Only One Hour Away from the Best!

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Emerald Nash
5 years ago
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Only One Hour Away from the Best! As Mark Evans typed in our next Belgium destination into the GPS surprise, once again we were one hour away from the next destination.

1 Only One Hour Away from the Best! As Mark Evans typed in our next Belgium destination into the GPS surprise, once again we were one hour away from the next destination. I wondered how I ever navigated my way to the different lofts the very first time I visited in 76. This was quickly becoming the joke as all of our destinations in Belgium were exactly one hour travelling time from each other. It was about this time that Mark Evans, Rick Vanveldhuisen and I, wondered if Pipa and Andreas Larentzakis,(Big Andy)who had organized this leg of our trip, had stock in oil as we refueled again between lofts. Our schedule had us visiting the following fanciers: Erik Limbourg, Geert DeClercq, Raf and Kurt Platteeuw, Luc Christiaens, Chris Debacker, Paul and Jelle Roziers, Jeff Houben, Martin Martens, Nikolaas and Carlo Gyselbrecht, Antoine Degrave, Roman Legiest, Benny Steveninck, Jos Thone, Albert Derwa, Jacques and Freddy Vandenheede, Bengt Haeck, Fons Sablon, Andre Verbesselt and Bart Geurinckx all in three and a half days. It was fast, intense and a lot of fun! I ll try to give you some insight to these lofts and others that I visited prior to Belgium, in England and Netherlands.

2 L to R- Mark Evans and Rick Van Veldhuisen in front of Mark s stock loft Erik Limbourg and Geert DeClercq are enjoying an excellent year despite some setbacks. Just before we arrived Erik had lost 70 young birds from the roof. Two of these were reported about two kilometers away, but sadly none others. When we spoke to Erik he had no idea as to the heavy losses. As our loft visits continued in Belgium we found that there were many other lofts that had suffered losses up to 40 and 50 per cent of their team. Despite this blow Erik and Geert have had a fantastic old bird season. When you consider that Erik, nicknamed the Wonderboy from Brussegem, sold all his stock birds in December of 2009 on Pipa, he has not missed a step. Erik and Geert have won five Provincial victories thus far and just completed an unheard of victory from Bordeaux. At 800 km Nationally they were etc. from 5,629 birds!! Also Internationally, at the time of this article they were to be confirmed from 11,444 birds!! Just unbelievable, has been the comment by many fanciers. The winner of first International yearlings is Gilbert Jr. Belg and is the son of Gilbert, who was himself 1 st International from 6,686

birds in 2010 Bordeaux. (see picture) Erik and Geert were great hosts and very quickly brought out Gilbert for us to handle and admire. Gilbert is named after Erik s father.

3 birds in 2010 Bordeaux. (see picture) Erik and Geert were great hosts and very quickly brought out Gilbert for us to handle and admire. Gilbert is named after Erik s father. Great results like these are from Super birds that have been prepared and motivated for the job. Erik allowed us to handle one after another of his new top stock birds. All of the accolades that have been bestowed on this fancier are based on one thing, results, which he single mindedly works towards. Hopefully, I can return for another visit as there is always a lot to learn from a fancier that is continually found at the top.

L to R, Rick Ferreira, Fred Goodchild, Eric Limbourg, Rick VanVeldhuisen, John Marles, Mark Evans, Geert DeClerck in front of the Limbourg lofts Geert accompanied us to our next destination to be our

4 L to R, Rick Ferreira, Fred Goodchild, Eric Limbourg, Rick VanVeldhuisen, John Marles, Mark Evans, Geert DeClerck in front of the Limbourg lofts Geert accompanied us to our next destination to be our translator at, Luc Christiaens loft in Ooigem. Luc has a very small loft in comparison to a number of the lofts that we visited in Europe. He winters a total of about 60 birds. He races about 25 in old birds and close to 60 in young birds. The numbers kept are small, but his National results are very impressive and rank with any of the top lofts that you have read about. The distance he specializes in is 400km to 600km and his racers are entered every two weeks. Even though this has been one of the worst years for racing in Europe with lots of rain and very little sun, Luc opened with a 1 st and 2 nd punch at the Provincial opener, Tours. Prior to this race Luc medicated his team for 8 days with a product called Soludox which is 15% doxycycline. The

