Marc De Cock is another of those famous fanciers who really needs no introduction. Marc is one of those people whose ambition it is to be number one at anything they do in business and sports alike. Hard work and dedication pave the road of their success. Small wonder that Marc's motto is "the sky is the limit". For many years now hot air and helium balloons have carried the name of Cock's Vleeswaren (his outstanding meat factory) across the globe and in pigeon racing his birds have also proven that the sky is indeed the only limit by their top performances in National and International races. Who in South Africa will ever forgot his victory at the Zevenwacht estate at the Cape Town Olympiad? In the Million Dollar Race Marc's Race Pigeon Farm is also a household name and he is certainly feared and respected among the Belgian competitors.

In fact we have to put Marc De Cock in the spotlight twice. On 29 December his "Spooky Mulder" was the first Belgian bird in Training Flight 7 with a 24th position against 3015 pigeons and on 9 January this feat was repeated by "Punctilicious", winning a 53rd prize against 2978 pigeons. Once again, the pedigrees of both birds prove that such results are not mere coincidence. "Spooky Mulder" is a son of "Black Magic", 8 times first prize winner short distance out of the lines of Jos Van Der Veken's "Superman" and of Leon De Kraey from Beveren. "Spooky Mulder"'s mother is a daughter of "Lucky 77" of Marc's good friend Eric Limbourg. "Lucky 77" was the 1st National Ace Pigeon Long Distance KBDB in 2005, winning 2nd National Souillac against 5985 pigeons, 5th National Brive Z against 5635 birds, 21st National Brive against 20310 pigeons and 31st National Orange against 6751 pigeons. "Lucky 77" was paired to an original Marc De Cock, a daughter of Superbreeder 233 and winner of no less than 45 prizes (e.g. 3rd Bourges, 5th Dourdan, 8th Dourdan, 65th and 66th Prov. Chateauroux, etc.).

"Punctilicious" is a grandson of Milan, 4031418/03, 1st Blois, 2 times 1st Argenton, 3rd Provincial Argenton against 4898 pigeons, 4th National Argenton Zone A against 6608 birds and 6th National Argenton against 17129 pigeons. Milan was mated to an original Janssen Arendonk, a daughter of Late Blauwen 2004. Mother of "Punctilicious" is the aptly named "My Love", 1st Bourges, 2nd Vierzon, 12th Provincial La Souterraine against 3938 pigeons, 17th Provincial Bourges against 3218 pigeons, 19th Provincial Vierzon against 3027 pigeons and 107th National La Souterraine against 16297 birds. Father of "My Love" is 4396241/00, a double Provincial Winner on Chateauroux with Janssen/Stichelbaut/Vervoort blood in his veins, mated to a granddaughter of Rambo and halfsister of the World Champion 1999 who won 1st National Ace Pigeon.

In 2007 Marc won 10, 22, 23, 30, etc against 951 yearlings from Dourdan, 1, 3, 8, 13, etc. Blois against 229 old birds, 3, 7, 9, etc. Blois against 222 yearlings, 73, 91, 96, 97 and 111 Blois Provincial against 1531 yearlings, 26, 28, 35, 36, etc. Vierzon from 788 old birds, 3, 6, 14, 18, etc. from 611 yearlings on Vierzon and 28, 39, 77, 83, etc. Provincial Vierzon against 2647 yearlings, to name but a few of his most important prizes, resulting in a very long list of titles in 2007. To name but a few again: 3rd Acepigeon West European Country Cup, KBDB LD, 1st Provincial Acepigeon very long distance, 8th Provincial Ace pigeon long distance old birds, 17th Provincial Ace Pigeon middle distance old birds, Winner of Golden, Silver and Bronze ring long distance, General Champion all Championships long distance "Lokerse Fondclub", winning most prizes on long distance as well, 1st middle distance old pigeons, 1st long distance yearlings, 1st and 2nd Ace Pigeon Lokerse Fondclub long distance yearlings, 1st Acepigeon yearlings long distance Sint-Job, Winner most prizes middle distance "De Veldduif", 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Acepigeon long distance yearlings "Het Duivenblad", 1st, 3rd and 5th Ace Pigeon yearlings Cureghem Centre (the organising club of the international Barcelona race) and 8th General Champion Cureghem Centre, 2nd General Champion FVOV, etc. etc. etc.; the list is really to long to mention everything here.

In other words: what we are dealing here with is a top performing fancier who has sent some of his top performing birds to the Million Dollar Race with the ambition of putting "Winner of the MDPR" on his results bulletin. Marc has won in South Africa before and is certainly close to doing it again. One to watch!

Text: Frank Daelemans
Pictures: Marc De Cock