Strong together in AfricaPro. What a dream start! Our team name? Quite the mouthful: Cools & Van Haute / Hageman / SchalkwijkPigeons.nl / Wiersema A beautiful 2 Countries blend of experience, young talent and, above all, a deep love for pigeons. Two races into the AfricaPro 2025 series, and what a start it has been! After Race 1, we found ourselves right at the top of the rankings, and after Race 2 we’re proud to say we are currently 1st in the Black Jacket standings. We’re keeping both feet firmly on the ground, the road is still long, but this gives us great confidence. Results so far: Race 1: pigeons 913 and 914 finished 7th and 18th out of 2,700+ birds + Race 2: once again in the spotlight with 25th and 34th place. Notably, these same two birds also flew at the front during training.After two races, all 20 of our pigeons are still in play, quite an achievement in itself! What makes it even more special is that all our birds went through long quarantine periods, yet they are performing in top form. A testament to their quality and the excellent care at AfricaPro. With the next races just around the corner, we remain calm, focused, and most of all, we enjoy the process. Meet the Team: * Cools & Van Haute (BE) A team built on generations of pigeon passion, a golden mix of tradition, knowledge, and enthusiasm. Cools Pigeons: Competing at the top of the Belgian middle-distance scene since the 1990s. Renowned specialists in top-performing hens. Consistent success with both old and young birds. More info: www.coolspigeons.com Van Haute & Zn: Flying at the highest level in Belgium’s toughest classics. Wins include: 1st Prov. Bourges, 1st Prov. Châteauroux, 1st Nat. Zone Issoudun, 1st Nat. Zone Bourges, 1st Prov. Argenton. Strongest between 250 and 600 km with impressive speeds Proven internationally in races such as Dubai OLR * Jean-Paul Hageman (NL) Specialises in strong marathon and long-distance pigeons, ideal for races up to 1,000 km. Achieved 1st place in the semi-final and 3rd in the final of the Milan’s Best Pigeons OLR. Additionally, he won 1st Ace Pigeon overall and 1st Ace Pigeon Endurance in that series. 1st National (2nd Int.) from Perpignan with his hen Princess MO. Jean-Paul brings structure and strategy to the team through thoughtful analysis, race planning, and calm leadership, a true connector and natural team player. * SchalkwijkPigeons.nl Gerard & Katiuska Schalkwijk (NL). Famous for legendary birds like Lady in the Dark (Int. Acepigeon Maraton), Orange Oil (Int Acepigeon Barcelona over 3 years), and Goldplay (1st Nat Perigeuex). Achieved top results both nationally and internationally. True specialists in genetics, focusing on developing strong, healthy pigeons with high-quality bloodlines. Follow updates on Instagram & Facebook: Schalkwijk Pigeons. * Wendela Wiersema (NL). A rising talent with an impressive track record. Wendela grew up in a true pigeon family and now runs her own loft. Highlights: 1st NPO Issoudun, 2nd NPO Châteauroux, multiple top prizes in ZLU races, and ace pigeon titles. Her passion and dedication shine through in everything she does, a breath of fresh air in the team, perfectly balancing youth and experience.