Albert and Francine showing Irina, 1st nat. Argenton III old birds
The Derwa-Luxem pigeon family was overwhelmingly strong on a number of occasions this year. It rarely happens that one team gets in the spotlight so often in a single season. It was a conversation that we overheard quite a few times in pigeon clubs in and around the Brabant region: “What do you think of team Derwa last weekend? Incredible, right?” There was one thing that Albert and Francine had not been able to win this season, something that would really make this a memorable season for them: a national victory. But the two fanciers were patient, and they were more than happy to add a national first prize from Chateauroux III to their 2018 palmares, making this a truly exceptional racing season.
Irina BE17-206511
Irina claiming victory in Argenton III was not really a surprise: she had already won 19 first prizes in 2018, including a win in the Brabant Union of 2,953 pigeons from Blois. She was able to win a prize per 100 in her last three races, and that includes her victory from Argenton III, which is her 20th race of the season. Here is an overview of her best results so far (at least prizes per 10):
21/04: Soissons (190 km): 7th 1,156 p. coef.: 0.606 28/04: Soissons: 11th 1,421 p. 0.774 12/05: Chevrain (334 km): 238th 2,572 p. 9.253 26/05: Chevrain: 91st 1,597 p. 5.698 02/06: Blois (444 km): 1st 2,953 p. 0.034 10/06: Laon (162 km): 13th 799 p. 1.627 16/06: Bourges (457 km): 24th 2,374 p. 1.011 23/06: Argenton (535 km): 15th 3,879 p. 0.387 07/07: Chateauroux (506 km): 145th 2,667 p. 5.437 15/07: Blois: 25th 1,012 p. 2.470 04/08: Momignies (105 km): 10th 281 p. 3.559 18/08: Chateauroux: 8th 4,631 p. 0.173 25/08: Le Mans (458 km): 2nd 233 p. 0.858 01/09: Argenton: 1st 3,279 p. 0.030
The national winner in Argenton III
Invictus
We go back to 17th of August 2013. The first arrivals for the national race from Issoudun are coming in, as racing bird Invictus reaches the loft of Derwa-Luxem at high speed, claiming a national first prize from Issoudun of 16,587 pigeons. Five years later Albert and Francine claim their third national first prize with Irina, which happens to be a daughter of Invictus. As a youngster of Invictus, this hen originates from Pauline, arguably one of the best breeding hens of the last decade. Numerous articles have been published about this super class breeding dam and her talented descendants, which have been extremely successful over the years. Besides national, zonal and provincial first prizes at home, Pauline’s children and grandchildren have also led to great results in other lofts, in Belgium as well as in The Netherlands and Great-Britain (click here to reread our report on her death in 2015). And Irina is related to another highly renowned Belgian bloodline from her mother’s side: Bliksem of Gaby Vandenabeele. This son of Kolonel gained an international reputation very early on in his career, and Irina has further adds to his status. Click here for Irina’s full pedigree.
The eye with which Irina left 3,321 opponents behind
Ferocious
Derwa-Luxem ended the season exactly like it began: with overwhelming strength. To illustrate, we show you some of their best results in the early, mid and late season. Would their opponents be able to do better next year?
02/06: Blois: Demer & Dijle: 295 olds: 1-2-3-12-24-32-38-54-59 (9/9) 681 YLs: 1-2-5-9-33-43 (6/9) B.U.: 1,482 olds: 12-14-20-59-126-189-214-286-317(9/9) 2,953 YLs: 1-30-57-79-226-268 (6/9)15/07: Blois: Demer & Dijle: 101 olds: 1-2-4-6-7-10-31 (7/8) 279 YLs: 4-8-15-36-43 (5/7) B.U.: 551 olds: 2-7-24-30-31-44-153 (7/8) 1,091 YLs: 14-33-54-142-155 (5/7) 25/08: Le Mans: Demer & Dijle: 62 olds: 1-2-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-15 (12/15) B.U.: 233 olds: 1-2-4-5-6-7-8-9-16-19-23-30-59 (13/15) 08/09: Blois: Demer & Dijle: 92 olds: 1-2-3-5-8-9-10-16-17 (9/9) 683 YBs: 2-4-7-9-10-11-15-17-23-28-29 (42/59) B.U.: 324 olds: 1-6-7-11-26-44-45-77-78 (9/9) 2,427 YBs: 3-20-32-36-38-40-47-68-77-158-179-181-192-199-200-217-256 (30/59)