The North of Antwerp certainly houses some seriously strong pigeon racers; fanciers who not only compete fiercely among themselves but are also unafraid to put their birds to the test of international competitions. This is hardly surprising. If your teams have to go through the tough selection procedure of intense competition at home, then why wouldn't they be good enough to face an international challenge? This thought must certainly have been in the minds of Jerome and Marc Huybrechts, a father and son team of Stabroek, when they decided to enter the worldfamous Million Dollar Pigeon Race in Sun City, South Africa, thereby exposing their pigeons to the challenges of the best of the best of 26 different countries. It looks like they have no reason to be sorry for their decision. Their "Rise to the Stars", a name that holds a promise, was the first Belgian bird in Training 8b of 16 January, finishing 2nd overall against a field of 2900 pigeons.

Jerome Huybrechts started racing pigeons on his own lofts in 1961, focusing on sprint and middle distance. After having specialised on these distances and illustrating his capabilities with strong results during three decades ('70ies, '80ies and '90ies) he was able to put the crown on his achievements by becoming Provincial Champion Middle Distance in 1986 and 1987 in the Antwerp province and by conquering the acclaimed title "King" on Noyon in their region. In 1995 Jerome Huybrechts also won the 9th National Acepigeon title on Sprint. Other notable titles were Champion Old Birds Noyon in 1983, Champion Border Region 1988, General Champion Yearlings Noyon in Stabroek 1992, etc.

In 2000 and 2001 Jerome, now racing as a team with his son Marc, decided like so many fanciers, to move towards the long distance, both one day racing and overnights. To achieve successes in their new venture, father and son Huybrechts reinforced their old strain (which had produced a National Acepigeon) with the bloodlines of Jimmy Brands of Berendrecht (whose achievements in the Million Dollar Race, together with his friends of the Dingemans family, are without a doubt still fresh in the minds of our regular readers), A & P Vervoort of Stabroek, Jozef Simons of Ekeren and Karel Meulemans of Arendonk (out of his lines of Kadet 574 and Donkere Dax). All these lines are united in "Rise to the Stars": a big support for Jerome and Marc's hopes for the final race on 2 February.

Some results of Jerome and Marc Huybrechts in 2006 and 2007:

2006: Champion Long Distance Yearlings Union Stabroek and the following record list: 2, 3, 12 Chateauroux Regional against 201 pigeons, 10, 18 and 45 in the Kempen area (628 birds) and 42, 89 and 236 Provincial against 2500 pigeons. On Montluçon (568 km): 3, 7, etc. Regional (145 old birds), 82, 104 Provincial against 1583 old birds and 5, 24, 25 Regional yearlings against 133 pigeons, 10th against 406 pigeons in the Kempen area and 94th Provincial against 2264 birds. On Limoges: 1st and 5th Regional (163 pigeons), 5, 18, etc. in the Kempen (631 pigeons), 23rd etc. Provincial (2628 pigeons), 49th in the Zone (5571 pigeons) and 391st National against 15507 pigeons. On Souillac (746 km): 4, 6 and 13 Regional, 8, 15 and 29 the Kempen, 45th Provincial (769 pigeons), 127th Zone (2304 pigeons) and 344th National against 6475 birds.

2007 was a successful year specifically on Chateauroux and Irun. From Chateauroux (539 km): 3, 10, 16 Regional (171 pigeons), 8, 27, 44 Kempische Fondclub (485 birds), 69th Provincial against 2024 pigeons and again 4, 17, 19, 20, 21 Regional (72 pigeons), 26th Kempische Fondclub (341 pigeons) and 187th Provincial against 1938 birds. On Irun (1005 km) Jerome and Marc scored a 3rd Regional (45 pigeons), a 3rd Kempische Fondclub (164 pigeons) and a 22nd Provincial against 629 pigeons.

Undoubtably results any fancier would be proud of. We wish them all the best for the final race of 2 February 2008.

Text: Frank Daelemans
Picture: Marc Huybrechts