
Antoon & Hilde Reynaert
In many countries all over the world, fanciers talk about the amazing racing & breeding pigeon 'Figo' bred and owned by the Reynaerts.Not only did 'Figo' win 1st National Bourges from 12,266 pigeons his blood lines are responsible for pigeons winning with up to 99,000 birds competing from Passendale in West Flanders near Roselare.
Many experts agree that in the year 2001 the 'Figo' was the best Middle Distance Pigeon in all Belgium. The 'Figo' a magnificent pigeon with the fixed stare of an eagle. As a yearling he took the 1st prize 3 times from Chartres with 7, 5 and 2 minutes lead.

In 2001 as a two year old the 'Figo' raced even more impressively: On the 6th May, he won 1st prize from Clermont, 176km, on the 23rd June the 1st prize from Chartes, 296km with a 4 minute lead. On the 30th June the 1st prize from Tours, 426km against 593 pigeons again with an 8 minute lead. On the 21st July the 1st prize from Blois, 388km. Then came the National from Bourges, 425km he won the 1st prize in the Marking Station with a 15 minute lead. Provincial all West Flanders the 1st prize with a 4 minute lead against 1,213 pigeons, and the National 1st prize against 12,666 pigeons. Altogether he achieved within 2 years nine 1st prizes and often with minutes leads.
These nine 1st prizes were won mainly with several minute leads. Besides these 1st prizes he won many more absolute Top-prizes. 'Figo' the Super Racer is one pigeon that Antoon and Hilde will never sell for all the money in the world. For many years Antoon and Hilde Reynaert are the successful team in West Flanders, when it concerns provincial Ace Pigeons and Top results. Antoon Reynaert a 65 year old joiner has been a pigeon fancier for over 50 years. His 39 year old daughter Hilde was brought up with the pigeon sport from childhood. Up to the year 1988 there were not any great achievements as he did not have enough time for his pigeon hobby. About 14 years ago things changed and the Reynaerts success story began.

'Goen'
At the end of the eighties and the beginning of the nineties our 'Goen' (The Good One) was a spectacular Top-Ace. All together he only raced for two years, but in that short time he won ten 1st prizes and five 2nd prizes besides many other top prizes. While the 'Goen' was still sitting in the race loft we had already bred youngsters, which were top class from the start. We quickly learned he was not only a superb racing bird but an excellent breeder as well. The beast was that his sons and daughters were also good racing pigeons as well as excellent breeding stock. In many other lofts the quality of the 'Goens' offsprings were very soon recognised.

But then the 'Goen' also bred a son '647' from 1992, we called him 'Schicht' as a young bird and yearling he did not win one single prize and then suddenly as a two year old 'Schicht' developed into a True Champion.We raced him three years during that period he won six 1st prizes, six 2nd prizes,two 4th and three 5th prizes as well as many other top prizes.The 'Schicht' B 3138647-92 did not achieve anything as a young bird or yearling. In 1996 we bred some youngsters from him.The first one was the 'De Favori', B 3198825-96 in 1997 as a yearling achieved remarkable results, ten 1st prizes and he became the 1st Ace Pigeon in West Flanders.A year before our Super Crack B 3263118-95 won the same title.

The Super Crack was also a grandson of the Goen the Super Crack took in all ten 1st prizes, six 2nd prizes, two 3rd prizes plus 5th, 6th and 10th prize.A year later we bred from the Schicht with the hen 'Crissie' the De Kiezer B 3221723-97.The 'De Kiezer' also won the title 1st Ace Pigeon West Flanders in 1998, he also won as a yearling seven 1st prizes, three 2nd prizes, 3rd and 4th prize. Having achieved the first Ace Pigeon in West Flanders, The title was never before been achieved by any other pigeon fancier It is unbelievable that all three pigeons are grandsons of the 'Goen' !!

The 'Figo'
The 'Figo' whose father was the 'Schicht' B 3138647-92 is a grandson of the famous 'Goen' . He is also a direct brother to the 'De Kiezer'. The 'De Kiezer' won seven 1st prizes as a yearling and up to three years old he won altogether thirteen first prizes without duplication. Today he is sitting, the same as the 'Figo' in the Reynaert familys stock loft. The mother of the 'Figo' and the 'De Kiezer' is the 'Crissie' she is from the 'Hengst' from Robert Venus fourteen times 1st prize-winner paired to the 'Sissi' a daughter of the 'Goen'.

The Top Prizes the 'Figo' won in his 2-year career
17-06-00
24-06-00
01-07-00
22-07-00
06-05-01
12-05-01
19-05-01
09-06-01
23-06-01
30-06-01
14-07-01
21-07-01
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Chartres
Chartres
Chartres
Blois
Blois
Clermont
Chartres
Chartres
Chartres
Chartres
Tours
Blois
Bourges
Bourges
Bourges |
1st Prize
1st Prize
1st Prize
2nd Prize reg
4th Prize prov
1st Prize
4th Prize
6th Prize
1st Prize
1st Prize
1st Prize
3rd Prize
1st Prize reg
1st Prize prov
1st Prize nat |
249 Pigeons
193 Pigeons
151 Pigeons
252 Pigeons
690 Pigeons
398 Pigeons
387 Pigeons
228 Pigeons
229 Pigeons
234 Pigeons
593 Pigeons
287 Pigeons
183 Pigeons
1213 Pigeons
12266 Pigeons |
5 Minute lead
2 Minute lead
7 Minute lead
8 Minute lead
4 Minute lead
8 Minute lead
15 Minute lead
4 Minute lead
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Many thanks to Antoon & Hilde Reynaert,and PIPA for permission to use there article & photo's.
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