The pigeon family from the Natiënlaan in Knokke-Heist has been on a roll these days, and team Norman is looking to turn 2018 into another fantastic racing season. Filip and his son Nicolas have really shown their potential in the first national classics of the longer middle distance and the long distance this season. Their racing team has been at the very front in almost every race, and they have been able to get great results almost on a weekly basis.
As you know, Team Norman tends to race with a large group of birds most of the time. But that does not make their first prizes and overall top results, even at national level, any less impressive. Keep ind mind that their loft is located in Knokke-Heist, in the very north of Belgium, which is quite a disadvantage. Most of this year's races have taken place in demanding conditions however, often with a strong headwind, and that does play in their favour. After all, the Norman racing birds are at their best in difficult conditions; tough weather them to break away from the main pack, and to show their true potential. They like it when every bird is left on its own.
1-2-3 club and 3-4-12 national Cahors
We saw another spectacular performance in the race from Cahors, where the team won the first three prizes at club level, resulting in three national top prizes with their 2nd, 4th and 3rd nominated bird. Among the pigeons that excelled that day were two sons of the outstanding breeder Magic Florian BE10-3113328, winner of a 1st Interprov. Limoges of 2,594 p., a 1st Interprov. Poitiers 1,827 p., a 4th Nat. Souillac 7,756 p. and a 1st Prov. Ace Pigeon Long Distance KBDB 2012. Click here for his pedigree.
Magic Florian: an outstanding racing bird, and now a phenomenal breeding bird, and the sire of a 3rd and 4th Nat. Cahors 6,356 p.
The two sons of Florian entered the loft side by side, being clocked at 16h49'12" and 16h49'14", after covering 770.457km with a velocity of 1307.6324 and 1307.5584 m/min. It resulted in a 1st and 2nd place at club level and a 3rd and 4th National. Just over 12 minutes later, the team's third nominated arrived home to win a 3rd prize in the club and a 12th National.
These three racing birds had already shown to be in great form two weeks earlier in Limoges, where they won a 15th, 41st and 197th Provincial of 3,128 old birds. Here is a closer look at the three prize winners:
-3rd Nat. Cahors BE16-3010048
1st Club Cahors 143 p. ’18 - 2nd Prov. 1,016 p. – 3rd Nat. 6,356 p. 79th Intprov Chateauroux 5,904 p. ’18 197th Prov Limoges 3,128 p. ’18 – 785th Nat. 15,789 p. 772nd Nat Chateauroux 26,695 p. ’17 1081st Nat Limoges 10,554 p. ’17 33rd Fontenay 1,658 p. 35th Clermont 1,813 p.
Sire: Florian BE10-3113328
He comes from Son National II BE08-5116150 of Jos Thoné, which is a son of 1st Nat. Limoges 12,743 p. Nationaal II BE01-6182211 paired to Dochter Narbonne (from 1st Nat. Narbonne 6,423 p.). Son National II was paired to Dochter Zorro BE05-3222414, from the invaluable stock breeder Zorro BE94-3160128 of team Norman.
Dam: Jong Marieke II BE11-3172379
A direct Rik Cools. She is a daughter of Schone Bliksem BE04-3001609 (a son of Bliksem BE98-062 -Vandenabeele x stock dam Frieda BE99-770 Cools-Blancke) x Marieke BE08-3037512 (1st Prov. 2,241 p., and 1st Nat. Zone Gueret 5,166 p., 14th Prov. Blois 5,035 p.).
Click here for the pedigree of the 3rd Nat. Cahors
A half brother of this 3rd Nat. Cahors, and another son of Florian, was able to win his second national top result in the race from Cahors. This means he is probably just one more top result away from a spot in the national ace pigeon championship long distance. Although he would be required to win that third top result in the coming few weeks. Here is a look at his two national top results so far:
-4th Nat. Cahors BE16-3010060
2nd club Cahors 143 p. – 3rd Prov 1,016 p. – 4th Nat 6,356 p. 15th Prov Limoges 3,128 p. – 52nd Nat 15,789 p. 197th Nat Libourne 3,950 p. Etc…
Sire: Florian BE10-3113328
Dam: Daughter Salome BE10-3174621
A full sister of Dalai: 2nd Nat. Ace Pigeon Belgian Entente, 6th Nat. Ace Pigeon Long Distance KBDB. She is a daughter of Salome BE02-3217114 (son of stock breeder Zorro) x Dochter Nicotof BE05-3129273 (Nicotof is the grandfather of the winner of the SAMDR Million Dollar race 2008 in Sun City, South Africa).
Click here for the pedigree of the 4th Nat. Cahors
-12th Nat. Cahors BE16-3010472
3rd Club Cahors 143 p. ’18 – 5th Prov 1,016 p. – 12th Nat 6,356 p. 41st Prov Limoges 3,128 p. ’18 – 160th Nat 15,789 p. 118th Nat Bourges 20,759 p. 147th Nat Limoges 10,554 p. ’17 216th Nat Libourne 3,950 p. ’17 595th Nat Chateauroux 26,695 p. ’17
Sire: Grandson Marseille BE09-2229906
A 100% pure Marcel Aelbrecht pigeon, bred from Blauwe Zoon Marseille BE03-4316042 (from top pair Marseille x Fijn Blauw bij Marcel Aelbrecht) x Geschelpt BE03-4411144 (a daughter of Gustaaf x Geschelpt Van Overwaele).
Dam: Dochter Zoltan BE07-3203426
As her name suggests, she is a daughter of Zoltan BE01-3268654, a brother of of Pinokio (or another son of stock breeder Zorro) x Dochter Robinson BE06-3201465 (From 1st Nat. Pau 2004 and 1st Euro Diamond pigeon ’04: Robinson BE01-008, paired to Fifi BE01-081, winner of a 1st Prov. Vichy).
Click here for the pedigree of the 12th Nat. Cahors
4 grandchildren of stock breeder Zorro have led to the team winning a 3rd, 4th and 12th Nat. Cahors
A memorable result
The Norman pigeons have really been off to a great start. Their home base in the very north of Belgium did not really do them any favours in Cahors, a race with a westerly to northwesterly wind most of the time. The race was a great success nonetheless, with several national top results in quick succession. They had already won a 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the club of 488 yearlings in the opening classic from Bourges, and they pulled the same trick in Cahors, where they won three national top prizes as well. Congratulations!