GUSTAAF & JAN THE BISHOP (ASSE)
1st NATIONAL ACE KBDB ALL-ROUND 2019
Asse: For this report we visit the winner of the 1st National ace KBDB All-round 2019. To win this race bird title you need to have a top pigeon that meets the following criteria of the KBDB: “The national ace pigeon title all-round will be contested with the same pigeon (old or yearling) on 5 races (prizes per 10 races) either: 1 race long distance (to be chosen from the international races), 2 races long distance (to be chosen from the 10 national races) and 2 races long distance (to be chosen from the 7 national races).
Not an easy task but the hen “Allround Blacky” of father Gustaaf and son Jan De Bisschop succeeded with great distinction and was allowed to write this national ace pigeon title on her record of achievements.
FROM SPEED TO NATIONAL RACES
Father Gustaaf went as a driver to basket the pigeons with neighbor Arthur Van de Winckel and so he got infected with the pigeon microbe. He started with pigeons in 1976 and the first birds came from Arthur and from Arthur’s brother-in-law Frans. At that time only short distance was raced. Jan was then a little boy of 10 years old and already helped his father on the loft.
When Jan was 18 years old, he was taking over from his father and invested in birds from speed champion Jozef Debbaut from Baasrode and from Jef Vandenbrande, Hamme. A few years later also pigeons from Marcelleke Van den Broeck, Wolvertem were added. This was a fantastic short distance champion and Jan learned a lot from him and he can be considered as his mentor.
Gustaaf and Jan raced on the short distance until 2012 or until they were excluded almost everywhere at the short distance clubs. Then they switched to the middle and great middle-distance races with pigeons of Louis Van den Eynde, Brussegem. In 2011 they had already bought a round late bred by Louis.
Later they got pigeons from Erik Limbourg, Brussegem. The “The Erik” B14/2151299, a pigeon of Limbourg, became father of “Bliksy Argenton” B16/2031091 who won 1st Nat. Argenton 22,712b. and who was the fastest of 35,844b. There was also co-breeding with Erik Limbourg. Erik had bought “De Jan” from De Bisschop and Gustaaf and Jan got back a pair of eggs from this top cock and one of those children became “The Gilbert I” B14/2273299 who became grandfather of the 1st national ace Allround.
At Gino Clicque, Wevelgem 10 pigeons were bought. Later another 10 pigeons were bought together with Yanick Deridder, Liedekerke at an internet sale.
The base of the colony is now formed with 50% birds from the old base with another 50% pigeons from Louis Van den Eynde, Erik Limbourg and Gino Clicque.
In the breeding loft sometimes, dense inbreeding is done with the best pigeons. A strict selection must steer the family breeding in the right direction.
A top pair is undoubtedly “Hannibal” B09/2131167 x “Super Lightning III” B11/2002594.
They became the parents of:
“Lightning Blacky I” B14/4473142. She became 1st Best Belgian Yearling Great Middle Distance (7 KBDB races) 2015, 1st Best Belgian Yearling Great Middle Distance (6 KBDB races) 2015, 8th Nat. ace pigeon Great Middle-Distance Yearlings KBDB 2015.
“Lightning Blacky II” B14/4473078. She became 1st Prov. ace pigeon Grand Middle-Distance Yearlings KBDB 2015, 7th Best Belgian Yearling Grand Middle Distance (7 races) 2015, 11th Best Belgian Yearling Grand Middle Distance (6 races) 2015, 14th Nat. ace pigeon Grand Middle-Distance Yearlings KBDB 2015.
“Lightning Blacky III” B17/2033058. She won 12th Nat. Bourges 19133 b, 1st prov. Chateauroux 1086b, 6th prov. Blois 1408b, 4th prov. Guéret 497b, 116 Nat. Chateauroux 12150b, 7th Noyon 394b, 30th prov. Vierzon 1628b, etc.
“Lightning Blacky IV” B17/2033214. She won 3rd Chevrainvilliers 2655b, 44th Nat. Bourges 19133b, 5th prov. Blois 1408b, 209 Nat. Chateauroux 27081b, 13th prov. Guéret 497b, 40th Chevrainvilliers 1110b.
Another top couple is “The Erik” B14/2151299 x “Sister New Lightning” B14/2273253.
