Roger Debusschere, constantly looking
Pigeon racing has never been as cutting edge as today. In provincial and national races most top prizes are won in no time (except in bad weather conditions). A fancier can only hope to achieve good results if he relies on top quality pigeons in great form, and these are basically the key ingredients for a successful career in pigeon racing.
Winners are usually bred from winners, and some bloodlines are almost destined to breed prize winners. Any fancier that has the ambition to make it to the top has to try and obtain such prize winners or their direct descendants. The goal is to get your hands on highly talented bloodlines, and to incorporate them into your existing breed through inbreeding or crossings.
Roger Debusschere is constantly looking for such bloodlines, and for the best pigeons on the market, preferably from the most successful fanciers. To him pigeon racing is both a passion and a hobby. He noticed that the Gaby Vandenabeele pigeons have been particularly successful, and he started to introduce these pigeons in his breed. The Debusschere loft soon became one of the most valuable Vandenabeele based pigeon families worldwide. Roger has youngsters of Rudy, Returned Bliksem, Neptunus, Rambo II, etc., and their descendants started to show their value from day one. They excelled in the longer middle distance and the long distance, winning several first prizes both at provincial and zonal level. The highlight was a National victory from Tulle against 5,976 old birds in 2014, in the loft of his partner Damien Baert (of Baert-Debusschere) in Ere.
Top class pigeons lead to great results
Roger Debusschere likes to keep things simple. He does not spend too much time on the daily caretaking of his loft. He will rather rely on a collection of top quality pigeons. They either have it or they don’t.
Roger wanted to put his invaluable collection to the test during the racing season, and he started working together with Damien Baert. They founded the Baert-Debussschere combination (Ere, BE), with Roger and Damien running the breeding and racing loft respectively. In the meantime, Roger achieved great results in his own loft in Lokeren as well.
1st Brivevrienden 2015
1st National Tulle 5,976 old birds in 2014
1st Interprov. Bourges 1,590 young birds in 2014
1st Nat. Zone Argenton 6,487 young birds in 2014
1st Ace Pigeon long distance old birds Fondclub Lokeren 2015
1st Provincial Champion longer middle distance young birds SPA Henegouwen/Waals-Brabant 2015
2nd -3rd -4th Prov. Ace Pigeon longer middle distance young birds SPE Henegouwen/Waals-Brabant 2015
These are just some of the highlights over the last two seasons, after only three years in the entente! These achievements have encouraged Roger to work hard in his own loft as well. In fact his racing team had a splendid 2015 season as well:
1st Limoges I 267 olds - 6th Prov Limoges 3,480 olds 2-4-5-9th Limoges II 198 olds - 34-40-43rd Prov Limoges 2,201 olds 2nd Barcelona 110 olds - 32nd Prov Barcelona 1,506 olds 2-3-6th Tulle 88 olds - 34-41st Prov Tulle 1,321 olds 3rd Chateauroux 400 yearlings - 28th Prov Chateauroux 4,206 yearlings 3rd Tulle 234 yearlings - 20th Prov Tulle 1,998 yearlings 4th Brive 166 olds etc.
The key to success for Roger? Investing in top quality breeds, decent nutrition and solid caretaking. Also: a steel grid or a thick layer of straw on the floor. A good training programme and a top class collection is all a great champion needs. This is no nonsense pigeon racing.
Some of the stars of 2015
Both the lofts in Ere and Lokeren are home to a collection of highly talented pigeons, which have won quite a number of championship titles, ace pigeon titles and first prizes. The invaluable Vandenabeele breed plays a crucial role here, as you can tell from the following prize winners:
- 2nd Prov. Ace Pigeon BE15-4126429, winner of:
2nd Prov. Ace Pigeon SPE Henegouwen/Waals-Brabant! 2nd Intprov La Souterraine 1,211 p. 11th N.zone La Souterraine 4,595 p. 16th Nat La Souterraine 9,760 p. 5th Intprov Chateauroux IV 1,726 p. 8th N.Zone Chateauroux IV 3,661 p. 45th Nat Chateauroux IV 10,442 p. 30th Intprov Issoudun 1,665 p. 189th N.Zone Issoudun 4,520 p. 304th Nat Issoudun 11,984 p.
Sire: Rudy 18 BE12-3160718
A direct Gaby Vandenabeele. A half brother of Super Romeo (1st Nat. Ace Pigeon long distance YL KBDB 2013) and New Bliksem (1st Nat. Tulle 5,731 YL ’14), since he is a son of stock breeder Rudy BE06-3008003 (a son of Bliksem) x Dochter Neptunus BE10-3040071 (a full sister of supercrack Lion King, bred from Neptunus 708/99 x Dochter Champion 085/07 Chris Hebberecht).
Dam: Gueretje 983 BE12-4048983
A direct Benny Steveninck. A daughter of Gueret BE08-4216930 (1st Nat. Limoges 16,896 p., 1st Prov. Gueret 3,067 p.) x Nina BE08-4216906 (granddaughter Chipo).
