The first provincial longer middle distance race of the season had been cancelled in most provinces. The reason was that the pigeons due to compete in the first shorter middle distance race (6th of May) had not been released because of bad weather. The provincial race from Tours did take off in West Flanders, although last week's conditions did have an impact on the number of pigeons in the race: there were 2,389 olds (including doubled yearlings) and 1,070 yearlings, which is rather on the low side. Weather conditions were again less than ideal, which may have caused many fanciers to opt for another flight from Fontenay instead. This allowed them to do a few extra training miles to prepare for next week's provincial race from Tours, the final preparatory race for the national opening classics from Bourges (27 May) and Limoges (3 June) for the longer middle distance and the long distance respectively. This weekend's race from Tours eventually took off in sunny conditions with changeable skies and a south-westerly wind, making this a fairly steady race that closed after about 40 minutes.
Rik Cools wins the yearlings' race
The first longer middle distance race of the season was an instant success for Rik Cools, a big champion who is particularly successful with the hens. He claimed a provincial first prize in the yearlings' race with Bea, a pigeon from fellow fancier Chris Debacker from Beveren-Leie. In fact, Chris's pigeon collection consists mainly of descendants of Rik Cools, including most notably the old bloodlines of Bieke and Aske, two highly regarded Cools-Blancke birds. Rik and Chris have been involved in mutual exchanges and joint breedings and have been quite successful with each other's pigeons, which is great.
- Bea BE16-3041188
1st Prov. Tours 1,076 YL ’16 3rd Prov. Tours 2,389 Olds ’16 89th Prov. Chateaudun 1,894 p. ’15
Sire: Wesley BE13-3074333
A half brother of Ultra Boy (winner of a 2nd Nat. Poitiers) and Peanuts (2nd Prov. Ace Pigeon Middle Distance KBDB). Wesley is a son of Valckie BE12-3113626 (from a brother of Molleke: Alexander BE11-3123473 x Semietje BE10-4032203, daughter of supercrack Semi and a full sister of Viktor of the late Antoine Benoot) x Sister Panamarenco BE06-3145092 (from the line of Bliksem via Nick BE04-3238525 x Natascha BE04-3028974, a daughter of Bieke 133/01; Panamarenco won 7 first prizes).
Dam: Katho BE10-3029605
A highly successful racing hen and winner of a 4th Nat. Bourges 12,607 p., a 7th Prov. Gueret 2,915 p., a 28th Prov. Chateauroux 5,500 pigeons. She is a daughter of Zoon Dorine BE04-3238513 (from Grandson Wittenbuik BE02-3185255 x Dorine BE02-3185264, a daughter of top pair Gaby x Aske Cools-Blancke) x Qutine BE07-3101943, the dam of a 1st Prov. Bourges and a 1st Prov. Brionne (a daughter of Inteelt Bont Nijlen BE00-3006533 x Daughter Bieke BE01-3116133 Cools-Blancke, winner of 7 first prizes). Click here for Bea's full pedigree.
She also doubled and took a 3rd prize in the old birds' race, where Rino Verheye won the provincial victory. Rik also claimed a 10th provincial prize in the old birds' race, with a hen that was bred from two direct Gaby Vandenabeele birds.
-Blauw 608 BE15-3109608
10th Prov. Tours 2,389 p. ’16 13th Nat. Zone La Souterraine 2,545 p. ’15
Sire: The Kolonel BE13-3159498
A grandson of Bliksem, a direct Gaby Vandenabeele, being a son of Returned Bliksem BE05-3006569. Returned Bliksem is the grandfather of a 1st Nat. Tulle 2014 for Baert-Debusschere, and a son of the iconic Bliksem BE98-3158062 x Betty BE01-3031030. He was paired to Eline BE11-2101195 (a daughter of the brother of Lucky 085, 1st Nat. Ace Pigeon Long Distance KBDB for Erik Limbourg).
Dam: Iron Lady BE11-3170421
A super class breeding bird, a full sister of a 3rd Nat. Libourne 7,958 p. and a direct Gaby Vandenabeele: she is a daughter of 3rd Nat. Ace Pigeon Long Distance KBDB 2006 IJzeren As BE01-4424769 (A. Van Landuyt, Vinkt) x Martina BE05-2076701. Click here for the full pedigree of Blauw 608.
Rik Cools claimed his first big win of 2017 in the first provincial classic of the season. Rik is a fancier with an eye for talent, and the ability to push his racing team to the limit. This is what enabled him to add another provincial first prize to his palmares. Congratulations!