They became the parents of:
“Bliksy Argenton” B16/2031091 with 1st Nat. Argenton 22,712b and fastest of 35,844b
“Lightning 92” B16/2031092 with 7th Nat. Bourges 12447b, 9th Interprov. Souppes 2267b, 11th Interprov. Chevrainvilliers 2896b, 66th Nat. zone Bourges 8989b, 166th Nat. Argenton 19,592b.
Another top pair is “Rudy Argentina” B16/3107582 x “Sister Hanna” B14/2273048.
They became the parents of B17/2033143. They became Best Yearling of Belgium Great Middle Distance (6 races) 2018, 2nd Best Yearling of Belgium Great Middle Distance (7 races) 2018, 2nd Best Yearling of Belgium Great Middle Distance (5 races) 2018, 8th Nat. ace pigeon Great Middle Distance Yearlings KBDB 2018.
Another successful pair is “The Gilbert I” B14/2273299 x “Lightning Blacky II” B14/4473078.
They became the parents of “Black Lightning Ace” B16/2031177. He became 7th Nat. ace Fond Jaarlingen KBDB 2017. He won 1st Nat. Zone Limoges 3197 d /11e Nat. 10554b, 3rd Prov. Tulle 469b. /55th Nat 9578b. He became sire of “All Round Blacky” or the 1st National ace Allround KBDB 2019.
Only with yearlings
Due to the sale of their yearling team at the end of 2018, it was not possible to race with old pigeons in 2019, therefore only a team of 30 year old hens was ready with only 8 ladies who actually had experience on the national races. The later national all-round ace pigeon had flown 3 national races as a youngster, so she had a lot of experience on her counter.
The start of the season was very difficult. The first short distance race had an irresponsible release and Gustaaf and Jan lost no less than 10 hens. Also, on the first national flight from Vierzon some hens were lost. But our champions didn’t let go of their courage and brought the other hens back in line and finished another great season.
During the winter period the hens can only enjoy an aviary in front of the loft and there is no thought of breeding. They only come together with their partners at the beginning of April and then they breed for 18 days, this nest is then broken off and the widowhood can begin. The ladies stay in the “resting loft” where only perches are at the wall. The floor is equipped with a roll system (see picture) so it is impossible to sit together on the floor. During the “tossing period” they will drive up to 30km and then they will go to Quievrain (75km). During the season the hens train twice a day with a lot of enthusiasm. They stay the whole week in the “resting loft” and don’t come to the breeding loft. It is only fifteen minutes before basketing that they are allowed to see their cocks, after the flight they stay together until the day after. “
The national ace “All Round”
Jan: “The plan was to play with the yearlings only the heavy half distance (500km flights) but because the team wasn’t that big anymore, I decided to race “Allround Blacky” on the long-distance flights. She did not disappoint us and classified herself nicely on the races out Aurillac and Limoges. No wonder that my later national ace could handle these distances perfectly because her father also proved his class on those long-distance races and on the mother’s side it’s also pure long-distance blood that flows through the veins. Because she had a chance to win the national ace All Round title, I made her ready for Narbonne. I had already noticed that she was a very adrift pigeon which always had 3 boxes with each time a different partner. She always took those 3 boxes on basketing day and on arrival day. Because Narbonne had to become the icing on the cake, I let her for Narbonne together with all the cocks on the racing loft and she let herself be courted like a princess. However, I was scared for a moment because from the last morning training before the basketing of Narbonne she stayed away from home for several hours and only came back home at 2pm in the afternoon. Was this a sign of form? Apparently, it was…
BE 2005138-18 “ALL ROUND BLACKY”
1ST National Ace All Round KBDB 2019
2 ARGENTON 336b. – 25 PROV 1,940b. – 323 NAT 22,826b.
4 PROV NARBONNE 507b. (870km) – 86 NAT 3,580b.
5 AURILLAC 133b – 42 NAT (z) 1,009b. – 114 NAT 3,584b.
6 BOURGES 680b. (444km) – 154 NAT (z) 6,524b.
7 NOYON 1,446b.
9 NOYON 2,265b.
11 LIMOGES 908b. (636km) – 20 NAT (z) 3,418b. – 153 NAT 10,783b.
Father : 2031177/2016 “Black Lightning Ace”
7th National ace KBDB 2017
Won a.o. 1 Wet (z) Limoges 3,197d – 14 Wet (z) Tulle 2,627d
Son of “299/14” Gilbert I Erik Limbourg x “078/14” Lightning Blacky II – 1 Prov ace KBDB ’15 and daughter golden Couple
Mother: 3031941/2013 Orig. Gino Clicque
Mother of “Gabriella” 1 I. Nat (hens) Agen 2016 – 6 I. Nat 9,043b.
