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Jacky – Leen De Bruine - Niewerkerk ( NL ) win with the 2nd National Barcelona 2019 almost an unique double

30 Mar 2020

It was really close that tandem Jacky & Leen De Bruine would go into the history books as first tandem that would win two years in a row the 1st National Barcelona in Holland. Father Leen and son Jacky share everything concerning pigeons and enjoy together their colony. 

To go back again to 2018 where the unique story started, around 13h02 they clocked NL 15-3537577 “Walter” who officially won the 1st National Barcelona after waiting another two hours. This over a distance of 1151km and in very hard circumstances. On an international level he won 4th against 15,700 pigeons. 'Walter' was a pigeon bred at  Walter van der Meulen where they closely work together with as you will notice further on in this article. 

One year later we go to the edition of 2019. With an even harder edition as the year before they now clocked at 14h50. At that moment the 2nd National Barcelona which would stay like that, international against 15,981 pigeons  “Mr.Fit Barcelona” stranded on the 8th spot. An unique double with such two amazing years after each other. 

Off course, they didn't only win the 2nd National in 2019, they also clocked 25 , 154 , 202 , 233 , 249, 287 National and with 11 prizes out of 20 an excellent result.  

How do you prepare the season? 

I couple my breeders (it used to be about 8, but now because of the latest successes we built it out to 15 couples), beginning of March. These eggs will be put under the yearling pigeons who will have to raise them. 

Next to this I also have a loft with cocks on classic widowhood where off one loft will be coupled beginning of March and the other half of March, both can raise a couple of youngsters. 

I race hens pure on nest and are couple to 8 cocks that are also being raced on nest now. The goal is that I race them on the preparing flights on widowhood and to couple them beginning of June to basket them on a youngster of 6 to 10 days. The goal is now that I will adjust this the coming season and will basket them on 10 to 12 days breeding. 

How do you go direction Barcelona ? 

Everything starts in Spring, pigeons come out again and start off with a training of about an hour. This will be built up until they train easily on hour, from May on this will be a bit more intense and will come out twice a day. The last 9 days before Barcelona I bring it all back and will still train on a daily base but not that intensively anymore. 

A thing I found very important is that the pigeons will do a lot of races before Barcelona or the other international races. They race weekly in April and May to flights of maximum 400km. This more than once even until three times before I built down. 

The Barcelona pigeons will do 9 days before basketing Barcelona their last flight of about 130km. I try to do this with all pigeons that have to go to an international race. 

Was 'Mr.Fit' a pigeon of the widowhood team or the nest team ? 

'Mr.Fit' was raced on widowhood and had his weekly race, but also good pigeons can miss once in a while. About 4 weeks before Barcelona it was a windy race and he came home one day later. He was completely empty and you saw that he went very far, then it is resting a lot and give the pigeon food and hope for a quick recovery. Luckily he did, so you hope on a super result the next time. Or like they say, a good one doesn't miss twice !!!! 

On the day of basketing for Barcelona the widow cocks could stay together with their hen in the morning with tobacco steels and could do what they wanted. The pigeons that race Barcelona won't do under heavy circumstances no other race anymore. 

What do the youngsters and yearlings in their year ? 

For the youngsters I found it important that they have races, here it are the autumn races. These are 6 races until about 330km which gives them the necessary experience for the coming year. 

As yearling they will be raced on total widowhood in the beginning until 400km. Then they will be prepared for an international race. Normally I choose Agen and / or Narbonne but in 2019 I skipped Agen as the weather was so hot. I choose Narbonne and won 5 x Top 200 National yearlings and the pigeons that get home can stay in the team for the coming year. 

NL 16-1568386 “Mr.Fit Barcelona”
2 Nat Barcelona 4,132b ( 8th International 15,981b ) 2019

Father NL 15-1750970 Chequered

Gr.F. NL 10-3002883 Chequered
Gr.M. NL 11-1812762 Lindeberg Hans hen

Mother NL 15-3502902 Bolletje Blue
Full sister to “Perpignan” 52 Nat Perpignan 3,778b and 151 Nat Agen 5,055b

Gr.F. NL 12-3205157 Blue Short head
          Top racer with ao 75 Nat Narbonne 6,648b and 104 Nat Narbonne 4,515b
          Son to “NL 10-887” Justin x “NL 11-785” L Kouters x PWA v/d Meulen
Gr.M. NL 11-1739335 Chequered white pin
            Daughter to “NL 05-823” Den 823 Base breeder PWA v/d Meulen x “NL 07-115” Daughter
            Barcelona  hen with 8 I.Nat Barcelona 22,887b

We told you in the beginning of the article that Jacky De Bruine works closely with Walter van der Meulen. That's why 'Mr.Fit' was coupled to the 1st pigeon from Walter on Barcelona 2019 who won himself 21st  National Barcelona. Or in other words, 2 fantastic racers coupled to each other. 

NL 16-3608398 Dark Barcelona 
Won 21 Nat Barcelona 4,132b ( 39th International 15,981b ) 2019

Raced at PWA v/d Meulen
She is a granddaughter to “Rooie Japie” from Harold Zwiers who was an unique super breeder on the extreme long distance. 

Care

In winter I prefer a light mixture existing out of 75% barley, after that I think that the pigeons have to train hard and go into the basket weekly so they get more heavy food. That 's why I prefer to mix several different sport mixtures amongst each other. 

I try to give as less as possible during the year, I only make use of Drainol Breed and Drainol Fly from Patrick Derycke. At arrival I use Kop-Geel (Head-Yellow) during 3 feedings to desinfect the pigeons after every race as Spring 2019 was very cold. Otherwise I don't do that every race. 

Jacky & Leen a big congratulations with these unique results from the entire HERBOTS TEAM. 

Buelens Kim