The rising sun from Taiwan dominates the Belgian pigeon sport

Michel Vanlint left Belgium for about 20 years because the Far East and the pigeon sport on the highest level called out for him. But we surely must respect him for what he achieved there. Nevertheless the bond with his home land was always there and for more than once a year he visited his Belgian friends. So at the end of 2002 he decided to come back to his roots and at the same time he bought a home in Zoutleeuw where he build a new loft. Many eyes directed to the colony of Michel. Would he be able to win after a break of 20 years in competition?

A good loft is the beginning of everything.
Michel build himself a loft in the form of an L and his example was the most ideal loft he ever saw, namely the one of Huyskens-Van Riel. An East-South-East orientation, high and dry build on an old work house. The loft has a perfect aeration and he makes allowance with too many temperature differences. It's very important that the pigeons don't feel too much difference between day and night. The birds have to feel comfortable and the environment is important to keep them healthy and get them in the good condition. The whole loft is covered with wooden rosters, even in the boxes the rosters are of wood with underneath an assembly line. Most of his free time Michel works on the bond between the fancier and his animals. A cosy environment is reached by creating a good and dry loft by the proper isolation in combination with some heating and of course a good aeration. A good loft depends on many aspects and that's why he looked for some wood of good quality that smells as less as possible. In fact Michel put a lot of time to create a loft as good as possible and of course he also is a man with a lot of experience. This is all proved by his super results.

The one and only colony that reached the top 100 every time again with the youngsters on national level in 2003:

BOURGES Nat. 45.684 p. 15 - 80
ARGENTON Nat. 17.129 p. 44
LA SOUTERRAINE Nat. 14.021 p. 56 - 66
VICHY Nat. 11.448 p. 13 - 15 - 58

These top results prove the high quality of his pigeons, besides he made top-scores in all kind of weather on national level!!!

On local and on provincial level the results were even more astonishing:

BOURGES Club 417 p. 1, 4, 6, 11, 14, 29, 32, 41, 42,...
Obrafo 1.337 p. 1, 5, 10, 22, 25, 68, 76, 79, 104,
113, 130,...

ARGENTON Club 105 p. 1, 5, 9, 13, 16
Obrafo 427 p 1, 32, 41,...
Nat. C. 4.723 p. 2, 241, 308,...

LA SOUTERRAINE Club 130 p. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 13,...
Obrafo 306 p. 1, 3, 6, 9, 10, 12, 23, 27, 31,...
Provincial 1.335 p. 9, 13, 27, 33, 42, 53, 121, 137,...

VICHY Club 116 p. 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 10, 11, 14, 19
Obrafo 259 p. 2, 3, 5, 10, 19, 21, 24,...
Provincial 1.099 p. 4, 5, 10, 22, 42, 47, 63, 86,...

Also on the middle distance races in-between the national flights he scored first prizes:

TOURY Club. 138 p. 1, 2, 7, 9, 10, 15,...
Obrafo 503 p. 1, 2, 11, 17, 19, 47, 48, 50, 51,...
I.Prov. 1.984 p. 1, 2, 20, 29, 31, 74, 75, 76, 96, 97, 116,..

SENS Club. 126 p. 1, 2, 8, 9, 11, 12, 16,...
Obrafo 514 p. 5, 6, 18, 19, 21, 23, 32, 37, 43, 48, 49,...

Where are these pigeons coming from?
When Michel started again in 2003 he got some young birds of three friends he likes to thank one more time. These were Willem De Bruijn, the master in the Dutch competition Who Has Them Better. Also from his friend Filip Herbots, where we find only the very best of the world and from Willy Oliviers-Devos from Kumtich, one of the best long distance colonies of Belgium. This was a good start but now it was up to Michel.

Total devotion pays its way.
Michel does it all by himself together with his wife, who followed him to Belgium when he moved. Everything has to be perfect. The training of the young birds is very important and they are trained already from the beginning with a stick. They have to listen and come in after the signal. When he drives them away by car, he lets them rest for about 5 minutes and they even get the opportunity to drink before he releases them. The more you do the more you get in return.

