STEENBERGEN STEFAN – HERK DE STAD 1st NATIONAL NARBONNE YEARLINGS 2017

16 Jan 2020

The second international race for the year birds is after Agen, traditionally Narbonne. After 850km, which is usually very hard, we can find the winner in Herk-de-Stad. This time not just in a true long distance colony but in a real top colony all-round. Stefan Steenbergen won in 2015 national Bourges year birds, something completely different as this race but also this kind of race is something he can win. He only basketed two year birds, 2 full sisters in who he truly believed in. They come out of a full sister of his super long distance racer ‘Iron Man’, who won: 1 National z Montauban, 4th Provincial Brive and 5th Provincial Brive. Out of the grandparents more than one super was bred, something you can read further in this article.

The stimulus to race Narbonne came when he went to Narbonne a few years ago with one single pigeon that won the 6th National! Now he wanted to enter this race again but didn’t think he was able to win it.

Racing team year birds on total widowhood.

The racing team of the year birds are being raced on total widowhood, this to test both the sexes and to limit the amount of pigeons.

How they were being coupled as partners? Well, in the winter period they really can rest and go through the moulting entirely. As from the middle of February he let them stay together for 5 days and then they also get a cure against tricho. On the first of March the cocks move onto the racing loft so they can choose their box. Middle of March they are being coupled a second time for about 3 to 4 days. As from then the shorter training flights start off and after one month he will have 5 couples or 10 but this will built up systematically. Sometimes one of the partners stays home so they have to go and look for a new love and this is how a lot of animo stays on the loft.

They train daily once a day, this is a fixed rule at the Steenbergen loft. Rather one time really well than twice half. When the pigeons come out is depending on when the neighbours, who also race with hens, let their pigeons out. You don’t have to make it more difficult for yourself as it already is.

They never come together as a motivation before a race, I go onto the loft and take them just as they are. One thing I do think that is really important, is to give the pigeons a lot of faith and interfere at the right time or excite them once in a while.

When they get home bad, I drive them to Namen and make sure they get home together and leave them be for about one hour, a short race that boosts their confidence.

Or, sometimes, when the hens are training, I dare to open all the sputniks of the widow cocks and let the fire work for about 10 to 15 minutes. These small things make more difference according to Stefan rather than motivate them just before the race.

After the race they always can stay together until the time I get home from the club, this will always be around 1 to two hours.

2182438/2016 Liz Blue Hen

   1 Nat    Narbonne        3,480b
   5 I.Nat                    18,927b
46 I.Prov La Souterraine    2,645b
328 Nat                      16,613b
818 Nat    Bourges           28,078b
1489 Nat    Argenton          22,645b

Clocked time : 18:25:10
Distance : 879.894 km
Average Speed : 1,256.69 m/min

Father 2064267/2014 Ben Hur

Gr.F. 6411472/2004 Light 1 Van Camp Goovaerts
      Father of “Dikken” 2 x 1st
     Grandfather “Lin” 1 Prov Ace bird KBDB
      Grandfather “Hardy” 16 Nat Bourges 9,256b
      Son of “204/90” Son “Kleine Licht” x “890/98”
      Sister “Lange Smis” Granddaughter World champion Withofs
Gr.M. 5154250/2010 Long Sally
      Daughter of “583/99” Son “Lange Smis” M & Y
     Vandersmissen
      x “707/01” Daughter “126” 1 Dourdan 1,235b Van Camp
      Govaerts

Mother 206575/2014 Sister Iron Man
Sister “Iron Man” 1 Nat (z) Montauban 2,179b, 4 Prov Brive 2,338b and 5 Prov Brive 2,177b
Sister “Den Albert” 1 Prov Limoges 538b
Sister “De Witten” 2 Prov Limoges 1,152b, 4 Prov Souillac 442b, 5 Prov Chateauroux 2,018b, 8 Prov Limoges 1,723b, 13 Prov Bourges 4,293b

Gr.F. DV 7364/795/01 Super breeder Irmer & Son
      Son of “413/99” Brother “Fieneke 5000” Flor Vervoort
      x “665/99” Inbred Nationaal I Schellens / Herbots
Gr.M. 5117019/2004 “Parel” Voets
      Daughter “730/01” Blue white pin Van Leest – Peeters
      x “519/96” Daughter “Lichte Bourges” 4 & 35 Nat Bourges
      M Voets

In a matter of feeding, I give daily my own mixture. Besides these mixtures I use a lot of natural products like onions, garlic and juniper, these are being mixed together. At home coming, they get every week B.S. from Belgica de Weerdt and that’s it. Also medically I didn’t have to do a lot this year, except once a treatment for the airways.

Stefan, congratulations on this wonderful victory from the entire HERBOTS TEAM.