Distance: 500km
Velocity: 1383.56 m/m

Alt-Hoeselt: Situated between the better known cities of Tongeren and Bilzen... deep in the province of Limburg... we had to be there to admire the fastest Issoudun racer. Frederik Vanhees doesn't know what happens to him when the many congratulations pour in. Fortunately his family is there to assist him in all this. 

It's nice and quiet living in the Nieuwe Baan nr. 84... and we are fully convinced that Frederik more than enjoys his fine hobby which is pigeon racing. A loft with 7 compartments and a smaller loft with 2 compartments house the 32 widowers, 10 racing hens and 80 youngsters. Enough work ...

National winner is the "B17-5118638"... a checquer cock that already has 2 victories on his record but since Frederik doesn't record all results on a weekly basis, no overview could be given. The "638" is a special guy... a tame pigeon on the loft but when it comes to "fast entering the loft", he is not on the first row. Can you believe that he was clocked on the loft of the hens when he came home from Issoudun. If this winner was specially motivated... Frederik didn't know the answer... just like all the other weeks, the widowers got their nest dish on the day of basketing and only when she comes home "madame" is waiting for her partner. 

What did catch the eye is the condition of the "638". When we took him in our hands a few hours after his arrival we were amazed how “round” he was still feeling. This winner certainly hadn't given up on anything.

The "638" was bred on the loft of friend Noelmans Johan (Schalkhoven). In his pedigree card we find a full brother of the 12th National ace speed and the known pigeons of Maurice Haesendonckx.

Simple

As already mentioned Frederik has a group of 32 widowers and these are easily, without too many frills, guided to shake top performances out of their wings. All widowers were coupled begin december and were allowed to raise a couple of youngsters and through speed and middle distance races they went to the national flights. 

In terms of nutrition they worked with sports mixture and energy mixture. Medically only a Belga-magix was pushed through the throat and for the rest the medicine cabinet remained closed. Upon returning home, electrolytes are mixed through the drinking water and on Wednesday is "vitamin day". 

Wonderful that a motivated experienced fancier with no professional approach can still take the most coveted podium place. This is the beauty of pigeon racing

Frederik ...congratulations to the whole Herbots team.

BE17-5118638 : 1st National Issoudun 10,603 old birds - Fastest of 28,779b.

Pedigree

Loft

Stefan Mertens