What a true champion! The phrase perfectly fits the pigeon that brought the national victory to Zedelgem, but even more so Noël Peiren himself, who has once again proven that he owns one of the finest long-distance pigeon families in the world.

Over the years, countless pages have been filled with praise for Noël and his pigeons. Their reputation extends far beyond Belgium's borders. Having built on the foundations laid by his father in Vladslo, Noël developed into a true icon of marathon pigeon racing in Zedelgem. His family of pigeons, kept as close to nature as possible, has repeatedly shown its ability to conquer the toughest races.

Although the years are beginning to take their toll on the 84-year-old Noël, especially physically, his mind remains as sharp as ever when it comes to his pigeons.

During our visit, he insists on accompanying us to the loft where the national winner lives. Climbing the few steps requires a little assistance, but once inside, it is immediately obvious that he knows every pigeon by heart. "Hand me my little stick," he says. We pass him the bamboo stick standing in the corner. A gentle tap on the floor and a slight guiding movement are all it takes for the Dax National winner to fly neatly into its nest box. A master remains a master, and few can read their pigeons as well as Noël.

The winner is a blue chequer cock. Not particularly large, but powerfully built, with a strong frame, silky-soft feathering, a very short forearm and a beautifully expressive eye. Would you immediately label him a champion? Not necessarily. He is not a pigeon that instantly catches the eye, yet it is impossible to find a fault in him. That perfectly describes the Peiren family. For decades it has been woven together from the very best long-distance bloodlines in the world, but, more importantly, every generation has been tested under the harshest possible conditions.

Man proposes, nature decides.

Everyone occasionally believes they have reinvented the wheel—but only for a moment. Nothing stands the test of time better than the old clichés, otherwise they would never have become clichés in the first place. At Noël's loft, pigeons are kept as naturally as possible, day after day, year after year. No gimmicks—just sound feed and clean water. Any pigeon unable to cope with that regime during its first two years simply disappears, either naturally or through selection by Noël himself or by the race basket.

After years of unwavering selection, there are simply no weak pigeons left. Those qualities reveal themselves when races become brutally difficult. Under easy conditions, many pigeons can make it home. In truly hard races, however, the real selection begins. Noël has always bred and selected for performance in the toughest weather, year after year.

Did he occasionally introduce pigeons from other top fanciers? Yes, but always with a clear purpose. More often than not, those opportunities came because others wanted access to the famous Zedelgem bloodline. Exchanges, joint breeding programmes—everything was tried. Many were called, but very few were chosen. Either they failed to survive the demanding Peiren regime, or they were simply bred out through selection. Very few outside pigeons have made any lasting contribution to Noël's remarkably tough family. That is why one can confidently speak of the Peiren strain—pure and unadulterated.

Noël has always been a wise and thoughtful man. Careful, deliberate decision-making has always been one of his trademarks, especially when you already possess exceptional pigeons. It is far easier to weaken a family than to improve it. His proven champions invariably remained in the breeding loft and were paired with equally proven partners. There was no miracle formula—only a carefully considered breeding strategy, built upon outstanding results achieved year after year.

You could feel it coming again...

The preparatory races of the season had unfolded exactly as expected. The same was true at Noël Peiren's loft. But as the marathon races drew closer, spring gradually turned into a true long hot summer. Temperatures climbed to unprecedented levels for days on end, while France experienced record-breaking heat unlike anything ever recorded.

The opening international race from Pau was already destined to become a brutal test, made even tougher by severe thunderstorms and storms sweeping across northern France and Belgium.

Right from the start, Noël's pigeons showed they were in outstanding form. He entered just four pigeons in Pau and recorded 34th, 64th, 260th and 384th National. His first arrival was clocked at 6:42 a.m., while the fourth was home by 9:54 a.m.—job done, and done in style. His second arrival, BE23-005, secured 64th National, being clocked at 7:12 a.m.

Those pigeons were then held back for Dax.

Following the pattern of the previous weeks, Dax developed into another exceptionally demanding race. The birds were basketed on Monday but could not be liberated until Sunday, under conditions that bordered on unimaginable. Temperatures exceeded 40°C across central France, while a relentless north-easterly wind pushed the pigeons towards the Atlantic coast.

It took an eternity before the first arrivals were reported. Everything pointed towards Dax becoming one of the toughest races in recent memory.

Except that nobody in Zedelgem had reckoned with BE23-005.

At 10:59 a.m., he was clocked home.

From his chair beneath the patio canopy, Noël had noticed a pigeon approaching but never imagined it could already be one from Dax. Yet it was indeed his future national winner—the cock now known simply as "Vale Dax."

He became the 1st National against 3,416 old and yearling pigeons in Belgium, but above all, it is the extreme difficulty of the race that makes this victory so remarkable.

It simply could not have been any harder.

Flying the 887 kilometres from Dax to Zedelgem at an average speed of just 691.03 metres per minute, the race demanded nothing less than extraordinary stamina and determination.

"He's a late developer," Noël says.

But early maturity has never been part of the Peiren philosophy. Young birds receive little or no training, and they are only expected to prove themselves from the age of two or even three years.

Last season he raced from Châteauroux before being entered for Perpignan, where he finished 702nd National, merely winning a prize. This year, however, he has fully revealed his class with 64th National Pau, followed by a magnificent 1st National Dax.

What an exceptional pigeon.

The pedigree of Vale Dax combines the loft's very finest bloodlines.

His sire is Didi 228 (2016), a son of Vale Didi and Blue 635, descending from the famous Carcassonne family—the very same line that produced the 1st National Barcelona winner.

Didi 228 himself boasts an outstanding racing record:

• 126th National St Vincent
• 190th National Perpignan
• 27th National Perpignan
• 16th National St Vincent
• 367th National Perpignan

A genuine marathon champion, following in the footsteps of his sire Vale Didi, who also won top national prizes over several years.

His dam is Hen 108-20, bred by close friend Gerard Koopman, yet originating from Koopman's own extreme long-distance family carrying a strong Peiren influence.

She is a daughter of Aristos—himself half Peiren—paired to Peiren 300, a daughter of the Son of Prins Barcelona crossed with the 3rd Provincial Barcelona.

These are the true arteries running through the Peiren family.

While photographing the winner in Noël's hands, an unforgettable moment unfolded.

Holding the pigeon gently in his now fragile hands, he slowly opened one wing and quietly whispered:

"This is my seventh national victory..."

Simple words, yet deeply moving when spoken by a true pigeon racing legend—a man whose bloodlines have contributed to countless successes in lofts around the world, and who, at his blessed age, still possesses the passion, determination and courage to stand once again on the very highest step of the podium.

A tribute to a truly great champion!

Congratulations to the Peiren family from the entire Herbots Team!

BE22-3076005
1st National Dax 2,315 old birds
fastest of 3,426 birds

Distance: 886km
Velocity: 691 m/m

Noël together with 1st Internat. Barcelona winner 2026 Nicu Barbulescu

Dhaenens Geert