Click here for the full pedigree.
-Aske 426 BE15-4126426
9th Ace of Aces young birds National LCB 2015 10th Ace Pigeon middle distance young birds LCB 2015 3rd Prov Issoudun 725 p. 71st N.Zone Issoudun 4,520 p. 99th Nat Issoudun 11,984 p. 19th Prov Chateauroux 593 p. 89th N.Zone Chateauroux 3,661 p. 340th Nat Chateauroux 10,442 p. 11th Prov La Souterraine 574 p. 93rd N.Zone La Souterraine 4,565 p. 117th Nat La Souterraine 9,760 p.
Sire: Brother Pipo BE12-4210124
A fantastic son of the invaluable stock breeder Maurice, which is a direct Gaby Vandenabeele (purchased from Rik Cools). He is the sire of a 1st La Souterraine 239 p., a 92nd Nat. La Souterraine 17,814 p. and of ‘Crackje 222/12’ of Baert-Debusschere. Maurice is the grandfather of:
- 1st Prov. Argenton 2011
- 1st + 6th Prov. Ace Pigeon middle distance yearlings KBDB 2011
- 6th Prov. Ace Pigeon longer middle distance yearlings KBDB 2011
Maurice is a grandson of the legendary ‘Nasdaq’ of Maurice & Gregory Casaert (winner of 1st Nat. Souillac 7,154 p. ’00) and a grandson of long distance star ‘Alfred’ of A. D’Huyvetter (winner of 1st Nat. Brive 16,007 p. ’07). He is also a half brother of ‘Paola’ of Gaby Vandenabeele (winner of 1st Nat. Argenton 7,390 p. ’10).
Dam: Lena BE11-3070029
A direct Gaby Vandenabeele bred from Neptunus BE09-3199708 (and a grandson of stock breeder Kleinen) x Helena BE06-3008013 (daughter of the iconic breeder Bliksem x Frieda)
Click here for the full pedigree.
Roger won the title of Ace Pigeon long distance in Fondclub Lokeren in 2015, and the winner of this title is without doubt the most promising long distance racing bird in his own collection. He is also a 50% Vandenabeele pigeon.
-Asduif Fond BE13-4286326,
1st Ace Pigeon long distance old birds Fondclub Lokeren ’15 43rd Prov Limoges II 2,201 p. ’15 (5th Club 198 p.) 44th Nat Zone Tulle 2,432 p. ’15 (2nd Club 88 p.) 306th Nat Zone Brive 3,703 p. ’15 (12th Club 166 p.) 410th Nat Limoges II 6,907 p. ’14 616th Nat Chateauroux I 21,515 p. ’14
Sire: Ace 44-Gaby BE12-3160744
A direct Gaby Vandenabeele. Son of 2nd Nat. Ace Pigeon middle distance KBDB 2004: Super As BE02-5030266 (winner of 1st Montluçon 2,303 p., 2nd Chateauroux 920 p., 3rd Sens 614 p., 4th Bourges 3,407 p., 11th Nat. Chateauroux 12,422 p.) x Ketty 05-161371 (sister of 1st Nat. Tulle 5,700 p., 6th Nat. Limoges 12,313 p., 6th Nat. Montauban 5,300 p.).
Dam: Ima BE07-9016035
Daughter of Damien Baert's stock pair: Joel BE98-9116021 x la Flamande BE98-6117073.
Super Marnix, winner of the Brivevrienden championship
Among these promising new Vandenabeele based racing birds is also Super marnix; he is another member of the top class team of old birds. Super Marnix managed to achieve remarkable results in Lokeren in recent seasons.
-Super Marnix BE11-4196994
Winner of Brivevrienden championship 2015 (1st nom. Limoges) Best pigeon from Limoges in België 2012-2013-2014-2015 ’15 Limoges Nat 15,012 p. 24 ’13 Libourne Nat 6,658 p. 34 ’12 Limoges Nat 17,735 p. 48 ’13 Limoges Nat 14,271 p. 116 ’14 Limoges Nat 18,390 p. 120 ’14 Tulle Nat 5,976 p. 210 ’14 Poitiers Nat 12,379 p. 329
This pigeon was one of the great stars in this old birds’ team, and he is inbred to two direct Marnix Leutenez pigeons: Contador Junior BE08-4022454 (son of Contador BE03-4375940; 16th Nat. Perpignan, 26th Nat. Perpignan) x Eva BE08-4022459 (granddaughter of Contador). He had a few very successful racing seasons and he has now joined the breeding loft of this Royal Collection.
This breeding loft is currently based around two top quality racing birds: national winner Mexence BE12-4210234 (1st Nat. Tulle 5,976 p.) and Smart Louis BE14-2238169 (1st Nat. Bourges 30,180 p.) as the leading names. They provide a solid foundation, and the fancier from Lokeren can face the future with confidence. The time has come to reap the rewards.
Baert-Debusschere celebrating their national first prize from Tulle old birds in 2014