Pierre & Patrick Philippens (Fouron, Belgium) : 5 provincial victories 2007

Father and son Philippens are in Belgium well known because of winning the two first editions from the national time-trial from the Mont Ventoux (732 km) organized through “La Colombe Joyeuse”. The first year, in 2002, “Mont Ventoux I” won this national race with 1 hour and 7 minutes ahead. With a speed of 1097 meter/minute their pigeon was the only who exceeded the limit of 1000 meter/min. In 2003, the national time-trial was may be faster, but “Mont Ventoux II” still got 20 minutes ahead on the second prize winner. Both times, Pierre and Patrick sent only one pigeon and won € 25.000 the first year and € 17.000 the second year. After their two victories the organizer could close this interesting race, from which each minute a group of 3 pigeons were released.

Further, Pierre and Patrick got 5 Olympic pigeons during this last decade. “Tramontane” was best Belgian long-distance pigeon at the Olympiad of Blackpool ’99 and “Ben” was best Belgian short- and middle-distance pigeons at the Olympiad of Cape Town ’01. These two pigeons are now at the basis of their successes. Further, they got 3 Olympic pigeons in the standard class: 2 in Porto ’05 and 1 in Oostende ’07.

From 1996, Pierre and Patrick were 8 times Provincial General Champion K.B.D.B. (Belgian Federation) against 2,500 till 1,500 members. In 2005, they even were 2^nd National General Champion K.B.D.B.

During the extremely difficult racing season 2007 father and son Philippens won next to different victories on different distances 5 provincial races from Nevers (460 km), Irun (1003 km), Perpignan (920 km), Argenton (558 km) and La Souterraine (593 km)!

1^st prov. Nevers (460 km) and fastest from 5,193 pigeons

During the very difficult weekend from 19 and 20 May “Flori Ben”, 1003429/2003, won the 1^st prize provincial with 6 minutes ahead from 3,460 old birds. On interprovincial level, he also was the fastest from 5.193 old birds and yearlings with 6 minutes ahead. This race was very difficult for most fanciers, but Pierre and Patrick clocked 20 old birds in racing time from 25 sent and before night all pigeons returned.

“Flori Ben” is a son from “Ben”, 1^st Belgian Olympic pigeon short- and middle-distance, paired with a daughter from “Tramontane”, 1^st Belgian Olympic pigeon long-distance. “Flori Ben” was before this race already one of the top-pigeons from the loft. He won already in 2005 the 3^rd prov. Orléans (1.066 p.) and the 3^rd C.F.W. (3.714 p.) and the 11^th nat. Bourges (9.893 p.), after his uncle “Bourges” who won the 2^nd national and who won this year the 3^rd prov. Bourges and 1^st prov. La Souterraine (see later). These two cocks were in 2005 2^nd and 3^rd ace-pigeon “De Belgische Duivensport” on the middle-distance.

1^st prov. and 1^st interprov. Irun (1003 km) from 1,856 pigeons

Father and son Philippens prefer to basket small teams on the long-distance. In 2007, they sent in total 37 pigeons on the long-distance and won 26 prizes, mostly in the top. This year, they sent only once 2 pigeons on a race from Spain, namely on Irun from the 22^nd of July. Both pigeons won within 10%. The first pigeon to arrive from this race of 1003 km was “Red Papa”, 5128777/02, winning the 1^st prize interprovincial against 1,856 pigeons, the 3^rd national and the 7^th prize international from 15,627 pigeons. The second pigeon arrived when it was almost night at 10 h. 22 p.m. winning the 1180^th prize international.

The winning pigeon, 5128777/2002, is a crossing from a son of “Tramontane” x daughter of “Nocturne” Mornard. This “Nocturne” won following national prizes: 5^th, 24^th, 127^th Narbonne and 50^th Cahors. “Nocture” was paired with a daughter of “Little Brive”, 15^th nat. Brive, 18^th nat. Barcelona and 24^th nat. Perpignan.

Because of the fact that “Red Papa” was the first Belgian first nominated pigeon from Irun, Pierre and Patrick the Grand Prix from H.M. King Albert II.

A son from 1^st prov. Irun won 3 weeks earlier – also as 1^st nominated pigeon from 2 – the 2^nd prov./446 p. Bordeaux (805 km) and the 20^th prize international against 7.738 yearlings. This yearling confirmed afterwards with the 9^th prov./337 p. Tulle (650 km).

1^st prov. and 1^st interprov. Perpignan (920 km) from 364 pigeons

From Perpignan (920 km) the 1^st nominated pigeon (from 2) from Philippens also won a top-prize. In the eastern part of Belgian few pigeons came home on the day. The “Perpignan”, 1020409/2004, arrived at 9.09 p.m. and won the 1^st prize provincial and will win on international level around the 60^th prize from more than 15.000 pigeons. On the record-list from “Perpignan” we find 6 prizes on the long-distance (from 6 races), from which 5 within first 10%.

The “Perpignan”, has an excellent pedigree with almost all key-pigeons from Philippens. His father is “Mont Ventoux I”, 5070199/2000, 1^st nat. Mont Ventoux ‘02, but also 1^st Indép. Liège Nevers and 1^st Indép. Liège Pithiviers. Remember that he was put already on the breeding loft on the age of 2 year. “Mont Ventoux II” is now father from 3 provincial winners: 1^st prov. La Souterraine ’04, 1^st prov. Orléans (and fastest from 4.795 p.) and now 1^st prov. Perpignan. Remember that “Mont Ventoux I” is son from “Tramontane”, 1^st Olympic-pigeon and basic pigeon from Philippens. “Tramontane” is inbreeding towards the “Bordeaux” Philippens (out of son x grand-daughter). The “Bordeaux” is one of the best long-distance pigeons in history winning 4^th, 14^th, 19^th nat. St.-Vincent, 9^th and 31^st nat. Pau, 21^st nat. Perpignan (from only 6 races above 900 km!) and 8^th internat. Bordeaux.

