BOSMANS-LEEKENS - BEVERLO 1st NATIONAL ARGENTON 7,910 OLD BIRDS 2017

16 Jan 2020

Beverlo: In the category of the old birds, we needed a photo finish to know the winner. During a long period of time, fancier Regnier from Pesche, was marked as number one on the online arrivals. They clocked their Argenton racer at 11h 37min and 24 sec for a distance of 441km or a speed of 1,759.6155 m/m. A very high average speed that was beaten 53 minutes later by ‘Chalon’, a chequered hen from the known tandem Mark Bosmans- Dirk Leekens. They clocked for a distance of 569km at 12h 44min and 28sec, or an average speed of 1,759.8749 m/m !

Since 2012/2013

Dirk Leekens (Niel-bij-As) is a known figure within our national pigeon sport, but despite a marvellous pigeon career, he stopped in 2011 his pigeon fanciers career. One of the main reasons was that Dirk thought he came short by the very Eastern location of Niel-bij-As and not necessary by the quality of the pigeons. He spoke about this to his good friend Mark Bosmans. Mark lives at the more central location, Beverlo and had a large long distance colony. ‘If you stop, we might form a combination?’ was Mark’s reaction. Dirk wanted some time to think about this and took on the challenge, with full enthusiasm a bit later. Before all Leekens toppers went for sale, first they got a round of eggs out of the best Leekens pigeons and moved to Beverlo. There, all the long distance pigeons were sold and with the Leekens pigeons as bases the tandem Bosmans-Leekens was born. Their goal…shine on the national and provincial races to 700km. And we can state that Mark and Dirk succeeded in their planning. Five seasons later there are already 2 national and 14 provincial victories on their palmaris (where off 6 in 2017)! Where will this end?

PREFERABLY WITH HENS

The season of 2017 was started off with a group of 70 hens and 20 cocks. The 20 cocks are being raced together with 20 hens on total widow hood. The remaining 50 hens are being raced on pure widow hood whereby 2 hens are being coupled to one cock that stays home.
The racing team wasn’t coupled during the winter period but Mark makes time free to let the cocks and hens stay together regularly. In short, cocks and hens have to know each other very well as a couple but can’t ever come on eggs.

In Spring their condition is being built up slowly and from the month of May it was really business. Mark and Dirk do everything to get the racing team a very good base condition and ones this is done, they do everything to keep this condition as long as possible on the lofts. That’s also why they decide not to race the hens every week. In between two nationals they do a short distance race or can even rest for a week and are being taken away on Monday for a short distance. This is how the pigeons won’t get through their reserves to quick. On Mondays it is always training loosely without any obligation. Afterwards the rhythm is being increased and they also get a bit heavier food. During the season they train twice a day and the hens always train in the morning about 1h to 1h20.

The feeding is being done by feeling and Mark uses the Light and Dynamik mixtures from Vanrobaeys. They’re being fed twice a day. The medical guidance is in the hands of Ferdi Vandersanden and in a matter of tricho everything is being kept under control with yellow drops.

Motivation

Before basketing the cocks are being put half box. The hens that have to go to the race can come on the lofts but not with their cock and after about 30 minutes the hens go in the basket. After the race the hens can come only in the corridor, that is in front of the boxes. They can recuperate a bit from their efforts. They have food and drinks at their disposal and when Mark or Dirk notices that they want to be with their cocks, they may…

Chalons

The national Argenton was won by “Chalon” (B14-2090097)… one of the leading ladies of the so feared hens team. Before this national victory she already won:

2nd Provincial ace bird KBDB 2016 National races 475 km – 600 km

39 prizes without doubles

1. Argenton       ‘17 188b.
1 Provincial                       1,015b.
1 fastest 2,365b.
1 National                         7,843b.

1. Chalon ss. 179b.
1. Provincial 1,369b.
2. Semi- National 6,746b.

1. Chateauroux                229b
2.Provincial                     2,749b.
3. National z.                   5,939b.

2. Chateauroux ’17 242b.
11.Provincial 2,463b.
24. InterProv. 3,973b.

12.Montlucon Provincial 1,074b.
31. Interprov.                   2,750b.
46. National z.                  2,924b.
195. National                    9,462b.

24.Laon Semi-Prov. 2,767b.

29.Sourdun Semi-Prov 1,832b.

36. Bourges Provincial 2,047b.
30. Interprov. 3,797b.
110. National 14,496b.

12. Nevers Interprov. 1097b.
24. Semi- Nat. 2,145b.

Whether the national winner ‘Chalon’ was motivated in a special way? Mark:” We noticed that ‘Chalon’ was boss on the floor. When the hens were left on the lofts together with the cocks she couldn’t stand other hens were on the floor, she was that pissed. Luckily she didn’t waste a second getting home otherwise we could never celebrate this national victory.

Libourne

That the shape is clearly is present became clear a few hours later on the national race out of Libourne. New bottles of champagne could get out of the fridge as Bosmanss-Leekens also won on this race the 1st Provincial .

Mark and Dirk…congratulations from the entire Herbots team and see you at your next provincial / national victory.