Dirk Cloetens from Rotselaar shines with 1 Nat (z) Bourges 3,205 youngsters

Just like last year, Dirk Cloetens' colony is under steam, you have to take him into account in both the middle distance and national races. Last year he started with a 2nd Provincial Bourges against 3,555 youngsters and a 1st and 2nd Provincial Argenton against 3,065 youngsters. He closed the season with 4th Nat. Ace Pigeon great middle distance young birds KBDB 2022. This season the yearlings in the middle distance have once again achieved a very high prize percentage, including first prizes, and they were successful again from Bourges last weekend. His young hen “Magic Blue” won 1st in the zone against 3,205 youngsters from Bourges. This hen is again a daughter of his super breeder "Magic Dries" which we describe in more detail later in this article.

Dirk does not like many pigeons, preferably a strict selection that he learned from his mentor Louis Van Paesschen. In addition, the pigeons of Roger Debusschere, Louis Van Paesschen, Jos Thone and Kobe & Kato Herbots are the main lines that he follows and fully committed. You only need a few lines to be successful and try to build on this.

System racers 

The youngsters are housed in 2 fairly spacious lofts with enough room for everyone, because last year's system was so easy and worked, Dirk has opted for this again. The pigeons are allowed to build a nest on the ground and thus ensure internal competition and motivation. The living boxes are almost all closed, 1 loft has chapels and all 2 lofts have straw.

They are often trained at the beginning of the season, especially giving confidence at close range is important. In the month of May there is almost daily driving, now this is once a week. The pigeons train when they are on the nest twice a day, otherwise some pigeons will not fly for a whole week. The winner of Bourges hasn't been paired yet, but she might have an eye on something. Dirk certainly does not force things.

The racing pigeons always get the mixture of Beyers Premium Thoné Olympic and during the last 3 days this is adjusted with Beyers Galaxy Long Distance TT together with Beyers Energy Galaxy so that 1/3 of these 3 mixtures is given each time. As a last extra they get hempseed, peanuts and sunflower seeds.

The vaccinations with the racing pigeons are provided by Raf Herbots, who receive 1x Rota paramyxo, 1x Herpes and 1x against smallpox. The other medical support is discussed by telephone with Nobert Peeters. As an extra I use Grit-Mix Beyers and Pigeon HP products (Recup Fast) every day and before the racing season the pigeons get 1 week Zell Oxygen together with Optimix from Herbots. When they return home it is important that the pigeons recover quickly, which is why I use Recup Fast from Pigeon HP together with B.S. from Belgica De Weerd and I think this combination is super.

Super breeder “Magic Dries”

At the Dirk Cloetens house, “Magic Dries” has really grown into the super breeder of this colony in 2 years time. He is father of several super pigeons and this with different hens.

“Magic Dries” comes directly from Kobe & Kato Herbots and is a son of “Black Beauty” ( Grandson F16 B & N Van Oeckel and “Gouden Koppel” Roger Buvens ) x “Super F16” ( this is a daughter of F16 and granddaughter of Gaston Junior van B & N Van Oeckel). Super F16 is the mother of "Geof", the current super breeder of which there are countless references in national races. The apple doesn't fall far they always say....

“Magic Dries” is father of

“BE 23-2005638” 1 Nat (z) Bourges 3,205p
“BE 23-2005639” 1 Sermaises 795p
“BE 22-2085802” Black Kato - 3rd Nat Ace pigeon longer middle distance youngsters ( 4 KBDB races ) and 4th Nat Ace pigeon longer middle distance youngsters KBDB 2022. She won a.o. 2 Prov Argenton 3,065p – 7 Prov Orléans 2,496p - 7 Prov Argenton 1,453p – 24 Prov Bourges 3,555p.
“BE 22-2085823” 2 Sermaises 820p - 4 Prov Orleans 2,496p – 7 Sermaises 748p - 15 NAT Bourges 23,846p – 15 Sermaises 1,541p - 25 Soissons 3,425p – 55 NAT Bourges 12,094p
“BE 21-2076112” 1st Ace Pigeon Middle Distance Sans Peur Herent 2022 - 1 Sermaises 1,411p - 2 Sermaises 325p - 2 Orleans 156p – 3 Sermaises 820p - 3 Momignies 315p - 13 Sermaises 1,341p - 14 Momignies 1,568p – 40 Prov Orleans 1.605p
“BE 21-2076153” 2nd Ace pigeon middle distance Sans Peur Herent 2022 – 2 Sermaises 407p - 5 Sermaises 264p – 6 Sermaises 426p – 7 Sermaises 196p – 8 Soissons 222p - 9 Sermaises 203p - 10 Bourges 614p – 11 Momign ies 319p – 13 Sermaises 668p – 14 Sermaises 521p - 19 Sermaises 683p
"BE 21-2076154" 2 Sermaises 367p - 3 Sermaises 1.052p - 4 Sermaises 924p - 11 Prov Orleans 1.725p - 12 Sermaises 407p - 18 Sermaises 521p -  16 Nat Bourges 18.710p

Winner Bourges

BE 23-2005638 “Magic Blue” Blue Hen

  1 Nat (z) Bourges       3.205p
35 NAT                        19.369p
  2 Sermaises                   441p

Full sister of “BE 21-2076112” 1st Ace pigeon middle distance Sans Peur Herent 2022
Full sister of “BE 21-2076153” 2nd Ace pigeon middle distance Sans Peur Herent 2022 ( after sister )

Sire BE 19-2121389 Magic Dries – Herbots Kobe & Kato
Super breeder
Father of “Black Kato” 3rd Nat Ace pigeon great middle distance youngsters ( 4 KBDB races ) and 4th Nat Ace pigeon longer middle distance youngsters KBDB 2022
Father of 15 Nat Bourges ‘ 22 23,847p - 16 Nat Bourges ’21 18,710p – 27 Nat Argenton ’22 22,869p
Son of “Black Beauty” ( Grandson F16 B & N Van Oeckel and Grandson Stock Pair Roger Buvens ) x “Super F16” ( Daughter F16 B & N Van Oeckel x Super One is daughter Gaston Jr. B & N Van Oeckel ).

Mother BE 19-5095309 Gray Beauty 309 – Jos Thone
Daughter of “Black Shadow” is son Little Joe Guy Baerts who won 9th Int.Nat Marseille 20,786 pigeons x “Beauty Armana” is daughter of “Armani” 1st Int.Nat Perpignan 15,094 pigeons x daughter Sedna 1st Int.Nat Narbonne 5,870 pigeons.

Dirk, congratulations on this top performance from the entire HERBOTS TEAM.

Buelens Kim