Vrancken – Berden, Kuringen shines with super star “Rico”: World’s best FCI Ace bird Short Distance 2020

In the Limburg village Kuringen you can find the house of Eric Vrancken and his family. The past years the tandem Vrancken – Berden has been one of the highlights in the bigger competition of Middle Limburg. It started with the 3rd Olympiad bird youngsters in 2017, 2 years later super star ‘Wout’ was born who became 2nd Olympiad bird youngsters in Poznan 2019 and now in 2021 they really hit it of with ‘Rico’ who brought more than one ace bird title to Kuringen. In detail this means that ‘Rico’ in his super season won the 1st National Ace bird Short Distance KBDB 2020, then he also became 1st National Olympiad bird Olympic Hope Cat. F KBDB 2020 and World’s best Ace bird FCI Short Distance (old – year birds and youngsters all together). This last title isn’t only for Belgium but over all the countries that compete in this competition. This is how he is doing even better than his father who won this title for Belgium as well in 2019.

 And now the circle is round as with 3,2,1, on the Olympiad competition during the past 3 years, but personally I think that the motivation from Eric and the super classful pigeons that are present are able to do so much more. 

Results of the championships KBDB 2017-2020

1st World’s best Ace bird FCI Short Distance ( old – year birds and youngsters together) 2020 

 1st World’s best Ace bird FCI Short Distance Belgium with “White Man”

 1st Nat Olympiad bird Olympic Hope Cat. F KBDB 2020 

 1st Nat Ace bird short distance youngsters KBDB 2020

 1st Prov Ace bird middle distance youngsters KBDB 2020 

 2nd Olympiad bird youngsters 2019 Poznan

 2nd Prov Ace bird short distance old KBDB 2019

 3rd Olympiad bird youngsters 2017 Brussel

 3rd Nat Ace bird short distance old KBDB 2019

 4th Nat Ace bird middle distance youngsters KBDB 2020 

 12th Nat Ace bird short distance year birds KBDB 2018

BE20/5031856 “Rico”

 1 World’s best Ace bird FCI Short Distance ( old – year birds and youngsters together ) 2020 

 1 Nat Olympiad bird Olympic Hope Cat.F KBDB 2020 

 1 Nat Ace bird short distance youngsters KBDB 2020

1            Laon                     2,924b

 1            Laon                       274b

 2            Laon                     4,451b

 3            Chimay                3,654b

 3            Chimay                 239b

 8            Dizy                      4,982b

 12          Vervins                5,077b

Father of ‘Rico’ is BE17/6214606 "White Man" – Rene Vervoort

 Raced at Vrancken Berden

 Super racer – 3 Nat Ace bird short distance KBDB 2019 – 12 Nat Ace bird short distance KBDB 2018 and

 1st World’s best Ace bird FCI Short distance Belgium

 Won ao. 2 Soisssons 4,153b ( 1-893b ) – 2 Chimay 1,791b ( 1-431b ) – 3 Dizy 2,682b ( 1-689b ) – 5 Chimay 1,319b ( 4-397b ) – 5 Chimay 1,557b ( 5-335b ) – 6 Soissons 2,229b – 6 Laon 1,488b – 9 Chimay 1,509b – 13 Laon 1,687b – 14 Chimay 2,629b – 19 Dizy 4,234b 

M Darby- Testimonials 

After 30 years out of the sport I started again in 2015, and although I had spent a lot of money at various studs, I was last every week. In 2017 I met Mark at Uttoxeter Pigeon Show and brought a Sagan pigeon from them. After visiting the loft I brought van den Bulcks and David Peeters which bred me fed toppers straight away, took first 8 in the fed in 2018 and winners every year since; I still go down and buy 6ybs from them each year. All I can say is thank you very much lads for all your help in the sport.

Darren Hadfield, Selston

Since starting back in the sport in 2017 Mark Darby’s pigeons have been responsible for me winning 3 RPRA awards 2017 /2018 /2019.

Many 1st prizes at club and fed level.

The birds fly fantastically as a team and individually on hard days.

Yours in sport

Nigel Easton, Portsmouth

I first got in touch with Mark in 2015 for a few youngsters and I have to say that they have really upped my game in the sport. I race against 12000 plus birds every week in the South Road federation and the Darby’s pigeons have no problem competing every week winning from 72 miles out to Penzance 220 miles. I have won channel averages, old bird averages, young bird averages and combined averages. In 2018 I won 14 first prizes and 14 second prizes, beating my loft mates. Mark’s pigeons have helped me to achieve this, so again just a big thank you to the lads on the quality of pigeons they have sent me over the last few years.

Anthony Cullen, Dublin 

Having first met Mark 10 years ago, when we were sourcing gust Jansens, we bought 3 pigeons off them. These 3 pigeons have gone on to be responsible for 5 generations of winners and we have added a few more off them over the years with the same outcome. Mark is at the top when sourcing the best sprint pigeons on the continent, are very knowledgeable and are a pleasure to deal with, honest and fair. Anyone purchasing pigeons from the lads will not be disappointed that’s for sure. All the best for 2021

Dean Bullock & Lofty, Ripon 

We Williams bros, son and Burgham of Tredegar S.Wales had a cock off Mark and for the last 2 seasons 2019/20 he has bred winners.

Sire 1st, 2nd & 3rd Welsh South Road fed - Brighton 151miles o/b 2020

1st Welsh South Road fed - Brighton 151miles y/b 2020.

Sire of 4 x 1st section winners in fed also

Welsh region RPRA yb winner 2019.

Welsh region sprint award winning 2020 and runner up.

Williams bros, son & Burgham, Tredegar

I have known Mark Darby for a few years now and from the start it was obvious they were pigeon fanatics, always buying the very best of the strain they wanted. The pigeons I obtained from them always did a good job for me performing from 60 miles to 400 miles. These are two good fanciers; when I had my stock birds stolen they were straight on the phone “…come and get these 6 pigeons”. Fantastic. 

Derek Taylor (Digger), Knottingley