LEMMENS JOS - HEIST OP DEN BERG 1st NATIONAL ARGENTON 11,452 YEAR BIRDS FASTEST OF 19,362b. 2017

16 Jan 2020

To see the fastest Argenton racer we had to put Lo-straat in Heist-op-den-Berg in our GPS. That’s where Jos Lemmens clocked his chequered cock ‘Froome’ (B16-6070202) for a distance of 550km at 12h30min and 58 sec, good for a speed of 1,770.55 m/m average. In his category he beat the pigeons of Faes-Wils (Mol – 1,748.88 m/m) and Huysmans Gert (1,743.77 m/m).

VIA FATHER IN LAW

Jos, 69 years old, inherited pigeon sport from his father in law. His father in law quit pigeon sport in 1970 and Jos took over the lofts immediately. From one second onto the other, Heist-Op-Den-Berg had an extra pigeon fancier on the list. Since then, Jos was never without pigeons any more.

Before the season started, Jos had 13 widow cocks (1 old and 12 yearling birds) and 8 hens. These were being raced all on total widowhood. Jos explains: ‘ I used to race the short distance and middle distance races but the last few years I changed onto the middle distance and greater middle distance. My hens are being basketed every week. One week a middle distance race, the other week a longer middle distance race. The cocks race the national program and go into the basket every fortnight. This way I get to see pigeons get home every week. Argenton national became the last race for my yearling and old pigeons for this season. I’m satisfied with the results of my widow cocks but my hens were disappointing. I must gather some more tips somewhere as I get the impression I make too many mistakes.

My racing team had a winter breeding and in Spring they got together for a short period of time so they could start of their first training sessions motivated. You won’t discover many secrets here. My widow cocks train as many fancier do, twice a day. They train with closed windows and if they remain too long on the roof, I call them in.

The man in the white jacket won’t get rich from me. I only consult him for the obligated paramyxo vaccination and other then that I use at my own feeling the products of Belgica-De Weerd. This is how I give them during two days after the race B.S..

The bases of my colony is still formed by the pigeons of my father in law. I rarely bought other pigeons. My national winner is a grandson of my base breeder that I bred with a borrowed Herbots hen (through a voucher) of Louis Moris.’

FROOME

And so we end up with the national winner himself. ‘Froome’ is a smart, chequered cock that defends his box, top left on his department, with a lot of fire. He is from the average type with a strong back and good muscles. Jos:’ I will never forget him coming home. Through the online logins we already counted a bit…we thought to have some spare time when we saw a pigeon heading my loft. As a possessed one he went into the loft. Whether he was motivated in a special way….no, not special…only the nest dish was shown at basketing. I planned to give the Argenton racers their hen as well, but as they foresaw strong southern wind, I wouldn’t make them too crazy.

The future of ‘Froome’ won’t be in Belgium, as by the professional care of the Herbots team, he moves to the far East.