Mother from “Perpignan” is the “Little Poulidor”, 2^nd prov. La Souterraine and 5^th prov. St.-Vincent, always behind a loft-mate (and always only 3 pigeons sent). “Little Poulidor” is daughter from “Little Bordeaux”, 5019145/1997, who won for Philippens the 1^st interprov. (1.404 p.) and 3^rd internat. (7.404 p.) Bordeaux (805 km) and the 1^st interprov. (1.380 p.) and 2^nd nat. (6.522 p.) Béziers (850 km). In his pedigree we find 3 times “Bordeaux”.

Interesting to know is that Pierre and Patrick only participated only to 4 international races:  Bordeaux, Irun, Perpignan and Narbonne.

They sent 3 pigeons to Narbonne (870 km) and won on national level against 5,051 pigeons: 79, 162 and 268. The winning pigeons were one son from “Mont Ventoux I” and two sons from “Mont Ventoux II”.

From international Bordeaux they also basketed 3 old birds winning: 572, 1749 and 1757 from 7.252 old birds. This means that they scored on the international races 10 prizes from 12 pigeons sent and from which 8 were within 10%.

1^st and 2^nd prov. Argenton (558 km)

A week later, Pierre and Patrick Philippens won their fourth provincial race from the season. This time against 183 yearlings from Argenton. They sent only 4 yearlings and won with the two first nominated pigeons the first two prizes, while their two other yearlings won the 13^th and 14^th.

The winning yearling is a pure Noël Peiren who won in 2007 4 prizes from 5 races above 450 km. The 2^nd prize winner is a product from the basic lines from Philippens. Father is a grand-son from “Tramontane” (this grand-son won himself 1^st Melun and 1^st Sens) and the mother is a half-sister from “Ben” and “Bourges” (this half-sister won herself 3^rd prov. Nevers and 3^rd prov. Argenton as youngster).

The 2^nd prov. Argenton won this year also 1^st Melun, 1^st Bourges (9^th prov.) and 2^nd Gien.

1^st prov. and 1^st interprov. La Souterraine (593 km) from 383 pigeons

At the end of the racing season there are of course less participating pigeons. End of August, “Bourges” seemed to be in top-condition. Within one week, he won the 3^rd prize provincial against 364 old birds and the 1^st provincial and 1^st interprov. La Souterraine against 383 old birds.

Below a short summary of his top-results:

- 1^st prov., 1^st C.W.F. (3.714 p.) and 2^nd nat. Bourges ’05,

- 1^st interprov. LNL (331 p.) Argenton ’05,

- 1^st reg. Bourges ’06,

- 3^rd prov. (364 p.) Bourges ’07,

- 1^st prov. and 1^st interprov. LNL (383 p.) La Souterraine ’07,

- 2^nd Belgian Selection allround West-European Nation Cup Dortmund ’06 (before 2 other pigeons from father and son Philippens),

- Olympic-pigeon standard Oostende ‘07.

On the photo only his prizes 2004 and 2005 (without duplications).

 “Bourges” is son from “Gaby” (a pure Vandenabeele and also father from “Ben”) paired with a daughter from “Tramontane”.

21 provincial victories since 2001

Philippens won already 37 provincial victories from which 21 since 2001. A summary:

2001 : Argenton, La Souterraine and Béziers (2^nd nat.)

2002 : La Châtre and La Souterraine

2003 : Argenton and La Souterraine

2004 : Bourges, La Souterraine, Limoges and Jarnac

2005 : Bourges (2^nd nat.) and Argenton

2006 : Orléans, Bourges and La Souterraine

2007 : Nevers, Irun (3^rd nat.), Perpignan, Argenton and La Souterraine

Top-results 2007 on all distances

06/5, Orléans (422 km): 875 old birds: 2, 9, 27, 55, 56, 91, 107, 167, 168, 181, 185, 195, 248, 250, 252, 257, 270 (17 prizes/25 pigeons)

19/5, Nevers (460 km): 1.166 old birds: 1, 25, 26, 29, 37, 42, 57, 71, 85, 95, 130, 165, 166, 167, 168, 202, 245, 280, 299, 383 (20/25) – highest speed 5.193 pigeons!

02/6, Salbris (459 km): 288 old birds: 2, 3, 8, 22, 25, 33, 41, 48, 52, 58, 66, 67, 69, 80 (14/16)

30/6, Bordeaux (805 km): 446 yearlings: 2 (1/2) – 20^th internat. 7.738 p.

14/7, Siegen (Germany, 157 km): 148 old birds: 1, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 19, 20, 24, 26, 27, 32, 33, 34, 39, 48 (16/19)

14/7, Siegen (Germany, 157 km): 198 yearlings: 1, 2, 5, 7, 11, 14, 16, 19, 20, 37, 40, 43, 48, 49 (14/17)

22/7, Irun (Spain, 1003 km): 1.856 old birds: 1, 185 (2/2) – 7^th internat. 15.627 p.

30/7, Melun (319 km): 458 youngsters: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 13, 17, 36, 37, 39, 42, 45, 87, 94, 98, 99, 131 (17/25)

04/8, Perpignan (920 km): 364 old birds: 1 (1/2) – 60^th internat. 15.000 p.

05/8, Pithiviers (385 km): 266 youngsters: 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 31, 34, 41, 61, 65, 72, 86 (15/24)

13/8, Argenton (558 km): 183 yearlings: 1, 2, 13, 14 (4/4)

25/8, La Souterraine (593 km): 383 old birds: 1 (1/2)