Already early in the spring a nice prize was won on the short distance race from Asse Zellik: 65th against 2,865 pigeons and with some smaller prizes they were warmed up for the further work. And hot it got… The hottest summer since 1976 with weekly winds from a (north) easterly direction. All the flights were spirited. And starting May 20, TGV is coming into form. On Pont Sint Maxence (387 km) a 25th in the Kring against 2,587 pigeons. In all of North Holland, this is a creditable 72nd place against 11,726 pigeons. Then comes the first day long distance race Pithiviers (514 km). Not yet fully convinced of his abilities on the further flights, TGV is basketed as 3rd signed. Consequently, he did not arrive at the loft first but with a 23rd NPO against 5,717 pigeons he brought in a lot of designated points.

After a week of rest, the second day long distance race Issoudun (650 km) will follow. Due to poor route visibility, the flight was reduced to Laon by only 329 km. Now his high base speed comes in handy, as most day long-distance pigeons are sprinted out. Result a 7th NPO against 4,185 pigeons. Wonderful result, but you have nothing to gain because the flight does not count for the day long distance in the national competitions. However, the realization did come that we were dealing with a handsome pigeon here. So from then on he was always put as 1st drawn and that confidence was not betrayed.

On the first sector flight from Chateauroux (669 km) he was admittedly put at a considerable disadvantage by loftmate ‘Juno’ who played a 2nd in North Holland and a 5th in the sector against over 12,000 pigeons. But of course, a 30th NPO against 4,067 pigeons is still a top performance. And then after 3 flights you are 1st champion pigeon Dagfond in North Holland. With 3 flights left, anything can still happen. And especially on an Argenton (698 km) with headwinds. Then you have to be of good stock to catch on. Many pigeons have already dropped out because they simply can’t handle the conditions and then such a cracker over it. And then after 10.5 hours of flying, three pigeons arrived within 1 minute. TGV just manages to sprint into the loft first, winning another 7th NPO. Red Harry, half-brother of TGV comes 8th and the 020 aka The Amsterdammer (cousin of TGV) comes 9th. This time against 2,853 pigeons.
And then comes the flight of the year: national Chateauroux. Could we shine on this again like we did in 2016? Unfortunately, with a brisk northwest wind, we hit the worst-case scenario. Nationally it may not be an early one but in North Holland we should be able to sit in again, right? And once again TGV ticks first. Only 10 minutes from the winner of the competition, but they fall hard so no place among the top-10. He finished 14th NPO against 2,217 pigeons.

On Friday, the Track of Champions drops in the mail. And to our great surprise, we see that TGV is in provisional 2nd place in the Dagfond in the WHZB/TBOTB competition. Behind a super pigeon from Lisse. But because in some departments the 2nd flight was not released on a day long distance, the 6th and last day long distance flight also counts. So we still have a chance. But yes what are the chances of TGV taking a top prize again. Then everything has to work out.

Like every day you come into the loft and look at your best pigeon. And then it turns out there are two pens in his brood box. Well #@$# !!! His 1st ánd 2nd pen thrown simultaneously on one side. A large gaping hole in his wing. It also feels a little thin. Even has some bad manure. Doubt strikes. Does he still need to come along? People start calling and offering a lot of money to buy him. But we are not selling it and certainly not for flight. Chinese come by to view TGV. Even the evening before basketing for the last flight. The two ingrown pins are nowhere near as far ingrown as they should be. Still, TGV feels good again. He’s coming along!

Just before basketing we hear that the flight from Gien (550 km.) will be shortened to Fontenay (513 km.) because of the heat. Well, that may not be entirely detrimental to him given the course of the previous two weeks. Normally we are not so nervous before a flight, but now the tension was running high. The last flight. Make or break… In the garden, blood hot weather, with the usual viewers in attendance. And then suddenly a pigeon. We didn’t see it coming because it was coming from the west. On the swing, on the flap and in it. Almost too fast for the camera. But it was the TGV again so that was a good sign. Forwarding. Not the first report in the club. That is usually not a good sign, but our club flies so well that it says little. So too this time. 4th report on compuclub live. That’s not bad. In each case with that became the 1st Champion Pigeon in the Division 6 North Holland and won the necessary 1st championship in the Fondclub of Division 6 North Holland.

But what about WHZB? Obviously looked at the performance of the competitors and not many could come ahead, right?