For many years now Michel learned a lot about his feathered friends and he likes to know his pigeons as good as possible. He thinks you must know what they need and he assures us that you can learn the young birds a lot. He says that there are more good pigeons then good fanciers. The good pigeons can be bought by each and every one of us. Just go and visit some auctions where you find all kinds of qualities but it's not easy to pick out the good ones. But once you have the quality, you have to observe and take good care of your birds. This must be the secret of this fancier, a total devotion pays its way.

Beware of the little details.
Vanlint plays the total widowhood and every week again the cocks as well as the hens have to race flights from 400 till 600 km. It's astonishing that both sexes score on the same level. During the week they can rest on little shelves in front of the boxes. Only the day of arrival the boxes are opened, which must stimulate their urge towards their territory. This is a kind of motivation on which you can hold on for many weeks. At their arrival the partners can stay together till the evening. In the mean time all pigeons have to get into a warm bath and the loft is slightly darkened so they recover better and to get them ready for the next flight.

Before the basketing the pigeons get some bio-drops of the Herbots Animal products and again when they arrive home. It's very important to disinfect. The drinking pot contains electrolytes at their arrival and the schedule of his vet Raf Herbots is followed very carefully. No clear water but on regular times the water contains Vita and Bio pigeon to reinforce the resistance and the condition. The food is a mixture of several different firms and this is mixed with Zell-Oxygen, Beer yeast, 4-Oils and Optimix. Following this program is a must here and it gives a good feeling to the fancier as well as to the pigeons. May be this is the reason why they keep in the top every week again.

Also the present season is a wonderful one with top-prizes like 1st S/Nat. Centre & East Argenton Yearlings.
Michel started with 32 pigeons of both sexes and this was a team of youngsters that participate to the 4 national flights in 2003. Every week again the birds have to fly and in preparation to the next season, they were paired in winter and they got to raise a round of youngsters. Afterwards they get together one more time at the end of March and the eggs of the better pigeons moved to the feeding couples.

Bourges
465Km Club 417 p. 1, 4, 6, 11, 14, 29, 32, 41, 42,...
Laon
163Km Club 682 p. 1, 9, 83,...
282p 1,4,27,...
Soissons
195Km Club 423 p. 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 12, 14, 18, 23, 27, 29, 33
Pithiviers
362Km I.Prov. 1.070 p. 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 12, 13, 35, 53, 55, 74, 92, 101,
Toury
373Km I.Prov. 977 p. 4, 5, 6, 11, 13, 16, 23, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 81, 87, 118,...
Vierzon
460Km Club 231 p. 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 14, 16, 17, 23, 24, 26, 27, 31
Bourges
465Km Obrafo 346 p. 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 12, 27, 29, 31, 35
Blois
454Km Obrafo 255 p. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 18, 23, 27, 28,
Chateauroux
511Km Club 472 p. , 2, 4, 5, 6, ��, 8, 9, 10, 12, 18, 26, 31, 32, 48, 53, 76, 88, 106, 116,...
Bourges
465Km Club 166 p. 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 17, 18
Montlucon
531Km Club 237 p. 1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 13, 14, 16, 17, 20, 23, 26
La Souterraine
577Km
Obrafo 431 p. 9, 12, 14, 18, 19, 24, 25, 29, 31, 44, 47
Argenton
540Km Club 161 p. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, 17,....

641p 1,2,3,4,5,6,8,11,16,25,30,37,...

1310p 1,4,5,6,8,15,20,33,43,69,75,...

3159p 1,4,5,8,11,18,28,49,68,...

S/Nat 6968p 1,7,9,11,18,...
Limoges - 618Km 159p 2,3,4,7,13,15,...
Toury
373Km 104p 1,3,4,6,7,8,10,11,13,16,18,19,20,23,...

