Analyze Bergerac 2023

Compared to 2022, at the same time, the competition is totally different as we are moving from Brive, where we had the old horses and yearlings, to Bergerac, which is entirely devoted to the old horses. On the other hand, the number of entries is indisputable. We have gone from 6,169 old pigeons to just 3,838. Last year, a total of 12,111 pigeons were transported, more than 3 times as many as this year.
The pigeons were released at 6.45 a.m., with a temperature of 17°C and a light variable wind, then undulating from S.E. to S.W..
Speeds were lower than at Argenton, but we still exceeded 1300 m. The two Flanders regions share the lead, but other provinces are on the lookout.

Top 10 national old birds

1. G SMET from Lokeren, 1340.9235 m

2. P Dejager de Deelijk, 1320.4204 m
3. L De Laere de Anzegem, 1318,3338 m
4. C Hebberecht de Evergem, 1306,7995 m
5. H Deneys de Borchtlombeek, 1292,7442 m
6. W Maes de Roborst-Zwalm, 1291.8475 m
7. Y Deblanc de Ronse, 1287.1077 m
8. P Dubois de Gaurain-Romecroix, 1277.5489 m
9. W Deprez de Halle, 1265.6925 m
10. JL Forges de Strépy-Bracquegnies, 1254.1288 m
The competition starts on a high tempo, 1340 m, but the collapse of speeds is very fast. Only 4 pigeons flew above 1300 m and the haemorrhage did not stop there since at the close of the top 100, we had already lost nearly 180 m.
The top 4 places are shared by 2 Flanders, but in the top 10, 4 provinces are in the running, with the addition of Flemish Brabant and Hainaut.
The top 100 is very diverse. Apart from a few doubles, we can only point to a series of 4 prizes won by Van Gaver T & M, ranked 23, 59, 84 and 93, and the hat-trick of Team Platteeuw, ranked 19, 43 and 87. The first double was won by P Dejager classified 2 and 25 for a very fine 2/4. We should also note the clear round by Gevaert-Eggermont classified 37 and 57 or the 1/1 by CC Benoit 72.
In addition to the 2 Walloon entries in the top 10, the south of the country also featured with Liart P & F 13, F Van Hastel 16, Mme J Andry 18, A Steenhaut 20...
First arrivals by province and EPR
East Flanders, G Smet de Lokeren, 1340.9235 m, 1 national
West Flanders, P Dejager from Deerlijk, 1320.4204 m, 2 nationals
Flemish Brabant, H Deneys de Borchtlombeek, 1292.7442 m, 5 nat.
EPR HBW, P Dubois de Gaurain-Ramecroix "H", 1277.5489, 8 nat (T Léonard de Dongelberg "BW", 1171.5275 m, 65 nat)
Limburg, R Bernaers de Kuringen, 1175,5022 m, 60 nat.
Antwerp, Denisse C & R de Kapellen, 1171.5153 m, 66 nat.
EPR LNL, M Humblet de Hermée "Lg", 1203.7708 m, 35 nat (L Colin de Anhée "N", 1166.6178 m, 77 nat and L Yasse de Marche-en-Famenne "Lx", 882.59, not national)
Four provinces were in the top 10, one was not in the national rankings and four others were in the second half of the national top 100. Only Liège held on.

The zones in brief
Zone A1 - 376 old
Victory went to Gevaert-Eggermont from Zedelgem, who was ranked 37 nationally. Despite the low turnout, Zone A1 took 14 places in the national top 100. As for the fast fence, it brought in 55 additional prizes, corresponding to 1 prize for every 2.5 entries.
The prizes per 10 show Gevaert-Eggermont's clear round, ranked 1 and 6 for a 2/2. On the Walloon side, we have X Trombetta 19.
Zone A2 - 1177 old
We get down to the nitty-gritty of the national top 10 with Zone A2, dominated by P Dejager de Deerlijk, ranked 2 nationally. She has 6 top 10 finishes and takes half of the national top 100. With a very comfortable fence, she has 166 additional prizes at national level.
The top 100 included some fine prize-winning series. These include Van Gaver T & M ranked 14, 31, 38, 46, 55, 56, 69, Team Platteeuw 11, 24, 40, 52, 58, 88, 97...
On the Walloon side, P Dubois 6, S Degransart 17, Goemaere J & G 22...
Zone B1 - 965 old
Zone and national victory for G Smet of Lokeren. The national top 10, which had already been severely dented by the A2 zone, was completed with the 4 prizes won by the B1 zone, which placed 19 pigeons in the top 100. As for the closing, it was late, resulting in the loss of 55 national prizes.
Among the prizes per 10, we will remember the 4/4 of L Van de Wouwer which is ranked 58, 70, 73 and 90 or the 2/2 of E Vandenabeele 10 and 44 or the 1/1 of Coppens-Segers 63...
JL Forges 4, Liart P & F 4 and Mme J Andry make up the top three in Wallonia.
Zone B2 - 901 old
L Van Hastel de Froidchapelle was ranked 16 nationally, but won the B2 zone. The first 11 are in the national top 100, but there are only 104 pigeons from the zone in the national, or 1 pigeon out of 9 entered.
In the 10 pigeon prizes, we have the clear rounds of W Puts classified 58 and 64 for a 2/4, the 1/1 of Scherens Z & R 65 and J Vanbrabant 75. Let's also mention 4/5 of L Natens classified 2, 3, 22 and 83.
In addition to the victory, the south of the country was also ranked with D Wargnies 7, A Fedrigucci 10, Y Couvreur 11, Vanrossomme J & M 12...
Zone C, 419 old
Zone C is dominated by Wallonia with the first 4 places, including M Humblet de Hermée at the top and 36 nationally. The top 6 classified are spread across the top 100 and only the top 59 are found in the national.
In the prices per 10, we shall retain the double of L Colin classified 3 and 18 for a 2/2, the 1/1 of J Jeugmans 22 or also Geelen L & J classified 19, 24, 32, 34, 39, 41.

A few figures
Winner's speed, 1340.9235 m
Gap between the first 2, 8'40
Speed of the 100th place finisher, 1154.1031 m
Speed of the last classified, 965.4860 m
Duration of the competition, 3h37'07''
Average gap between 2 pigeons, 13.6 seconds
The fall in speed was fortunately attenuated after a fall of 186 m in the top 100. The fence is still at a good level, 965 metres.
M Philippe