Maastricht: A few kilometers from the Belgian border, near the Vroenhoven Bridge across the Tongerseweg River, Roger and his late father, Harry Wijnands, amazed the pigeon world with the results of the marathon competitions. They have won everything they can win in pigeon sport, but what impresses everyone is the sympathy and good mood that these two people radiate around them. They did everything to reach the top of the hierarchy, they left nothing to chance and in pigeon sport they always wore the label of players.

It all started in the 70s, the goal being since then the long distance stages, with participation only in cross-country and marathon competitions, each week the distance increasing. The first pigeons came from Poismans, a former Maastricht champion, and the Kusters brothers. The aviaries were placed in the barns of the farm, resulting in a farm inside another farm. Abundant ventilation and ample space.

Up in the attic are the compartments of the flying pigeons

From 1975 they started to be attracted to the marathon, and starting with the 80's to the extreme marathon. The first successes were not long in coming, in 1981 winning a very difficult stage at St. Vincent, after which they caught the taste of victory. Moreover, the acquisitions continued, bringing the best pigeons to the Maastricht farm each year, even from small breeders. I can't list all these pigeons, but I will highlight the most important ones.

The big hit was with the "Femela de la Pau" of the Kuypers brothers and a brother of this female, who also proved to be a good breeder. Another exceptional pigeon was "Le petit Jo" by Jo Gilissen, who came from Cadier and Keer, Braakhuis' caretaker. But the icing on the cake was "Blauwe Vanoppen" (a dove with Kuypers x Vanderweggen origins). This is the pigeon that consecrated the two Wijnands, the descendants of it being truly phenomenal. Among them, "Gimondi", "Vale 099", "Olano", "De Soustons", "De Perpignan", "Ballerini", "Poulidor", incredible pigeons.

The legendary "Blauwe Vanoppen"

We wanted to know how Harry and Roger managed to achieve such results.

Breeders are mated each year in late January and flyers in mid-March. Everything revolves around the 7 international stages, when the pigeons must be in top shape. Every year the pigeons are vaccinated against smallpox and paramyxovirus and have never had any problems. In addition, they are allowed to fly in winter, they can even stay outside for 2-3 hours, except on gloomy days, when they are closed. A pigeon needs to feel at ease so that it can respond well to motivation and get home early.

"During the competition season, every 3 weeks we take tests for analysis to the veterinarian Peeters Norbert to make sure that everything is fine, because we never administer treatments after the ear. It's like in humans, if I feel good, why take pills? The flyers receive garlic yeast and garlic oil on the berries when the long stages begin, ”Roger confessed to us. "I think we have too many pigeons in the aviary, but one is to make a pigeon that is hired weekly and another a marathon pigeon, which needs 2-3 long stages. We don't train them with the flag, our pigeons train with pleasure and still perform. In terms of food, we give them 100% Beyers mixtures, to which we add a few more seeds. Between competitions we give them light food, except for the last 3 stages, when we add a little peas ", Roger told us.

Before the official marathon stages, the pigeons fly 6 competitions, two of which are over 500 km. Between the national stages, the pigeons are still taken to trainings from 60 km, but without launches in the evenings, this system being copied from Bérke Willems. I breed about 100 chicks a year, but the best flyers turned out to be the latecomers, whom they trained with the chicks from the following year.

The most recent performance of Harry and Roger Wijnands was in 2018, the 1st place Nat. Agent from 5,754 p., With the male “Mi-Kel”, NL-16-1778679, nephew from “Pozatto” (1st place Int. Bordeaux in 2004 from 9,001 p.).

Roger Wijnands and the male "Mi-Kel", 1st place Nat. Agent in 2018

Agen was the first marathon stage for "Mi-Kel", this being a late 2016, reproduced in October. In 2017, he was employed in 4 stages of maximum 210 km, and in 2018 he was employed 7 times, including two stages of 500 km, Issoudun and Argenton, which he also ranked. And in the first stage of the national marathon, the 1st place on the launch. Wind competition from the northeast, which led to an average speed of 915 mpm. The province of Limburg was not at all advantageous, the arrival of this pigeon being a real surprise for Roger and his father. The male was found at 17:46:47, however, losing a minute because he landed on another hatch, and Roger had to go up to the farm and call him inside.

"Pozatto", his grandfather "Mi-Kel", 1st place Nat. Agent in 2018 for Harry and Roger Wijnands

Roger competes only with male widows, with 90 in the flight group. As for the flight plan, the pigeons compete only at the ZLU stages, ie those stages with launch in the morning, in the first hour. Roger and his father have over time won 7 national stages and a lot of other top rankings. They are also very happy with the way their pigeons have fared in other farms, considering this as important as their own results. Since 1983 he has been constantly on the ZLU national podium.

At the age of 54, Roger Wijnands enjoys his pigeons just like at the beginning of his pigeon career

A few months before moving on to the eternal, Harry Wijnands, Roger's father, said that after 40 or so years of pigeon-loving at the highest level, he still felt something special, which he could not describe in words, then when a pigeon gets the 1st national place. And, despite his advanced age and the fact that he feels his end is near, he would very much like to win the competition in Barcelona. He even predicted that, if he doesn't win it in 2018, he won't be able to see his dream with his own eyes, this being his great desire since it is known. Unfortunately, shortly after this interview, Harry entered the world of the righteous. However, it remains for Roger to carry on the pigeon fancier tradition, at the age of 54 he was as motivated as at the beginning of his career. And, like his father, the ultimate goal remains the Barcelona classic.