466p 1,3,4,9,10,11,24,27,30,39,42,47,48,..
Bourges
460Km 179p 2,4,5,6,7,9,12,14,15,17,24,25,30,36,42,..

824p 2,6,10,11,13,18,24,31,32,37,59,60,..

4372p 12,24,28,31,43,65,...

Youngsters 346p 2,3,6,16,23,27,32,35,40,43,44,53,56,...

429p 3,4,8,19,27,31,36,39,48,51,52,...
Toury
373Km 100p 1,2,3,4,5,7,14,15,21,...

264p 2,3,7,8,9,15,28,31,49,56,64,65,66,...
Argenton
540Km 945p 1,3,6,...
180p 2,3,5,20,23,24,26,27,...
1445p 1,5,6,8,18,25,26,27,57,58,79,88,...
Nat Yearlings 3949p 3,9,12,24,37,45,46,47,...
Nat Youngsters 23010p 13,21,45,...

Bourges Youngsters 169p 1,2,6,16,18,23,26,28,29,30,36,...
1541p 7,8,46,88,103,116,145,...

Yearlings 339p 7,10,12,13,16,17,19,21,26,30,31,35,48,51,52,54
55,56,57,62,72,77,78,...
La Souterrainre
577Km Old 351p 1,2,3,6,8,10,11,18,21,28,30,37,50,57,59,65,...

1361p 1,2,5,16,21,26,29,50,58,87,95,113,136,144,151
164,...

National 3096p 1,4,8,36,52,73,81,...

Nat. Zone C 1564p 1,2,5,18,29,38,41,70,80,117,124,152,...

Youngsters 848p 5,6,13,20,34,53,58,74,83,90,92,93,97,...
Vichy - Prov
537Km 273p 1,2,3,7,11,12,23,39,66,71,75

National 2460p 1,2,9,26,45,46,47,...

Youngsters 269p 2,3,6,11,13,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,31,34,42
48,51,53,67,...

National 11296p 12,30,71,...

To score into the top one week after another with the SAME PIGEONS is only for those that work very hard on their quality pigeons.

Some tips of a master:

Observe the birds when they take a bath, "the sooner they dry up afterwards, the better their condition".
Make sure that the pigeons feel very well on the loft and give them whatever they need.
Pay attention that they receive good food, find out what they like and then give it whenever they need it.
Try and get to know your birds, see them as an individual pet, make sure you have a good relationship with them and they will thank you by scoring well.
Put them on a good loft, a good environment and of course good pigeons are at the base of a successful colony.
Work on their resistance.
This is another important aspect in our sport. It all starts with a good breeding and this can better be done with pigeons with a good pedigree, the more winners the more chance of success. Nevertheless the pigeons have to be healthy and in good condition and then you can breed out of them for as much as possible. When you breed many youngsters means you can select better too. The ones that don't grow up the way you want, can be eliminated. At the moment that the young ones are weaned, they all get a Spartrix and an Appertex and soon after they will be vaccinated against Paramyxo and then against Paratyphys and at last against the pocks. At the beginning they get a lot of Bio- and Vita-pigeon in their drinking water, which is good to reinforce their resistance. After this the drilling period starts and according to Michel you can learn these young ones a lot and he thinks it's a very important aspect of the sport. So the education of the young birds get a lot of attention. They are called inside according to the Taiwanese tradition with a stick, a system with which you don't loose a lot of time afterwards. The pigeons will hardly ever be mistaken on which loft they have to enter and when Michel is not at home his wife will take over. The pigeons are on the loft on colours; the blue with the blue ones, the chequered with the chequered pigeons. By this way you can immediately notice when a bird entered the wrong section. All little details but important because these things all together are the key to success.

Many top-pigeons.
A summary of some toppers shows us that this little colony owns many racers of great class.