5 racers always come home to electrolytes and Luc makes his own tea with honey which he gives them during the week. While we were in Belgium Luc won his 4 th Provincial race on June 30 th. I know from my last visit to Europe that a number of the top lofts medicate against salmonella (paratyphoid) prior to the season as they feel it is just as much a scourge as trichomaniosis or worse. Most were using either Amoxicillin or a product called altabactine which is a mixture of chlorphenicol and furozolidan Andreas Larantzakis mentioned Luc s loft to me last year as he thought I might be interested because the loft is based on Gaby Vandenabeele s lines. Last year, 2011, Luc had an excellent racer in the running for the National Ace Bird of Belgium in the Great Middle distance category. This bird named the NewGaby a.k.a. ( Super Tours ) was just nosed out for first in the last race of the program by Casaert-Senechal s, Amalia and therefore ended up Second National Ace bird Great Middle distance and was purchased by the Pipa Elite Centre. It s true, I do like to bring in birds from a family with similar lines, but more importantly are the numbers that the fancier competes against. In Florida, the races have about 2,500 birds competing, so I like to bring in birds that are very successful racing against 5,000 to 20,000. I do believe that there are family lines of birds that are more often found in the front group. While I was in the Europe, I spoke to a fancier who told me that he had been using red beet juice which enhances oxygen uptake for the racers. I had heard about this before and when I arrived home, I read in Maclean s, a Canadian magazine, about Canada s Gold Medal secrets for the London Olympics. Among the tried and tested supplements for the athletes is beta-alanine (an amino acid) and concentrated beet-root juice. Next, Tung Banh of Mississippi ed me an article on the benefits of beet root juice. I am definitely looking into it further.

6 There will be a future article on Luc which will go into more depth as to how he proceeds with his racers. Luc s stock loft consists of seven pairs of stock birds, all of them related to the Foundation couple named Lucas and Connie, which are Gaby based. This Foundation couple is responsible for a host of National winning racers. In their pedigrees you will find some of the old Gaby lines such as the Ronker and Blauwe Fideel. This year at Chatereaux with 15,902 Yearlings, Luc sent ten birds to represent his loft and scored 3 rd -11 th -56 th 62 nd etc. In Bourges, Old birds he was 2 nd National with 20,589 old birds competing. In Chatereaux, old birds he sent 14 and from 16,479 birds he was 41 st, 62 nd, 88 th, 114 th 148 th etc. At Argenton on July from 12,390 birds, Luc sent 15 and was 3 rd, 22 nd, 60 th,452, 515, 608,781 etc. against all of the names that you have read about. Quite a feat when you consider this fancier has a very, very small team. On July 30 th at Souillac racing against 7,756 birds, Luc was 29 th, 64 th, 70th etc. Nationally. Interesting to note, Antoine and Rudy DeSaer were 1 st, 17 th, 55th, 104 th etc. at the Souillac National race with a family based on Gaby Vandenabeeles as well. In the same National Souillac race Norbert and Stefan Ally were 2 nd and 6 th with two birds Lucas and

De-514 which are basically Vandenabeele lines plus 126 th and 141st. Actually, Gaby himself was 44 th, 66 th, 112 th, 115 th and 161st National in this race.

7 De-514 which are basically Vandenabeele lines plus 126 th and 141st. Actually, Gaby himself was 44 th, 66 th, 112 th, 115 th and 161st National in this race. Last year, Gaby told my partner, Mark that he was going to limit the number of visitors and focus on racing. When Mark told me that he had ordered some young birds for 2012 from Gaby, I wondered what his reasoning was for this. Gaby assured Mark that these birds would be on par with the birds he purchased in It is now obvious that he is on the right track. Luc Christiaens in front of his loft holding Super Gaby As I was completing this part of the article the preliminary results for Bourges 2 were being displayed on Pipa. Belgium is divided into three regions and the results for the young birds for West Flanders were up. Luc Christiaens was etc. from 3,945 birds. It appears that his young bird team are following in the footsteps of his old bird team.

