Sometimes words like “the best, invaluable, invincible, matchless” are used too easily to describe the achievements of certain fanciers or pigeons.
Overuse
Such terms are often used to sell products of mediocre quality. This is commonly used in commercials and marketing and some politicians know how to boast about their own achievements as well, especially to cover up their own mistakes. In this case we let the reader decide whether or not Albert and Francine Derwa-Luxem deserve praise for their achievements.
The best
In early 2012, Francine and Albert were awarded best pigeon fancier in District Leuven 2011, which is arguably the most valuable title they could win. That is because the winner of this trophy is voted by a group of fellow fanciers from Leuven. This means that their own colleagues recognize the winner of this trophy as the strongest fancier of the past season.
Matchless
In 2013 Pricilla (BE12-2080130) proved to be an invaluable pigeon in the loft of Albert and Francine. This daughter of Paulien (click here for the full pedigree) achieved an impressive number of top results:
1st Pithiviers 822 p. 1st Pithiviers 185 p. 1st Blois 372 p. 1st Argenton zone B2 1,544 p. 1st Gueret zone B2 3,114 p. 2nd Argenton BU 938 p. 4th Argenton BU 2,213 p. 4th Blois BU 1,717 p. 4th Gueret Nationaal 15,007 p. 5th Argenton Nationaal 6,795 p. 16th Argenton Nationaal 22,463 p.
Invincible
Invictus (BE13-2110100), the invincible god, managed to win a national title for Francine and Albert. This grandson of Paulien (the sire is a nest brother of Pricilla) was raced from Issoudun, where he took the victory against 16,614 pigeons.
Invaluable
Paulien (BE06-2090139) proved an invaluable pigeon in the loft of Albert and Francine. She is winner of an 8th Nat. Ace Pigeon KBDB Middle Distance and winner of a first semi-nat. Chateauroux 8,218 p, a 1st B.U. Gueret 1,298 p, a 1st int-prov. Chateauroux 3,969 p. and a 1st prov. Gueret 1,194 pigeons. Still, her descendants were to become even more successful: we have already discussed her daughter Pricilla and grandson Invictus but she is also the dam of De Zoon (BE10-2007030) and Primo (BE09-2027029). De Zoon had a large share in the title of First Nat. Champion KBDB Yearlings 2011. These are their best results (we have only included their top 10 prizes):
De Zoon
1st Soissons 212 p. 1st Soissons 577 p. 1st Bourges 460 p, 68th nat. 20,544 p. 1st Nanteuil 615 p. 1st Pithiviers 1,200 p. 2nd prov. Blois 991 p. 3rd Argenton 407 p., 131st nat. 19,782 p. 4th Pithiviers 1,273 p. 5th int.prov. Chateauroux 8,092 p. 6th Pithiviers 295 p. 9th Pithiviers 1,263 p.
Primo
1st prov. Chateauroux 1039 p., 3rd semi-nat. 6,281 p. 1st Chateauroux 823 p., 2nd prov. 3,630 p. 1st Argenton 231 p., 49th nat. 11,001 p. 1st Soissons 224 p. 1st Soissons 488 p. 1st nanteuil 471 p. 1st Pithiviers I 149 p. 1st Pithiviers III 941 p. 1st Argenton 348 p, 9th prov. 2,018 p. 2nd Pithiviers 165 p. 6th Pithiviers 508 p. 7th Chateauroux 2,043 p.
Excel
With such excellent results it is not surprising that the pigeon family of Derwa-Luxem has won many important titles as well. The following titles were won in recent seasons:
1st Nat. Champion Yearlings KBDB 2011 1st and 3rd Ace Pigeon Western European Countries Cup All-round 2011 1st Ace Pigeon B.U. Longer Middle Distance 2013 1st Ace Pigeon L.C.B. extreme middle distance Brabant 1st Ace Pigeon Gouden Veer 3rd Olympiad Pigeon All-round Nitra 4th Nat. Ace Pigeon KBDB Longer Middle Distance 2013 8th nat. Ace Pigeon KBDB Middle Distance
Modest
We told Albert and Francine that they would have won the title of National Ace Pigeon KBDB Longer Middle Distance if they had been allowed to submit the results of the provincial races as well. Their Pricilla won a fourth prize against 1,717 pigeons in the provincial race from Blois, which would have resulted in an overall coefficient of 0.4. “We know”, said Albert and Francine, “but the rules apply to everyone.” It could be this attitude, combined with their impressive achievements, that makes them popular among other fanciers.