1141081-03 Amos

Directly Willem De Bruijn
Sire: NL.2286405-96 - " JAAP " Best young pigeon Who has
Them Better '96
Gr.V. : NL. 94-1431036 The Wit - base son of the 340 Star-breeder with 16th Ace youngsters WHZB '93 (Who Has Them Better)
Gr.M. : NL. 94-1431029 De Wit Brothers 16th youngsters WHZB '94 - daughter of the Griekspoor with the 13th Ace youngsters WHZB '93
Dam: NL. 96-1395065 L.Wouda, 7 Nat. Orleans NPO
Gr.S. : NL. 92 - 2008521 The 21 of Hiddinga Crucke x Voets
Gr.D : NL. 93-4246105 The 105 Wouda

Super racer that already scored with 4/4 on the national flights:
2003
312 Bourges 1.414 p.
6.679 Nat. 45.684 p.
46 TOURY 661 p.
106 ARGENTON 629 p.
5 LA SOUTERRAINE 130 p.
68 Nat. C. 4.003 p.
17 Sens 159 p.
81 Vichy 561 p.
422 Nat. C. 2.980 p.
2004
9 BLOIS 254 p.
6 CHATEAUROUX 492 p.
10 CHATEAUROUX 903 p.
7 MONTLUCON 237 p.
39 La Souterraine 171 p.
1 ARGENTON 161 p.
1 Obrafo 380 p.
1 Prov. 1.310 p.
1 S/Nat. 6924p

03 - 1141091 Chequered cock

Sire: NL. 02-1654908 St. van Breemen
Gr.S. : NL. 00-1676212 St. Van Breemen son Olympic Yearling x Nicole
Gr.D. : NL. 00-1676204 St. Van Breemen daughter of the Vliegenvanger (Fly-catcher) with Thea
Dam: NL. 02-1641267 W. De Bruijn
Gr.S. : NL. 97-1529558 Moos, 9th Ace WHZB '99 son of Bram, 5th Ace WHZB '97 x 11th As WHZB '96
Gr.D : NL.98-1222843 - 2nd Ace youngsters WHZB '98 <P> daughter of the 654 C. de Heide with the 727 hen, 2nd Ace WHZB '97 - 9th Ace '96

Also this beautiful cock scored with 4 prizes on 4 flights on the nationals:
2003
90 TOURY 1.300 p.
3.812 BOURGES NAT. 45.684 p.
903 Argenton 4.723 p.
69 Sens 514 p.
584 La Souterraine 4.003 p.
5 VICHY 561 p.
16 Nat. C. 2.980 p.
2004
36 Laon 333 p.
33 SOISSONS 584 p.
74 PITHIVIERS 1.070 p.
13 TOURY 977 p.
12 BOURGES 346 p.
2 CHATEAUROUX 472 p.
4 CHATEAUROUX 903 p.
14 MONTLUCON 237 p.
5 LA SOUTERRAINE 171 p.
5 ARGENTON 1.310 p.
3 LIMOGES 159 p.
39 Toury 466p
56 Toury 264p
26 Argenton 1445p
57 Bourges 339p
18 La Souterraine 351p

NL. 1141102-03 Chequered white feathered hen

Sire: NL. 96-2667850 W. De Bruijn son of the Best cock WHZB '95 (out of the best cock WHZB '93 x Best young bird WHZB '92 ) x High Society hen - string Janssen Klak - De Wit
Dam: NL. 96 - 2286554 The Nationaaltje W.De Bruijn <P> Super hen out of the 366 De Wit Brothers with the 205 St. Van Breemen out of Fijnen x Jessica

A top-hen with already 10 little long distance races on her prize list. The most important prizes are:
1 MONTLUCON 237 p.
4 VIERZON 231 p.
4 BOURGES 346 p.
8 ARGENTON 1.310 p.
9 CHATEAUROUX 903 p.
11 LA SOUTERRAINE 171 p.
23 TOURY 595 p.
59 PITHIVIERS 1.742 p.
4 Toury 466p
109 Bourges 4372p
333 Argenton 1445p
31 Bourges 331p
28 La Souterraine 351p

