Two very good friends with a plan—that's Jelle De Bock (Kluisbergen) and Joost De Smeyter (Melden). They live less than half a kilometre apart and, as we have described extensively before, they are two passionate fanciers who know exactly where they want to go. On the one hand, at Joost's loft (racing as De Smeyter-Restiaen), the main focus is on international marathon races. On the other hand, there is the partnership of Jelle De Bock and Joost De Smeyter, which excels mainly in races between 400 and 600 km. This coming winter, we will certainly publish a comprehensive report on this colony, but we simply couldn't resist writing about the remarkable achievement these "partners in crime" pulled off during last weekend's extremely demanding National Châteauroux race.

As already reported on our website, Joost won 1st National Châteauroux against 5,504 old birds with his first nominated cock, "Merlierke" (BE24-4144313 – 1,148 m/min). Those who have read the report and watched the video also know that Jelle claimed 2nd National Old Birds (BE24-4144906 – 1,138 m/min) and 3rd National Yearlings (BE25-4130833 – 1,140 m/min). If that's not a reason to celebrate, we don't know what is!

BE25-4129490 – 3rd National Châteauroux (459 km) – Yearlings – 8,597 yearlings

"Yara": BE24-4144906 – 2nd National Châteauroux (459 km) 5,504 old birds

 The fact that everything has been running exceptionally well for De Bock–De Smeyter throughout the entire 2026 season is clearly demonstrated by the overview of their results achieved up to and including the weekend of 4 July 2026.

CLERMONT 25-04-2026 177.1 Km
Lokaal 525 duiven/Pigeon Oude/Vieux
1-3-4-4-12-16-18-19-20-25-40-42-44-45-47-48-70-73-77-78-106-108-109-125-153-158-171-171 (28/52)

ECOUEN 25-04-2026 212.488 Km
VERBOND HF/DF-SAMENSPEL MIDDEN WAAS HAFO 6596 duiven/Pigeon CAT 4
1-119-129-158-193-298-303-322-487-503-520-643-651-658-666-762-818-919-1175-1211-1321-1374-1402-1512-1516-1603-1626-2029-2042-2160-2174 (31/63)

VALPUISEAUX 02-05-2026 280.92 Km
Lokaal 449 duiven/Pigeon Jaarse/Yearling
1-3-21-34-39-49-50-82-92-102 (10/25)

CLERMONT 16-05-2026 177.1 Km
Lokaal 525 duiven/Pigeon Oude/Vieux
1-3-5-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-16-20-23-25-26-28-33-36-37-38-39-43-50-51-55-56-60-61-65-67-74-78-79-90-94-95-96-103-106-107-116-125-126-133-141-143-153-164-172-173-174 (51/116)

BOURGES 23-05-2026 444.904 Km
Lokaal 790 duiven/Pigeon Jaarse/Yearling
1-12-17-23-25-42-49-72-76-90-105-108-132-147-164-185 (16/70)

CLERMONT 30-05-2026 177.1 Km
Lokaal 156 duiven/Pigeon Oude/Vieux
1-4-25-27-31-32-34 (7/14)

CLERMONT 07-06-2026 177.1 Km
Lokaal 165 duiven/Pigeon Oude/Vieux
1-2-7-8-24-32-44-45-47 (9/23)

LA CHATRE 13-06-2026 482.213 Km
Lokaal 361 duiven/Pigeon Oude/Vieux
1-5-6-7-8-20-26-30-31-32-40-47-78-90 (14/16)

Lokaal 637 duiven/Pigeon Jaarse/Yearling
1-9-21-26-40-42-44-47-54-59-77-79-86-96-98-99-108-111-131-132-134-142-153 (23/51)

ZOA3 Nationaal/National GHF 2375 duiven/Pigeon Jaarse/Yearling
1-14-39-78-116-123-126-144-161-167-233-237-256-292-294-295-319-329-368-372-379-402-431-459-495-531-534-547-571 (29/51)

CHATEAUROUX (Belle Isle) 20-06-2026 462.015 Km
Lokaal 274 duiven/Pigeon Oude/Vieux
1-2-6-8-10-15-19-22-32-36-45-62-63-65-70-71-72-74-80-91 (20/37)

DUBBELING PROV-VOVD 1134 duiven/Pigeon Oude/Vieux
1-4-42-49-98-278 (6/9)

GIDY (Orleans) 20-06-2026 334.933 Km
Lokaal 128 duiven/Pigeon Oude/Vieux
1-2-3-4-6-6-11-12-16-24-28-29-30-37 (14/22)

SANCOINS 04-07-2026 442.279 Km
Lokaal 318 duiven/Pigeon Jaarse/Yearling
1-2-3-5-6-12-13-14-15-17-18-22-23-34-36-37-45-49-50-51-56-66-70-78 (24/55)

And also these birds won a National Zone and/of provincial victory

Stefan Mertens