2014 was a year to remember
It is no secret that gino Clicque can rely on a highly talented pigeon family capable of winning top prizes both at provincial and national level season after season. Still, 2014 was an exceptional season, with a title of 1st national champion longer middle distance, 2nd national champion long distance yearlings, and 1st national ace pigeon long distance, as well as a national victory from Montluçon, a 2nd national from Cahors, a 3rd national from Brive, and a 4th national from Tulle, adding up to a total of 31 top 100 finishes at national level. In addition, he has won the title of first general provincial champion, along with three provincial ace pigeon titles. The 2014 season saw Gino Clicque win 19 first prizes and 25 second prizes. It seems pigeon racing is not much of a challenge for Gino Clicque and his team. They competed with some of the greatest champions, just like they did in the sprint and the middle distance races earlier on. Gino is a highly motivated pigeon fancier who knows what he wants, and it seems there is still a lot more to come for him.
Star role for Golden Prince
Golden Prince was the pride of the 2014 team, a youngster from the third round that was trained one step at a time before really excelling in 2014. His three national results were won at the highest level, and they enabled him to win the title of national ace pigeon, while also winning the title of best yearling in the long distance PIPA ranking. He is a grandson of Super Prince, winner of a 5th nat. Bourges/ 22,476, a 4th nat. Bourges/10,906, a 6th nat. Argenton/ 10,549, and a 12th nat. Bourges/ 22,499 pigeons. This ‘Super Prince’ originates from the bloodlines of Dobbelaere, Reynaert and Paul Huls.
The dam of Golden Prince is based on the Bliksem line of Vandenabeele from his mother’s side, paired to Robert of Van Dobbelaere. This illustrates that Gino’s best pigeons are bred from his stock breeders.
Team Gino Clicque
Gino combines the running of a fairly large pigeon family with a full time job, and so he could use a helping hand from time to time. He can no longer rely on his loft manager, making it basically impossible for him to get all the work done. Gino is fortunate to gain help from Jasper and Eva, his son and daughter, who committed themselves to taking care of the pigeons on a daily basis. And, as we all know, every successful fancier is supported by a loving partner. The racing season is often a stressful period and making sure the pigeons are fed, basketed, released and called back inside can be a difficult undertaking. Still, being surrounded with a helpful and supportive team makes everything look a lot easier.
The bloodlines behind this breed
The Clicque pigeon family consists primarily of three stock bloodlines that have enabled Gino to develop a pigeon breed that combines both speed and strength, and that is capable of performing at a top level in the sprint, the middle distance and the long distance. These are his three key bloodlines:
-Robert & Chris Dobbelaere from Marke (De Robert-line)
-Antoon en Hilde Reynaert from Passedale (De Figo-line)
-Gaby Vandenabeele from Dentergem (De Bliksem- en Rudy-Line).
In addition, pigeons of Wilfried Vandemaele (Spencer) from Heule and Lucien Staelens from Wevelgem have been successfully introduced in this breed as well..
National championship prizes and best results of 2014
1st nat. ACE PIGEON KBDB long distance (with Golden Prince 3031767-13)
1st nat. CHAMPION KBDB longer middle distance yearlings
2nd nat. CHAMPION KBDB long distance yearlings
6th nat. ACE PIGEON KBDB longer middle distance yearlings (with Argentina 3031784-13)
8th nat. ACE PIGEON KBDB long distance young birds (with Alexandra 3028139-14)
1st nat. MONTLUCON yearlings (19,298)
2nd nat. CAHORS olds (7,140)
3rd nat. BRIVE yearlings (3,850)
4th nat. TULLE yearlings (5,731)
7th nat. MONTLUCON yearlings (19,298)
9th nat. POITIERS olds (12,379)
10th nat. LIBOURNE yearlings (3,238)
Gino has won a total of 31 top 100 finishes at national level
Provincial championships 2014
1st GENERAL CHAMPION KBDB WEST FLANDERS with an impressive 3 x 1st, 2 x 3rd and a 4th provincial ace pigeon!
1st prov. ACE PIGEON long distance yearlings
1st prov. ACE PIGEON long distance young birds
1st and 3rd prov. ACE PIGEON KBDB longer middle distance yearlings
3rd prov. ACE PIGEON long distance young birds
4th prov. ACE PIGEON long distance old birds
1st General champion long distance club Ieper
Overall results for 2014: 19 first prizes, 25 second prizes and 27 third prizes
Argentina and Alexandra, two highly talented hens
-Argentina BE13-3031784
6th nat. Ace Pigeon middle distance yearlings Montluçon nat. 7th/ 19,298 Poitiers nat. 50th/ 14,094 Bourges nat. 48th/ 3,461 Bourges prov. 11th/ 798 Tours prov. 2nd/ 2,964 Clermont 6th/ 765 Clermont 3rd/ 690 Bourges 8th/ 266
She also won a 7th prov. in a tough race from Tours against 2,948 young birds last year
-Alexandra BE14-3028139
8th national ace pigeon long distance young birds Argenton Zone A 5th/ 4,732 Tours Zone A 24th/ 4,436 Chateauroux Zone A 79th/ 3,956 La Souterraine Zone A 80th/ 2,877 Bourges Zone A 345th/ 3,700
Gino Clicque is one of a kind, and 2014 has been one of his best if not the best season in his entire career as a fancier, with the title of first national champion and 1st national ace pigeon as a crowning achievement. Many congratulations to the entire team of Gino Clicque on a spectacular racing season!
