A great 2020 season…

Over the last few years, Rik Cools and I have become friends. i learned Rik and his wife Mieke know better when we spent time together in China spent. Since we both don't like hiking very much, we had something Time to talk about our beloved sport. It clicked and I think our readers should learn more from Rik Cools' 2020 season Experienced.

Rik, how do you rate the 2020 racing season?

The season went pretty well here, both for veterans and juniors in the young birds. Especially the team of the yearlings did very well cut off. It's a pity that we often had westerly winds and it was for that reason the province of West Flanders was much more difficult in the national top to score. I'm pretty happy with the old and the young pigeons and also very happy with my yearling team.
At the provincial level, Rik did well in a national release to achieve results. On July 4th, Châteauroux (485 km) – around 5,555 pigeons: 1°; 30° etc. On July 25 from La Souterraine (552 km) – with 14 Pigeons in competition 11 prizes: 4, 27, 34, 55, 61, …

Because of Corona, the season started later, so the races were a lot followed each other more quickly and thus also the recovery phases were shorter. When the pigeons returned to the loft from the competition, Rik continued using Bt-amine and guts (glucose) to get the birds recovered quickly enough. In addition, they often received Avidress Plus and lightning shape. In the spring, the team was up to the point at which they were able to enter France, blacked out. As a result, they stayed a lot better in plumage and were able to complete the season without any problems.

Expecting the late start

The best come from my own ancient tribe; from the line of the basic pair Schone Bliksem x Emma (2×4° provincial As-Pigeon-KBDB), Marieke BE-08-3037512, who won as a youngster 1st Guéret 5166 pigeons – 1st Blois 362 pigeons – 14th Prov. 5035 pigeons - 3rd Bourges 336 pigeons etc. In 2008 she was probably the best youngster in Belgium.
BE-11-3073298, Christa, super travel hen - Best Belgian pigeon over four national races in 2012 and Best Belgian pigeon over six national races in 2013.
There are currently several females among the old and yearlings who are among the top: BE18-3030070 “Loes” – granddaughter of “Sister Marieke” – the BE19-3041133 “Elise” – (she won six times 1/10 in the heavy middle distance ).
The best cub of 2020 was BE20-3106459 "Fientje" - tribe "Emma".

2020 will be remembered around the world as a year when everyone had to cut down and no one thought anything like that could happen. Nevertheless: adjustments and changes had to be made be made. Our pigeon sport was not spared either. Nobody knew when we could start racing again and still we had to prepare for a possible start and a possibly act backwards.

The animals are selected year after year and always take part in races of more than 400 km. This already gives me a good selection. In addition, one should not underestimate the winter period: even then, the breeder must look after his feathered friends as well as possible so that they become resilient. Sometimes fellow breeders laugh about it, but that's when winners are made. The females stay in an open aviary because this is where moulting is all about; a good moult mix, small oily seeds, Taubengold regularly in the drinking water and Hessechol and Pavifac in the feed.
You have to make sure that they start in super condition. I also exchange a few pigeons with my friend Chris De Backer every year and it's still a success. This way I get pigeons back from my own old base but with freshened blood.

training and supply

I always stick to a pretty strict schedule; training only at home, twice a day for 45 minutes. For the weekly workout the females are never driven away by car. Otherwise I respect ensure that the system is strictly enforced. At the beginning of the week the animals always receive a light mixture. Towards the end of the week This is achieved through the addition of energy oil and high-fat seeds (peanuts and sunflower seeds) richer. In addition, I try limit the use of drugs, as these are only one have a short-term effect and tend to be detrimental in the long-term. Of course, the pigeons are treated when the veterinarian decides deemed necessary. I just play my females and use this one system for more than twelve years. If the pigeons after the flight return, they receive Avipharm (electrolytes) and Mumm (glucose and vitamin C) and after a short time they have already recovered. In the following days they get Avidress Plus that the pigeons before protects against various infections. The preparation holds them much easier healthy and also has a positive effect on digestion. Once the birds used to it, they drink it with no problem. This product will also given to the breeding loft all year round. In the following days I alternately administer Gervit-W one week and the other week Bt-Amin forte (vitamins and amino acids) and sometimes a whole week lightning shape. An extra shot of iodine can sometimes work wonders and there are beautiful clean throats and white noses. During the travel season I feed Carni-Speed ​​daily, a product that ensures that the Animals recover quickly and build up energy reserves much faster.

What would you like to tell our readers?

“Try playing the short tracks first, and if that works, you can try out longer tracks. To keep the birds healthy, I use Röhnfried products, which I have sworn by for a number of years. This company moves with the times and is often the first to bring something new to the market. In addition, these are always products that have already been tested in other lofts and therefore have my complete trust. These products give vitality, pink breasts and white noses - all criteria that show that the pigeons are healthy and that is the most important thing."

Successes

2020

14/06, Arras (92 km) – 337 Legs: 1, 4, 5, 10, 15, 16, 18, ...(55/112)
04/07, Fontenay (324 km) – 3374 pigeons : 6, 9, 46, 75, 86, 139, … (23/41)
04/07, Châteauroux (485 km) – 5555 pigeons : 1, 30, 118, 119, 140, (12/19)
25/07, Blois (412 km) – 5474 pigeons : 2, 64, 71, 99, 103, 150 (18/45)
25/07, La Souterraine (552 km) – 2484 pigeons : 4, 27, 34, 55, 61, (11/14)
01/08, Blois (412 km) – 6042 pigeons: 7, 41, 64, 157, (11/24)
14/08, Pontoise (235 km) – 526 pigeons: 1, 10, 12, 15, 25, 26, (12/15)

2018

1st and 2nd Interprovincial Châteauroux
against 2,714 pigeons

A pure Cools pigeon flies at Chris Debacker
1st Nat. Gueret against 8,493 yearlings.

Contact info

+32 51 688793
rikcools@outlook.com
Belgium