Belgium's ambitious Manik. Denifer (pictured)

Marnick DeNeve: Ambitious, passionate mid-range veteran!

　　This is the last time I've done a retrospective of the 2012 season for you this year. It is a great pleasure to introduce the protagonist in the picture, who performed well in last year's season. In his own words, he is a fancier who is obsessed with pigeon racing, checking pigeons, analyzing pedigree books and looking for possible pairings, which are his usual favorite entertainment and leisure. Manique Denifer, 48 years old, is the protagonist of this interview.

　　In 1993, the first loft was established at Ter Weibroeck 27 in Aalter. For the first few years, the pigeons were always sick and it wasn't until 1995 that the loft was on track. Manik collected a large number of pigeons from different fanciers, including two black males of Gerard Desseyn (Aalter), which made Manik a very successful one. In the years that followed, the loft left their mark.

During this time, Manik also received help from Julien Mijnsberge. Julien had a good result in local speed races, but he died 8 years ago. He helped the loft during his lifetime and taught Manik the basic theory of pigeon racing. In 1997 the pigeons of Cyriel Bonami (Landegem) and Antoine Timmerman (Knesselare) were introduced to the loft and the strength was greatly enhanced. The mixed breeding of these two pigeon breeds was a great success! Many Aalter fanciers have followed this successful mixed-race model.

　　Until 1997, Manik only took the young birds to speed races, and gradually switched to the middle distance and long distance races, all the way to Limoges and Tulle, but the real investment was not immediately launched. In 2007 Manik looked specifically for a pigeon breed that excelled in hen racing, and he found an old alumnus of the same place, Rick Coors. Every year, Manik retrieves several young birds born in the summer from him.

　　The second most important pigeon breed is the Desar pigeon. Top fancier Rudi de Sal won two national first prizes last year, along with a national winner in Saint Vincent, Martin De Poorter, who also won the pure Desal pigeons. Needless to say, What Manik was looking for was a better loft in West Flanders and Belgium to strengthen himself and do himself no harm. Because the foundation pigeon breeds of the two lofts that made Manik successful were van den Nabi, he recently decided to buy pigeons from one of the most important symbols of the pigeon racing world, Gaby van den Nabi.

　　The loft is formed + the base of the pigeon breed

　　There are 20 breeding pairs in the Manik loft, with 30 hens and 70 young birds racing every year. The cocks stop racing at the age of one and are mainly responsible for motivating the hens. Pigeon breeding bases include: Rik Cools, Rudi DeSaer (Vandenabeele-origine),Loobuyck Jos en Jan, Marc Vandaele, Gaby Vandenabeele, Schoors Dewaele, Robert Robert Dewaele, Decock Ackx, Cyriel Martens, Cyriel Bonami, and Antoine Timmerman.

　　BE09-4100983 EMK, the best hen in our team

　　

2009-2012 Prov. 2009: 3rd Prov. Tours: 1st. 1405 p. Tours: 4th Prov. Blois 2,145 p.: 4th Prov. Blois: 1,215 p. Prov. Tours: 17th Prov. Tours: 17th Vierson: 5,893 p. National Chateauroux: 18,737 p. Orleans: 9th 264 p. Orleans: 1st 669 p. Clement: 12th p. 375 p. Abbris: 6th Abris: 1st 176 p. Arras: 6th p. 257 p. Pedigree: Father: BE04-4338983: David, Timmerman Anton pigeon breed Grandfather: BE98-4372307: "Son of the Ace Pigeon", Chatel 6 times 1st Grandmother: BE00-4384809: Timman Anton pigeon breed Mother: BE02-3185466: "Flower Head Hen", Kurs Bronke Pigeon Breed Grandfather: BE99-3268246: "Young Gaby", "Bicker" brothers and "Dana" father Grandmother: BE01-3031236: " "Lightning Girl", 1st Pigeon Gaby van denby 2012: 1st Champion Middle Distance Combined Bruges 1st Middle Distance Young birds loft of Bruges 1st Champion Long Distance Combined 1st Long Distance Old Birds Loft 1st Wingene Long Distance Old Birds Loft 1st Wingene Long Distance Best Yearlings Loft 1st Wingene Long Distance Young Birds Loft 1st Middle Distance Young birds loft Wingene 1st Middle Distance Young birds　　1st Best Loft of Ruiselede 2nd Best Comprehensive Loft of Wingene 2nd Middle Distance Champion of Meetjesland 8th Middle Distance Champion Of Brecken 2012 8th Best Middle Distance Pigeon Of Belgium Gold Pigeon Award 2012 Main results of 2012: Older and yearlings Clement 87 p.: 1,2,3,5,7,13 ,... 6/10 Clement 157 p.: 4,5,8,9,10,13,20,21,22,23,... 19/24 Angelville 227 p.: 1,27,29,39,44,52,53,54,... 21/24 Angelville 120 p.: 1,13,18,24,26,28,... 9/10 Tours 49 p. 2,3,5,7,10,11,13,... 8/12 Tours 1,052 p.: 17,18,59,66,84,... 11/12 Wilson Prov. 5,893 p.: 14,16,229 ,... 4/6 Le Mans 127 p.: 1,7,22,25,31,... 7/10 Le Mans 99 p.: 1,12,16,... 3/4 Prov. Orléans 3,054 p.: 4,8,48 ,... 7/8 Prov. Orléans 3,405 p.: 3,28,... 4/4 Montluçon 132 p.: 1,7,18,21,22,23,... 7/11 Argenton 142 p.: 1,4,6,15,17,... 6/8　　

Main result 2012: Youngsters Fontena 347 p.: 1, 3, 4, 8, 13, 14, 26, 27, 28,... 23/33 Fontena 403 p.: 1,8,... 4/6 Blois 123 p.: 3,4,15,17,... 7/12 Blois 221 p.: 2,14,16,26,... 9/14 Blois 315 p.: 3,6,7,8,30,... 6/6 Prov. Blois 5,645 p.: 49,168,172,415 ,... 12/18 Blois 104 p.: 1,3,5,6,7,8,12,13,17,... 11/18 Prov. Blois 3,317 p.: 12,111,132,141,143,145 ,... 13/18 Tours 105 p.: 1,6,9,15,16,... 7/12 Fontena 249 p.: 1,3,4,... 5/6 Fontena 104 p.: 2,7,20,22,... 5/6 Fontena 164 p.: 2,10,16,20,... 8/12 Brianna 224 p.: 3,8,9,10,17,24 ,... 20/28