Yes, we're used to great results from the Clicque household in Wevelgem, and we're never really surprised to see his name pop up on the screen among the early arrivals… but you still have to keep doing it, and in 2025 they are in the middle of an incredibly strong season.
It all started well from the first races, and they managed to keep building the form, ending both the long-distance and extreme long-distance season in style with two provincial victories on the same day.
They had already secured a first national win from Cahors earlier this year, and with these two new provincial wins, they have now claimed 50 pure first prizes in 2025. The focus now shifts to pushing the young birds forward for the upcoming races — and who knows, there might still be more success coming their way?

Gaston (BE23-3020853) brings home the provincial victory from Perpignan

The pigeons in Wevelgem have already proven themselves in the past in long-distance races with national wins from Agen. But did Gino have the birds for the true marathon distances? Well, yes — he does. Gaston is a pigeon bred by family friend Sorin Florea, who proudly owns one of the most high-quality breeding lofts in the world. Top pigeons are continually added there to keep raising the bar.
Gaston is living proof of that. This two-year-old cock wins 1st provincial over a distance of 913 km, competing against 721 pigeons in a very tough race. He is of noble Dutch bloodlines. Some time ago, "Mr. Gijs" from Piet de Vogel was transferred to Sorin’s loft. Mr. Gijs had already proven his breeding value with Piet, and Piet remains convinced of this pigeon’s top quality.
Gaston’s father is a son of Mr. Gijs (Arjan Beens x Jellema).
His mother is a hen from Koopman lines crossed with Hugo Batenburg’s pigeons, from the New Witbuik line. Every trait needed for long-distance racing is in his feathers.
Nationally, this results in a 10th place against 3,588 pigeons, and he also snatches 1st zonal against 1,392 pigeons.
A few weeks ago, he also placed 94th nationally from Dax (855 km) against 2,516 pigeons. On top of that, he claimed 8th place in the national KBDB Ace Pigeon ranking (3 extreme long-distance races).
He can now truly be called a top marathon pigeon, and was raced on classic widowhood.

Paloma wins provincial Tulle among the yearlings

The adrenaline from Gaston’s performance had barely settled when it was spiked again by the provincial victory of Paloma (BE24-3059746) in the national race from Tulle — the final race of the long-distance season. Over a distance of 594 km, she was the fastest provincially out of 769 pigeons, and also the first home among all pigeons in the province of West Flanders. This blue hen stems from true base lines in the breeding loft. She is a daughter of “Asduif Rudy”, who was 10th National Ace Pigeon in long distance. Her mother is a half-sister of Corina, who in turn was 1st National Ace Pigeon in heavy middle distance in 2020. She is inbred to Prince Rudy, who won 1st National Limoges. All of the successful lines in the loft run through her genes, and she proves it with this fine win. Previously, she also placed 6th Provincial Orléans against 5,234 pigeons.

She was also raced on classic widowhood.

Whatever the coming weeks may bring, 2025 has already proven once again the outstanding quality of the pigeons at the Clicque lofts in Wevelgem. Combine that with their relentless dedication to bringing the birds to the starting line in peak condition, and you can speak with pride again of their pigeons’ and their own impressive achievements.

Congratulations from the Herbots team!
 

Geert Dhaenens