BOURDEAUD'HUI-BRACKE : WAREGEM 1st NATIONAL AGEN 5,140 YEARBIRDS 2017

Compagnon Frederik Bracke

They had big plans and great dreams, the youthful tandem Bourdeaud’Hui and Frederik Bracke (both 42 years old) from Waregem. But as a known Dutch singer used to sing, most dreams are a deception! But look, after two years that the tandem exists they are already on the highest international level! The first year they mostly bred, learned and selected very strict. You can’t call it a coincidence. Before they became a tandem, Frederik already was a great racer on the long distance and the extreme long distance. But the combination of racing on a high level and his busy life as a kinesiologist wasn’t compatible anymore. But quitting the pigeon racing wasn’t an option either. With his friend Steven Bourdeaud’Hui, he found the obvious solution; racing in tandem. That Steven knew the pigeon sport was already proven for different years. In 2014 he already won 1st Provincial Chateauroux against more than 4,000 youngsters. Steven and Frederik got their forces together and brought the best of both breeding lofts together. The basis strains are Willy Baert, Chris Lefevre, Jean-Marie Decraene, Wilfried Vandemaele and the old strains from Steven and Frederik. Once in a while they buy a well-considered reinforcement. 

1st International Agen and 1st National Agen against 5,140 year birds

After more than a week in the basket the Agen racers got, finally, on Tuesday the admittance to fly out. Released at 7h00 with a predominant Eastern wind, it was clear from the beginning that the earliest pigeons would arrive in the West of the country. And with two ‘West-Filander’s international winners; team B.D.S/ Blancke in Ruiselede (1st Int. Hens and 1st national old birds ) and off course my hosts, the proof was given clearly.

After a spicy race of 773.197km the mealy hen with ring number 3009125/16, came as a bullet out of the sky. The clocked pointed 18:20:22 and it was soon clear that this was an early one. All the other yearling pigeons didn’t make the average speed of 1,136.44 m/m that this hen got. She was the fastest Belgian year bird against 5,140 pigeons and also the international winner in this category!

The winner is called, “Klein Vaalke Agen” and is in fact a ‘special’ case. Her only motivation is to be found on her resting place. She has never had a partner, not even a nest. She doesn’t want to know anything about the opposite sex neither from the other ladies. As a youngster of the 3rd round, she was only being trained until Clermont. This year she performed really well despite her lack of training. But racing to the head of the race wasn’t something she used to do, but she was always present. The head of the race was kept for her first international race, speaking of a peak moment !

Her palmaris in 2017

29/4/17 : Clermont : 116/363b.

13/5/17 : Fontenay : 87/290b.

27/5/17 : Bourges local : 92/615b.  ; prov : 283/2,062b. and national: 1,577/20,397b.

11/6/17 : Chateauroux : prov : 1,374/4,260b. and national: 6,575/26,735d.

18/6/17 : Chateauroux : local : 48/500b. and prov : 122/3,084b.

04/07/17 : Agen : 1st International year birds and probably 2nd International hen. The 6th fastest of the entire platoon.

On father’s side we find in her pedigree “Bleken”, son of “Raket” from Jean-Marie Decraene. Mother is a Chris Lefevre-pigeon, especially out of his best blood strains from Georges Bolle and Gino Clicque. Despite her amazing result she got it is striking that this mealy hen is of the smaller type, let’s say the very small type. But next to her small body there are two strong wings that can bring her to amazing results. Also her very soft feathers is off course a big advantage.

Caring

The medical aspect lies entirely in the hands of vet Pascal Lanneau. Without his advice they will never take a medical decision. The racing pigeons got this year a treatment with Soludox against the head- and breathing disease. The don’t cure against trichomoniases, Steven is proponent of giving yellow drops. At basketing the pigeons get an eye drop of the firm Herbots..

His mixtures are found at Guy De Stoop. This trader got his own feeding line. Steven has been very satisfied for years about this food so nothing else will come onto the loft. At homecoming they get light food. This stays this way until a few days before another race, he changes onto a sports mixture then. The hens only train in the evening, between 20:00 and 21:30. Steven already tried to let them train in the morning but this wasn’t a success at all. The hens were always to wild, they were this wild that a few raced themselves to the death, and this in the neighbourhood of their own loft. The racing pigeons don’t breed before the season and are always being raced on total widowhood.

Another top pigeon; “3009106/16”

Next to “Klein Vaalke Agen”, there is another top pigeon on the loft. This young talent races already four times this year a nice head prize.

20/5/2017 : Tours : 5/144 local and prov : 18/3,353

27/5/2017 : Bourges year birds : local : 18/615; prov : 96/3,286; nat : 254/20,397

10/6/2017 : Chateauroux : loc : 3/831, prov: 11/4,260 and nat 30/26,573

24/6/2017 : Argenton : local : 12/479 and prov: 33/2,714

Mother of the “106/16” is a hen from Patrick & Dimitri Houfflijn (4072749/15) (strain Fideel), which was bought through a Herbots-auction.

On internship in Oostenrijk

No, Steven and Frederik didn’t make their racing pigeons train in the mountains in Austria. It is Frederik, who is the physical coach and revalidation trainer from the country champion RSCA Anderlecht A-kern (soccer), who stayed at the moment of the Agen-victory in Austria with his employer. Frederik surely wants to thank the parents and sister of Steven in helping taking care of the pigeons. Also Flipke, their biggest fan, can be forgotten in this gratitude.

Gentlemen, from the entire Herbots-team, a big congratulation with this prestigious international victory!

B16-3009125: 1st NATIONAL AGEN 5,140 YEARBIRDS - 1st INTERNATIONAL AGEN YEARBIRDS 

Kris Steeman