KARLO VAN ROMPAEY
Sint Truiden
1st National Bourges II - 9896 Old birds
Information supplied by Nikolaas Gyselbrecht of www.pipa.be in conjunction with Elimar Pigeon Services
The continentals put a lot of trust in their veterinary system and when you look at the system they use and the vet's involved you can understand why. One of this years National winners is Karlo Van Rompaey who was born in 1979 in his home town Sint-Truiden. Last year this up and coming young fancier graduated as a veterinarian, that means another fancier who has first hand knowledge of pigeon racing and what it is all about.
The beginning
Karlo first got the pigeon bug from his grandfather, Jos Van Rompaey (80 years old now). He lives in Schriek a province of Antwerp and after all these years is still racing very well with the pigeons. Jos became champion old pigeons out of Noyon and vice-champion with the yearlings but unlike many of the modern day Belgium fanciers he never raced middle distance, always sprint. As a young boy Karlo always went to his grandparents during the holidays to spend day in, day out with the pigeons, together with his grandfather which is where he spent many happy hours and learnt a great deal about racing and breeding pigeons.
In 1988 the first racing pigeons entered the loft between the fancy pigeons in a chicken loft this was the start of Karlo the pigeon fancier. Because the interest of Karlo in racing pigeons increased all the time, his father decided to build a bigger loft for his son and he became member of the KBDB in 1990. Since then he races very well with the sprint pigeons of his grandfather and even races the national middle distance races with them.
System :
For the 2005 season Karlo started with 30 widowers and 12 hens with as main goal being to perform well in the races between 300 and 600 KM. There are also about 100 youngsters are darkened to participate in the complete middle distance program. He uses the sliding door system all the time, but because of the big losses this year he changed his program a little bit.
Medical Supervision:
Golden rule: Check the health and condition of the pigeons constantly and only use medication when it is really necessary! But supporting products as vitamins, minerals, garlic etc. are weekly on the menu because during the season the pigeon needs a lot of energy to recuperate.
Pigeons :
95% of the stock that Karlo now has are based on the pigeons of his grandfather Jos to which he has added some direct Houbens (Itegem), René Claes (Keerbergen) and indirect Clerinx (Nieuwerkerken). The base pigeon is the "De Oude Witte" (1984) who is grandfather of the "17" 5039217/96. The "17" you can find back in 95% of the current racing team. Also the national winner has the blood of the "17" in his veins on both the father and mothers side. He is also half brother of "De Witte Perigieux" 1 st Prov. Perigieux 1997, father of 3 rd Prov. Ace Pigeon sprint 2003 and grandfather of the 4 th Prov. Ace Pigeon middle distance 2004!
A few highlights that Karlo remembers for one reason or another. 2nd National Champion Youth KBDB. 1st Semi-National Chateauroux (520 km). 1st Zone Gueret (600 km). 1st (Inter)Provincial Vierzon (460 km). 1st Provincial Reims (200 km). 1st Provincial Perigeux (700 km). 1st Provincial Gueret (600 km).
Motivation of "De Jos", winner of Bourges and named afther the grandfather of Karlo :
Next to his normal nest box "de Jos" has a box on the floor where he is also in charge of, This box was put on the loft only 3 weeks before the Bourges race was scheduled. Only after the arrival of a training race and the 2 Sundays before Bourges he was allowed to go into the box for a few hours. Then on the Monday before Bourges, all widowers who wouldn't be participating in the Bourges race where removed from this loft. This meant that "De Jos" was alone in the loft with two loft mates until the day of basketing. Then on the Wednesday evening they were allowed to see their hens until just before they were taken to the club for marking. On Thursday the love for his 2 nd box showed now why it was useful. After a 30KM training toss he was locked up in his normal box together with his hen. The two other pigeons in the loft could take over the other box on the floor without any problems, while "De Jos" was watching! One hour before they went to the club "De Jos" was given access to the box on the floor, the result of this motivation system is now well know.1 st National and his yearling loft mate is also ranked in the top 50 national. The 3 rd competitor of the loft arrived 10 minutes later and will also be ranked high!
