Fans of the Sun City Million Dollar Race certainly know Pinguin Syndicate. This coalition of friends Stan Van Beemen, Stan Van Gastel and Jos Beyens, named for Stan Van Beemen's ice cream parlour, has been a participant since 1997. Not only have they taken their fair share of the prizes over the years but the regular performances of their pigeons routinely have placed them in the top 10 of the Belgian Superstar Competition since its inception. Combine this with the fact that Stan Van Beemen and Jos Beyens are visitors of Sun City during Racing Weekend since as long as we can remember and it is clear why the Million Dollar Race organisation almost looks upon them as "friends of the family".

As things stand now it seems the 2007/2008 season is going to be another of Pinguin Syndicate's great years. After training 4c the Syndicate had no less than 3 birds in the Belgian Superstar's top 15. The latest ranking shows them in 5th and 10th position with El Hijo Beyens (Jos' son Ken) running 4th. The 10th position is currently firmly in control of Ria II, the pigeon that has now put them in the spotlight with its victory in training 4c. Unfortunately this was a midweek training without the chance of winning a car and 1000 USD to boot, but the publicity this outstanding pigeon brings its owners isn't the lesser for it.

---Jos Beyens and his wife Marina with Stan Van Beemen in the middle of the picture.

Ria II is a pigeon that was entered by Stan Van Gastel. The father is Goeie Lichte 6545720/99 who was only put on the breeding loft last year. Mother of Ria II is 6147466/04 of Pastoor Kerstens out of the line of the Landuyt-pigeons. Looking at the grandparents we find a Van Beemen in Ria II's pedigree, out of the Belgian Beauty mated to the bloodline of the late Jules Rijckaert. Stan Van Beemen got these birds directly from the legendary Rijckaert loft. The connection between Van Gastel and Van Beemen's pigeons also shows you their friendship runs deeper than just being partners in the same syndicate.

Stan Van Gastel---

Fact is that when the friends of Pinguin Syndicate came together to decide which pigeons to put forward as first nominated bird, Stan Van Gastel chose Ria II without the slightest hesitation. This means either that Stan Van Gastel is a real connoisseur (which we don't doubt for a moment) or Ria II decided to reward Stan for the trust put in her. Either way you can be sure Ria II's victory has shown real top class at work!

Text: August & Frank Daelemans
Pictures: Frank Daelemans