8 Once again this year, Luc has an outstanding bird that is in the competition for National Ace Bird Heavy Middle distance. While we were admiring the birds my partner Mark Evans was weighing up the Foundation pair. Next, Mark asked Andy if Luc would accept fifty thousand Euros for the Foundation couple. I must admit I was surprised by the offer and more so when it was refused. Luc realizes what he has and is adamant about staying at the top. As Mark said, he was glad that Luc didn t accept the offer as it might have been the beginning of the end for this loft. How many times have we witnessed a top loft that sells too many top birds/breeders and then is unable to make it back to the top, especially a very small loft which depends on the results of a few pair. Prior to our visit Andy had offered me half of the round from the seven pair of breeders and during our visit he offered his half to Rick Vanveldhuisen, which Rick accepted very quickly. Personally, when selecting new birds to introduce to my own loft, I always look to a top small loft with a concentrated gene pool which vastly increases ones percentage of breeders. More importantly, does this loft consistently place a number of candidates at the top in National competition? In 2001, after reading an article on Mark and Dick Evans, I was thoroughly impressed by the number of birds they were placing at the very top of the Midlands National. This loft was racing 75 miles further against 6,000 to 8,000 birds and not only winning, but placing many in top positions.

A long time ago, I read a book by the late Ernie Van Hecke which I feel can be condensed down to one point and that is, when selecting birds, be adamant about the pigmentation of their colouring.

9 A long time ago, I read a book by the late Ernie Van Hecke which I feel can be condensed down to one point and that is, when selecting birds, be adamant about the pigmentation of their colouring. So, when looking at blue bars like the Foundation couple above, insist on deep rich colours. Mark Evans pointed out as we were handling this pair, that not only are the bars thick, rich and dark, but that they continue right across the wing. Ernie Van Hecke said that once the pigmentation slides, so does the quality of the bird. There is also an article by researchers in France, who discovered that darker coloured pigeons are healthier. A study of urban pigeons in Paris showed that with higher levels of dark pigment melanin, that the birds had stronger immune systems. They were better able to fend off parasites. It seems Ernie knew what he was talking about!

10 Geert DeCleerck mentioned to me that Luc was already looking for a cross for his family of birds. I will definitely try to find out the why, where and who he decided on, as I feel it is very interesting to note where the top lofts go for their next acquisition. Several of the lofts that we visited had already accepted orders from some of the top lofts that are known to us. Koopman had ordered from three of the lofts that we visited. The top fanciers never rest and are continually moving forward by investing in top stock. Last year, Luc Christiaens, New Gaby played a significant role in his overall performance and this year it is Novastar" a full brother being bred from the top pair Lucas and Connie and Stefan that are hitting the honour roll. From 2011 as a youngster Novastar scored: 1st Clermont 181 d., 1st Clermont 298 d.,36th Ablis 166 d., 54th Fondclub Blois 445d. and prov. 307th / 3090 d.,16th Fondclub Bourges 248 d. and prov. 190 e / d 3338., 34th Ablis 274 d.,11th Fondclub La Souterraine 135 d. and prov. 89th / 2248 d., 31st Fondclub Gueret 171 d. and prov. 703rd / d in From 2012: 39th Arras 167 d., 1st Clermont 227 d., 30th Clermont 146 d., 6th Clermont 146d., 8th Clermont 181 d.,l'aigle 8th / 64 d. and 9th / 65d., 4th Fondclub Bourges 269d. 12th provincial Bourges 1877 d., 79th National Bourges 16,859 d. 1st provincial Chateauroux 2905 d., 3rd national Chateauroux d. "Novastar" has, 2 national top prizes with 2 national entries, which points out the value of this major sporting player. For Luc and his wife Bea we wish them the

best for the final races of 2012. L to R, Mark Evans, John Marles, Luc Christiaens, Rick Van Veldhuisen, Andreas Larentzakis in front of Luc s loft.

11 best for the final races of L to R, Mark Evans, John Marles, Luc Christiaens, Rick Van Veldhuisen, Andreas Larentzakis in front of Luc s loft. Next we were off to Raf and Kurt Platteeuw from Rumbeke and of course it was once again one hour away!! ( then off to Chris Debacker, Paul and Jelle Roziers, Jeff Houben, Martin Martens, Nikolaas and Carlo Gyselbrecht, Antoine Degrave, Roman Legiest, Benny Steveninck, Jos Thone, Albert Derwa, Jacques and Freddy Vandenheede, Bengt Haeck, Fons Sablon, Andre Verbesselt and Bart Geurinckx to be continued).

12 Any questions: Sylvan Lofts

AU CONVENTION AUCTION

AU CONVENTION AUCTION LOT 1A BE-18-4194651 BRED BY PIPA ELITE CENTER WOW!!! SON OF PORSCHE 911 INCREDIBLE!!! MANY MANY WINERS IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES ALL ACROSS THE GLOBE. LOT 2A BE-17-4062618 BRED BY PIPA