Now that the season is over, a quick look back at the last two parts. The young pigeons and nature. The young pigeons was the same drama as previous years. We started with 22 pigeons and after four flights there were only six left. We have this with two who returned a little later, continued playing on the natour. At the end of the season we have six left, four cocks and two pigeons. Then you have to be lucky that there is something useful there.

On the late tour we played alongside the youngsters with seven pigeons and two cocks. The pigeons achieved five victories together 32 price, which is a price percentage of 91,4%. The cocks won seven prizes together and that is a prize percentage of 70%. The hens came first in the association, second, third, fourth, eighth, tenth and twelfth pigeon champion after tour. The cock NL23-9054-262 won on the last post-race flight from Laon, for us 337 kilometer, the victory against 771 pigeons in the circle. And also a nice second place in the Northeast region 1628 pigeons.

And now everything is in full swing and we are going to see what can stay.

Last weekend we had the first flight for the young pigeons. Due to the weather conditions it became a flight with a two-night basket. And probably boys who didn't want to drink in the car yet.

We each brought eleven pigeons. We kept seven at home, since they were still flying around at ten o'clock in the evening before the day of basketing and did not dare to land in the loft. So they stayed out overnight and trickled in one by one on Friday. The last one only flew into the loft at about half past four in the afternoon. One had been injured, which apparently flew into something.

The pigeons were released on Sunday with a strong southwest wind. Only three managed to win prizes. On Sunday evening we had eight of the twenty-two back. Two more followed on Monday and one on Tuesday.

After one young pigeon flight, eleven have already been wasted. But let's hope that next Saturday with predicted temperatures of 31 degrees better. Hopefully they will be released as early as possible.

Today we had the first training flight with the department. The pigeons were released at a quarter past seven in Duiven. My first three that arrived at 7 o'clock 47; and another one immediately arrived.

They fly around three laps of honor, more and more pigeons are added. But they sit forty meters away on a number of houses. The first person to walk over the antenna was 45 minutes later, I believe.

So in itself, now only two pigeons away, that in itself is a stroke of luck. But yeah, from the other side, if you cannot get them in during a race, then it is of little use to you. We're going to feed them a little less and then I hope we can get that problem under control.

In recent weeks the focus has been on the young pigeons. If I had help at home and could leave and make it matter again, I taught them. First two times three kilometers, then two times six, then twice ten kilometers and the last four times at eighteen kilometers.

Now let's see if the weather next Tuesday will be good enough for them to participate in the first training with the department at a distance of 26 kilometer. Yesterday, for the first time in years, I took part in a one-day discovery flight with four hens. It was a complete surprise for me.

A, two, three in the club, a grandmaster in the region and second grandmaster in the entire department 8 SOON.

Last Saturday our pigeons were released late, namely at three o'clock in the afternoon. This flight went very poorly for us.

So bad that even the last two pigeons only returned today. After the flight I was hardly able to care for the pigeons, because all week I was plagued by an infected finger. And was therefore on antibiotics, which I didn't like.

Yesterday afternoon it got so bad that I had to have that finger operated on in the hospital. Fortunately, the pain is a bit better now, but because the pigeons are hardly cared for after the flight, I have decided not to participate next weekend. Then just some rest.

Last Saturday the pigeons were released at half past eight in Soissons with a northeasterly wind. You would say nice pigeon weather, but the fact that a powerful solar storm had occurred could possibly still disrupt the pigeons' ability to orient themselves. The flight was very difficult and the prizes were open for a long time.

I played in the club 4, 14, 25, 40 in 59 against 177 pigeons, 50% awards. Mieke had one 3 along and starts tenth in the club. There was some improvement compared to last week.

Three inexperienced pigeons were only there on Sunday morning and now one is still missing from the roll call. Basketing again next Thursday for Soissons again, but now with two nights in basket and different weather. Let's see how things go again.

A very bad flight last weekend. It actually announced itself on Tuesday. I brought the pigeons to Heteren on Tuesday afternoon, 30 kilometer.

At half past two I first released the hens… and a few minutes later the four cocks. No pigeons present when we return home. Normally they are always home for me.

I had to wait almost forty minutes before the hens arrived. The cocks did even worse. They came home one by one. The third cock was the 510, a cock that has the most experience. He was also pigeon champion in the club as a youngster. He didn't come until five o'clock.

From 539 I even lost it. I noticed it while basketing on Friday… that the nose caps of the pigeons were not white enough… and that the eye rims were moist. Here and there even a membrane could be seen.

Unfortunately, my fearful suspicion of a mediocre result became true. Two tail prizes and the 510 not back in the loft until Sunday morning. To the vet on Monday… and let's hope that they will be better again next weekend.

Last Saturday we had the second flight from Bierges, for us 191 kilometer. The almost 25.000 pigeons from department 8 went around 10.50 hour and the arrived at our place 345 first to 5 for 1. This was good for the first in the association and the 39th in the circle.

Of the 10 hens knew there 8 to win prizes. Van Mieke flew there 2 cocks their price of the 4 pieces. Yesterday I vaccinated the young pigeons against smallpox with the brush. They are flying well and I hope that in a few weeks they will be ready for me to start training them.

The pigeons were changed yesterday 20 over 9 unloaded in Heusden Zolder for a flight almost ahead of us 139 kilometer. There was a showery weather and a north to northwest wind of approx 25 kilometers per hour. Our first pigeon arrived at 11 o'clock 22.06 and made a speed of 1142 meter per seconde.

This hen, of 310, is a direct Eijerkamp. Her father is Son Tramantane from Willem van Bruijn and the mother is Smokey Checker, an Eijerkamp van Loon, times the new Olympiad of Herenmans – Ceusters. The pigeons followed more quickly than last week and the last davin was gone 11 o'clock 58 home again.

Both in Association, Circle and Region Northeast of department 8 played 7 of the 10 hens their prize. From 4 Mieke's cocks had a little more difficulty with the first flight. Her first cock died 11 o'clock 40 and the last to 12 o'clock 57.

In any case, the pigeons followed suit faster than last week and that is a plus. So now on to the next flight.

This year our flying team consists of: 10 hens and 4 cocks. I play with the hens and Mieke with the cocks. Of this 14 pigeons are there 6 that last season alone 4 have done naturflights. Three of these pigeons were not trained as youngsters and were only raced on these natural flights as yearlings.

The pigeons were delivered yesterday in Beek en Donk, just none 80 kilometer, at half 10 discharged. Our hen, of 802, arrived at 10 o'clock 17 in 1 second and thus achieved a large score 1698 meters per minute. This turned out to be a very early pigeon in the circle.

The rest of the pigeons ended up disappointingly poorly. From 6 inexperienced pigeons, who only flew the late tour last year, were the last to arrive at our loft.