NL. 03-1141093 Blue Crack - cock
2 x top 100 National as a young cock!!!!
Sire: NL. 00-1982146 W. De Bruijn
Gr.S. : NL. 96-2667849 Son Victory x High Society hen
Gr.M. : NL. 97-1529565 W. De Bruijn - 1 Ace Middle Distance daughter of 1 Ace Youngsters De Vredesduif with 12 Ace WHZB '94
Dam: NL. 01-1892446 De Bruijn
Gr.S. : NL. 97-1642277 Son Sissi Schaerlaeckens
Gr.M : NL. 98-1223048 W.De Bruijn - 14 Ace youngsters WHZB

A cock with a super prize list:
1 BOURGES 1.414 p.
5 Nat. C. 10.218 p.
15 NAT. 45.684 p.
3 LA SOUTERRAINE 306 p.
26 Nat. C. 4.003 p.
80 NAT. 13.988 p.
48 SENS 296 p.
74 TOURY 1.984 p.
66 TOURY 860 p.
27 LAON 282 p.
92 PITHIVIERS 1.070 p.
3 BOURGES 346 p.
12 CHATEAUROUX 472 p.
4 LA SOUTERRAINE 171 p.
62 Toury 466p
59 Bourges 824p
49 Toury 264p
5 Argenton 1445p
72 Bourges 339p

1141095-03 Blue 95 hen 3 x 1

Sire: NL. 02-1641446 W. De Bruijn
Gr.S. : NL. 99-2366587 9th Ace Youngsters WHZB '99
Gr.D. : NL. 00-1829099 Leo Van Rijn
Dam: NL. 02-1641360 W.De Bruijn
Gr.S. : 4108907-00 Gilbert Meire, 8th Ace WHZB '02 grandson Bourges
Gr.M : NL. 01 -1892402 Schaerlaeckens - De Bruijn

A wonderful hen with 3 first prizes during this season:
1 PITHIVIERS 1.070 p.
1 VIERZON 231 p.
1 BLOIS 254 p.
4 TOURY 977 p.
4 TOURY 769 p.
8 CHATEAUROUX 903 p.
8 SOISSONS 584 p.
11 BOURGES 174 p.
51 LA SOUTERRAINE Nat. C. 4.003 p.
1141112-03 BLue 112 - Anita - SUPER HEN

15 NAT. VICHY 11.448 p.
44 NAT. ARGENTON 17.129 p.
Sire: 4108907-00 GILBERT 8th WHZB '02
Gr.S. : 4300004-92 Gilbert Meire son Roste Verheye x Denterghem hen
Gr.D. : 4417961-97 Daughter Bourges Meire
Dam: NL. 01 - 1892402 Schaerlaeckens De Bruijn
Gr.S. : NL. 97-1642130 Zieke 2
Gr.D : NL. 97-1529565 Ace Middel Distance

A classy hen that won several super prizes as a youngster as well as a yearling bird:

2003
1 TOURY I/Prov 1.984 p.
1 ARGENTON 629 p.
2 Nat. C. 4.723 p.
44 NAT. 17.129 p.
5 VICHY 1.099 p.
15 NAT. 11.448 p.
2 BLOIS 254 p.
3 SOISSONS 584 p.
8 CHATEAUROUX 472 p.
8 BOURGES 346 p.
9 LAON 682 p.
13 PITHIVIERS 1.070 p.
23 VIERZON 231 p.
23 MONTLUCON 237 p.
32 SENS 514 p.
2.037 BOURGES NAT. 45.684 p.
4 Laon 282p
9 682p
3 Soissons 584p
13 Pithiviers 1070p
22 1742p
67 Toury 595p
23 Vierzon 231p
17 106p
8 Bourges 346p
2 Blois 254p
8 Chateauroux 472p
19 903p
23 Montlucon 237p
79 Argenton 380p
3 Toury 466p
9 Bourges 179p
17 353p
46 1567p
65 4372p
18 824p
41 Argenton 464p
57 1445p
7 Bourges 339p
3 107p
1 Vichy Local
1 Provincial
1 National 2460p
1 National hens

