This week we welcome André Roodhooft in the spotlight. His "Nurdlinger", BE0103, finished as first Belgian bird in the third Hot Spot. "Nurdlinger" gained the 33rd position against 3372 pigeons from 26 different countries after having covered 220 km in nice and open weather with a slight headwind.

André Roodhooft is without a doubt one of the greatest Champions of the Antwerp - and even the Belgian pigeon sport community. Especially on the middle distance André is the fancier to beat, stunning his competition year after year with tremendous results. Some examples: In 2005, 2006 and 2007 André was crowned "Emperor" of the Antwerp Union. In 2007 he also became "King" of the Antwerp Union and this for the 8th time. Still in 2007 he was General Champion Middle Distance, General Champion Middle Distance Zone East, Champion Middle Distance Old Birds Zone East, Champion Middle Distance Yearlings Zone East, Champion Middle Distance Young Birds Zone East, Champion Middle Distance Yearlings, 1st Acepigeon Middle Distance Old Birds with 6381286/05, 7th Acepigeon Middle Distance Old Birds with 6250335/04, 1st Acepigeon Middle Distance Yearlings with 6201229/06, 2nd Acepigeon Middle Distance Yearlings with 6201130/06, 1st Acepigeon Middle Distance Young Birds with 6295093/07, 4th Acepigeon Middle Distance Young Birds with 6295042/07 and 5th Acepigeon Middle Distance Young Birds with 6295002/07. Apart from this André won 4, 8, 9, 11, 12 etc. against 1674 old birds from Melun (320 km, 20 entered, 17 prizes), 2nd, 13th, 14th, 15th, etc. Melun yearlings (23 entered, 16 prizes against 2232 pigeons), 2, 6, 7, etc. from Bourges (7 prizes on 8 entries against 356 old birds) and 43rd, 71st, 119th, etc. National on Bourges against 11933 old birds (8 entered, 7 prizes), to name but a few results. Worth mentioning are also a 14th and 17th Provincial Blois against 2135 old birds, a 22nd Provincial Chateauroux against 3076 old birds, 4th and 5th Melun in Union Antwerp against 1030 yearlings, a 1st Marne Union Antwerp against 446 yearlings and a 1st Marne Union Antwerp against 321 old birds. How's that for a year of racing?

Apart from his record as a pigeon fancier whose successful career spans several decades, André is of course also wellknown for his connection with the Natural Breeding Station and his proficiency as a writer. In his stories for "Duifke Lacht", the famous green pigeon sport magazine André has never been shy to share his extensive knowledge of the sport with his readers, writing about his successes and failures alike. With this he has shown himself to be a true Champion and great sportsman. Many of his interesting articles were combined in his 1997 book "Uit de praktijk", without a doubt one of the best pigeon sport books on our shelf.

Back to "Nurdlinger": this bird is a halfsister of 6256036/99, 1st Acepigeon of the Antwerp Union in 2001 and 2002. Father is 6463999/97 which won several top prizes on Dourdan, Argenton and Chateauroux. Through her father "Nurdlinger" carries the blood of Van de Pol, Hofkens and Janssen Arendonk. Mother of "Nurdlinger" is 6355923/05, a Van de Pol / Janssen Arendonk / Lou Wouters cross.

At the time of writing all three of Andre Roodhooft's pigeons were still in the race and climbing steadily in our Belgian Superstar rankings with his "Catch the Wind" in 16th and "Nurdlinger" in 17th position. Which shows that André Roodhooft is in South Africa, as well as in Belgium, a fancier to be reckoned with. We wish him the best of luck for the rest of the Sun City Million Dollar Race program!

Text: August and Frank Daelemans