Daughter of “754/12” Son Pirate x “960/08” Daughter Bijter
New loft for the youngsters
Jan continues: “The young pigeon team was 300 units strong and these were weaned on a new loft (build winter 2018). The new loft is a deep loft with a corridor in front of it and before that large aviaries that are completely closed. The front is shielded with windbreak netting and the pigeons themselves come in along the roof of the aviary. The roof itself is insulated and during the day, they have the choice between sitting inside the loft or in the aviary, but it’s striking that they spend most of the time in the aviary. All youngsters were darkened from the beginning of April to 21 June from 18h in the evening until 8h in the morning. From the longest day, they were lighted until the end of the season from 5.30 a.m. till 11 p.m.
The young birds are more tossed then the yearlings and in fact I’m reassured when they leave like a spear out of an arch at the release point and are at home before me. Only then they are really on the move and I can think of “going to the races”. The sexes stayed together until 14 days before Bourges national (1st Weekend of August) but because they didn’t have enough “preparation kilometers” in their wings, they were not basketed for Bourges national and Chateauroux national (the week after Bourges). So, they flew 3x Noyon (175km), 2x half distance (350km) and then 50% of my present youngsters went to Argenton national (530km) and Chateauroux national (500km) to give them some more experience.
Care
“The pigeons fly here every week and that’s why I mainly rely on my fixed schedule which ensures a quick recovery and sufficient energy build-up towards the next race.
Homecoming (Saturday): feed: “Breeding Flanders Finest” with “Boost” in the drinking water.
Sunday: 100% “Light Plus Flanders Finest” with “TurboXcell” on the feed and Tollyamin Forte (Schroeder/Tollisan) in the drinking water.
Monday: 50% “Light Plus Flanders Finest” and 50% “Finish” (Sport) with “TurboXcell”, “Biovamine”, “Optima Forma” and “Condition powder” of Dr. Norbert Peeters and Tollyamin Forte in the drinking water.
Tuesday: 100% “Finish” (Sport)
Wednesday: 100% “Finish” (Sport) with “TurboXcell” on the feed together with “Condition powder” from Norbert Peeters and “Hepasan” (Pro Bel Fly) in the drinking water.
Thursday (basketing): same food as Wednesday but pure drinking water
On medical level, the veterinarian comes every 14 days for a check-up. Before the start of the racing season, the racers are cured against trichomoniase. During the season, 2 times a tricho infection was detected and all pigeons were treated individually. No… here no famous “yellow drops”… I don’t have the best experience with it. Just the same pattern for the respiratory, the pigeons are treated in spring and in the season when it is necessary.
Selection in hand
“When we used to play short distance, the selection was much stricter than it is now. Only the birds that won several times 1/10 were allowed to stay. We tried the same selection method on the great middle-distance races but got rid of that because the best youngsters aren’t always the best as yearlings. We now select the young birds in the hand and on the pedigree. We like a pigeon from the middle size with a soft feather and which has well closed ventbones. The eye is of no importance, but a beautiful pedigree does appeal to us. A pigeon with a successful career as a racing pigeon goes to the breeding loft. After 2 to 3 years there must be proof of good breeding otherwise, she or he has to leave. The pigeons of Gino Clicque have all gone directly to the breeding loft. They also get a “trial period” of 3 years with different cocks and hens.
Before the breeding season starts, all breeders are 10 days treated against paratyphoid with Cosumix. After that the pigeons are vaccinated. In the first place we pair “good x good” but we also do compensation breeding of “large x small”. Eye and wing play no role although we always try to pair a white-eye with a yellow-eye”.
National ace pigeons and championship titles KBDB 2017-2019
1st National Champion KBDB big half year 2018
1st National Argenton 22,712d. – fastest of 35.844d.
1st National ace all round KBDB 2019
7th National ace large half-distance ace KBDB 2017
8th National ace large half-distance ace KBDB 2018
Loft
Winner