2101311-03 Bleu 311 hen - Herbots

Sire: 2214406-98 - Blue Sky 4x1 - Herbots Brothers
Gr.S. : 6145824-95 - 1 Nat. Ace Short Distance KBDB - 6x1
Gr.D. : 4225140-97 Daughter 1 Nat. Limoges Desmet A & P.
Dam: 2450284-97 Daughter 155 Herbots
Gr.S. : 6371155-91 den 155 Herbots Brothers Olympic cock
Gr.D : 6089872-91 Donkeroogje Schellens out of Brother National I

Another super hen with several prizes per ten:
3 MONTLUCON 237 p.
5 VIERZON 231 p.
9 CHATEAUROUX 472 p.
9 BOURGES 166 p.
12 PITHIVIERS 1.070 p.
15 LIMOGES 159 p.
17 BOURGES 174 p.
33 ARGENTON 1.310 p.
46 TOURY 977 p.
21 La Souterraine 171p
30 Toury 466p
110 Bourges 4372p
31 Toury 264p
6 Argenton 1445p
26 Bourges 339p
10 La Souterraine 351p

2101307-03 Blue 307 hen - Herbots
Sire: 2298074-00 Fijne Stroefel Herbots Brothers
Gr.S. : 2167280-96 The Fijne - Deno Herbots 1 Nat. Ace Long Distance BDS - 5 Nat. Ace Long Distance KBDB
Gr.D. : 2214404-98 Daughter Superprovincial her father won 4x1 Prov. - 4 , 8 Nat. at the loft of Herbots Brothers
Dam: 6438774-01 - 1 I.Prov. Lorris - Rayemaeckers hen
Gr.S. : 2338181-96 - 2x1
Gr.D: 6449455-98 Fluweeltje

Top-hen with top prize list:
1 LAON 682 p.
2 PITHIVIERS 1.070 p.
5 BOURGES 1.337 p.
35 NAT.C. 10.228 p.
80 NAT. 45.684 p
15 BOURGES 166 p.
16 TOURY 977 p.
16 VIERZON 231 p.
16 BOURGES 174 p.
27 TOURY 661 p.
45 VICHY 561 p.
65 Montlucon 237p
42 Argenton 380p
27 Toury 466p
36 Bourges 179p
8 Toury 264p
10 Bourges 339p
4 La Souterraine 351p
46 Vichy National 2460p

2266281-03 Blue white feathered cock Dekeyser Brothers Hever

Sire: 2352902-99 Van Eycken Robert Dhondt x Deveseleer
Dam: 2352910-99 Zwartje pure Driessens string Slimme 3x1 Prov.

A classy bird that made some explosions:
1 SENS 126 p.
2 BOURGES 346 p.
4 MONTLUCON 237 p.
4 LIMOGES 384 p.
5 PITHIVIERS 1.070 p.
6 TOURY 2.282 p.
6 BLOIS 254 p.
7 BOURGES 166 p.
20 ARGENTON 1.310 p.
29 SOISSONS 584 p
31 TOURY 1.984 p.
12 Pithiviers 1742p
2 Bourges 346p
18 Blois 2770p
7 Bourges 166p
15 Montlucon 879p
6 La Souterraine 171p
20 Argenton 1310p
7 Limoges 384p
20 Toury 1310p
31 Bourges 4372p
11 Toury 678p
17 Bourges 339p
45 Vichy National 2460p

" When you get the chance like Michel to receive such kind of top-birds in such little time, you should have such good freinds too. Of course he's also a specialist and he spends a lot of time among his feathered friends. Without any doubt we will find his name again among the top of the very best results and this as well on provincial, interprovincial as on national level."

Source : Hilaire Surinx