On Saturday, May 27, 2023, at 8 a.m., the Belgian middle-distance classic Bourges took place
started with a total of 39,804 pigeons (21,075 birds and 18,729 yearlings) in light cloud, a northeast wind and good visibility.
This tough race against the wind should separate the wheat from the chaff!
The top loft Freddy & Jacques Vandenheede from Zingem in East Flanders win the 1st national prize in the old birds and in the yearlings. Well done!
In the 18,729 yearlings, the first four pigeons were very very close together, so I would like to briefly introduce the second, third and fourth national yearlings:
The 2nd national yearling (18,729 pigeons) was won by Jan Pappens from Hundelgem in East Flanders over a distance of 423.387 km. Jan recorded his yearling hen B22-4004774 at 1:52:33 p.m. at a speed of 1,201.21 meters/min. thus also the 4th fastest pigeon from the entire field of 39,804 pigeons!
The 3rd national yearling (18,729 pigeons) was won by Rudy Schaekels & Matthias De Loecker from St.K.Lennik (province of Brabant) over a distance of 424.689 km. Rudy & Mathijs
recorded their yearling hen B22-2013005 at 13:53:41 with a speed of 1,200.82 meters/min. thus also the 6th fastest pigeon from the entire field of participants
from 39,804 pigeons!
The 4th national yearling (18,729 pigeons) was won by Tom Van Den Berge from Meerbeke in East Flanders at a distance of
422.251 meters/min. Tom clocked his yearling hen B-22-2006029 at 1:51:47 p.m. at a speed of 1,200.60 meters/min. thus also
the 7th fastest pigeon from the entire field of 39,804 pigeons. The 35-year-old Tom only started racing pigeons in Meerbeke
three years ago, including with four hens from Jan Pappens! Tom was totally surprised with his top placing.
Tom was only able to show the paternal grandfather's lineage when I visited. The mother of the 4th National bought Tom as a
voucher from Geert Van Roy (brother of the famous Koen Van Roy). To this Tom: "First I have to calm down the pedigree of the
4th National Bourges do it and then send it through to Amazing Wings."
Team Amazing Wings congratulates Jan Pappens, Rudy & Mathijs and Tom Van Den Berge on
these great performances on the difficult national flight Bourges!