon allround KBDB 2020
- 17. Nat. Ace Pigeon allround KBDB 2020
- 27. Nat. Ace Pigeon allround KBDB 2020
- 29. Nat. Ace Pigeon Long Distance KBDB 2020
- …
The mother is 'Erna', she is a half sister of 'Doctrine', who has developed into a top breeder in the lofts of Vandenheede. He is father of:
- 2. Nat. Ace Pigeon allround KBDB
- 3. Nat. Ace Pigeon Long Distance KBDB
- 3. Nat. Ace Pigeon Longer Middle Distance KBDB
- 19. Nat. Ace Pigeon Long Distance KBDB
Could it be that good comes from good after all?
In 2 weeks, on Saturday October 1, the final race (505km) of the 2022 edition of this beautifully organised Algarve Golden Race will take place in Portugal. The winner will grab a whopping 200,000 euros from the prize pool. Good luck to all participants!