Mark Vandaele

 Mark Vandaele lives in Oostrozebeke Belgium.. He fly’s the middle distance races in the footsteps of his great "master" Gaby   Vandenabeele.
 In The beginning it was this grandfather Remi Vanackere that got Mark as a child interested in the sport. Mark had a great  interest for the pigeons. Remi was a great flier and it was not surprising that Mark spent more time at Remi’s lofts then at home.  He was there cleaning the lofts feeding the pigeons, and go to the club with Remi. When Mark was 12 years old Remi gave him  his own loft which he himself was responsible for. From that day Mark was a true pigeon fancier.

After Mark built his house and got married Mark got serious and was determined reach the top! Mark wanted to breed all round pigeons for races from 80 km up to 800 km. He was told by insiders that such birds would be difficult to find. But he did manage to find them and did not have to go very far for them. In Dentergem with grandmaster Gaby Vandenabeele mark was on the right address. His first acquisition was five hens but that was not sufficient and he succeeded in getting a larger number of birds, also with the result that his stock consists at the moment of 100% Vandenabeele birds. The breeding birds emanate from various bloodline of Gaby's birds; Wittenbuik, Turbo, Kleinen, Blauwe Fideel, Limoges, Picanol, Favoriet,. The first birds that Mark got from Gaby Vandenabeele were immediately put in the breeding loft. This proved a great success. The first season with the birds that Mark bred from them went very well, and to this day Mark exchanges pigeons with his friend Gaby. Gaby and Mark have become close friends through our common interest and dedication to our hobby. Mark enjoy’s the great advantage that Gaby is, and at all times ready to assist and guide Mark from his long experience and know how and thus helps him to achieve the success that he is so grateful to encounter.

Mark is fully concentrated on the care of his pigeons; Housing of the pigeons is important but the pigeons are the essential core of mark’s interest,  it is not surprising that his results are outstanding. The birds receive excellent care. The old birds are liberated at 8 am for morning training. The lofts are cleaned and the birds get fresh water and food. Later when the old birds are finished with the morning training the same thing happens with the youngsters. When it comes to food all birds both old and young are feed always the mixture of Gaby Vandenabeele. There are several other products that Mark uses such as grit, minerals, egg food. The pigeons are fed only sparingly, and between the feeding no food is available. So he keeps the birds hungry. As the day of Basketing approaches Mark adds a few things of the basic mixture it is sometimes more corn, hulled oats, peanuts, egg food. Mark enjoy’s that great advantage that Gaby is at all times ready to assist and guide him from his long experience and know how and thus helps Mark to achieve the success that he has so far.

Mark’s entire colony with a few exceptions are birds from Gaby's Vandenabeele. The best breeder Mark owns is the "Lightning Beauty", a son of the famous "Lightning" of Gaby Vandenabeele. Almost all of his descendants are birds such as "Super Lightning", the "Thunder", and all multiple 1st prize winners. Some of the top birds in the loft are the trendsetters "Top Speed”. This pigeon flew 2^nd   Roye 893d. 1^st  and 14^th  WVOU district Roye against 15,502 pigeons. Ablis this pigeon flew already 1^st 399d. 1^st  district Ablis, 1^st  WVOU against 10,670 pigeons. There is "Gordon" who flew the following results:2^nd  Arras 157b., 16^th Roye 308b., 12^th  Ablis 692b., 2^nd  Tours 145b., 17^th  Argenton 261b., 21^st  Argenton 112b., 6^th  Blois 105b., 29^th  Blois 595b., 30^th  Blois 377b., 45^th  1.318 b Poitiers. The "James" flew: 13^th Mouscron 147b., 1^st  Ablis 272b., 1^st  Ablis 319b., 19^th  Ablis 199b., 10^th  Argenton 331b.another top racer is "Oscar Black" who flew 4^th  Arras 151b., 2^nd  Arras 125b., 36^th  Argenton 475b.,  3^rd  Blois 89b., 2^nd  Blois 112 b.,  24^th  Roye 185b., 6^th  Ablis 151b., 5^th  Ablis 199b. just to name a few!

Argenton 261b.: 3^rd , 4^th , 12^th , 16^th , 17^th
Argenton 112b.: 7^th , 10^th , 13^th , 14^th
Ablis 199b.: 1^st , 5^th , 16^th , 19^th ,

Arras 125b. 2^nd , 5^th , 14^th , 15^th
Ablis 692b. 1^st , 10^th , 12^th

Blois 105b.: 1^st , 3^rd , 5^th , 6^th ,

Blois 114b. 2^nd , 5^th , 9^th , 14^th , 17^th

Mouscron 114b. 1^st , 2^nd , 4^th , 10^th
 Provincial: 2.739b. 10^th , 27^th , 180^th
Provincial: 1.002b.: 2^nd , 16^th , 21^st , 30^th
Tours 145b. 2^nd , 7^th