10/06/2026
Article in De Duif about Team Eijerkamp winning 1. National Argenton
TEAM EIJERKAMP
1st National Argenton against 15,386 old birds
Fastest of 37,697 pigeons
Pulderbos – A new name in Belgian pigeon racing, Team Eijerkamp. Two weeks ago we already wrote about it: Hans and Evert-Jan Eijerkamp purchased the location and the pigeons of Andre Roodhooft in Pulderbos this past winter. This was done to make the dream of their top caretaker Oliver Sabol come true, and also a little bit their own dream (to compete with the absolute top in Belgium).
With the provincial and zonal victory at Bourges two weeks ago, they already presented their first business card. And at that time we already said that Oliver Sabol was someone who had to be watched closely.
TEAM EIJERKAMP
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Oliver himself said at the time:
“The next race means nothing to me — Noyon is only training — I want to be there again on Argenton!”
“The next race means nothing to me — Noyon is only training — I want to be there again on Argenton!”
And Oliver stood there at 13:02:01 as we recorded “Belgian Dream” (B24-6178333), good for 1st National against 15,386 old birds, and at 1,556.5 m/min also the fastest pigeon of the entire release of 37,697 pigeons and yearlings.
Oliver had entered 21 pigeons for Argenton, including 17 hens, all raced on the classic widowhood system.
During our earlier conversation it already became clear that Oliver “is not someone who is quickly satisfied.” We already stated that this Croatian could very well become a National winner. That was his dream in Croatia, and now he can also realize it in Belgium. Always outspoken and never too modest when it comes to his own abilities, he was therefore nicknamed “The Croatian Cannibal.” Oliver himself answered jokingly that he was called “Hannibal” because he was a great conqueror. Naturally that was a joke, but now he shows he truly possesses the ambition of this top racer. From now on we may officially call him “Hannibal the Croatian Cannibal.” No matter how sympathetic he may be, many competitors will probably curse him in the future! Cannibals never leave much for the rest.
Chaos is the only constant
Now you all want to know what his secret is. According to him it is simply “100% not milking the system further and chaos.” Oliver absolutely does not like always doing the same thing. He wants to keep the pigeons “sharp” by not giving them the chance to adapt to the system.
“As soon as pigeons know what is coming, they become lazy.”
Oliver:
“I also like doing things differently from what everyone else does. If you do the same thing as everyone else, you cannot win. You have to do something to stand out. I never do the same thing and I never write anything down. Because once you start rereading notes from previous things, you repeat those things. I think everything changes over time and ideas change too, because circumstances also change.”
“I also like doing things differently from what everyone else does. If you do the same thing as everyone else, you cannot win. You have to do something to stand out. I never do the same thing and I never write anything down. Because once you start rereading notes from previous things, you repeat those things. I think everything changes over time and ideas change too, because circumstances also change.”
Winning through jealousy
The widowhood cocks were paired on January 15th, the hens in March. The winning hen was one of the best pigeons of the season. On Toury she won 1. against 4.933 p. She only missed this season on Bourges.
In the Netherlands he trained every week (on Wednesday) between the races, but in Belgium he does not think this is necessary because there are enough regular races on the sprint. On Sunday the pigeons raced Noyon and and on Wednesday before Argenton (basketing Thursday) they went to Quiévrain. Oliver thinks this is really beneficial because they had a training with the same weather conditions as Argenton (wind in the tail). Even though with a small heart, because the weather conditions were not ideal… and it was therefore a relief when they were released.
After returning from Quiévrain, the partner cocks were half-closed in the next boxes. Except for three hens. The cock was there but all locked up, but those three hens were allowed to wander around and could not get in with the others. They tried to get into the box or into another hen’s box searching for their cock. In this way Oliver hoped to motivate them through jealousy, frustration it was. The winning hen was one of those three. This does not necessarily mean he will do the same with the next national race. Quite the opposite probably! Oliver likes, in his own words, to “play with the pigeons mentally” to keep them motivated.
Training under all circumstances
At home they train twice daily in the three weeks before Bourges. Both cocks and hens have to fly for 45–60 minutes and the skydancer ensures they keep flying. Not sure yet but probably he will keep this regime the rest of the year. The course of the season determines everything and proving oneself in certain races will decide what the strategy will be in the future. Training will be done with all weather conditions.
During races they must eventually also learn to fly in 30°C or in rain. If it rains a lot in the afternoon he will keep them inside, but lets them out in the morning, then there is enough time to dry. Furthermore, in very difficult conditions the best pigeons emerge. Then the “reliable winners” appear.
After each race with more days basketed, the pigeons will be disinfected, including after this Argenton race. The day after the race they receive sugars and electrolytes. The next race will probably be La Châtre, but he is not certain to score there yey. Preferably he wants to race more succesfully towards La Souterraine.
Before the season they were treated against paramixo and salmonella and they also received a treatment against tricho. Before the season they also get something for the head. These preparations repeated and two days before Argenton they were treated with OCG from Dr. Hans van der Sluis (Noorden, NL).
Oliver: “Anyone who gives pigeons medication to win and never does it for motivation, those pigeons simply do not have it.”
Hannibal the Croatian Cannibal!
Before the national victory on Argenton, Oliver had already achieved: 1–3–10 Provincial Bourges old birds and earlier 1st Toury against nearly 5,000 competitors. What an entrance for Oliver in Belgium.
Before the season Andre Roodhooft had already said that he would certainly one day win a national race here, perhaps not immediately but eventually.
He should not wait long before it was already on his first year. A better way to motivate Oliver simply does not exist.
He notices now that winning in Belgium means even more than in the Netherlands. The counter currently stands at Monday morning on more than 400 messages and 186 phone calls (and 4 when we were there).
Oliver:
“Also on sportive perspective it means more here. I used to win a lot in the Netherlands but we never raced against Willem de Bruijn, Bakker of Verkerk for example. Because I never raced directly against them. When you win in Belgium, all the best lofts are beaten. The future of winning pigeon will be in the breeding loft. She is already mother of one of the best yearling cock. Oliver would certainly raced her again if he could choose.
“Also on sportive perspective it means more here. I used to win a lot in the Netherlands but we never raced against Willem de Bruijn, Bakker of Verkerk for example. Because I never raced directly against them. When you win in Belgium, all the best lofts are beaten. The future of winning pigeon will be in the breeding loft. She is already mother of one of the best yearling cock. Oliver would certainly raced her again if he could choose.
What Oliver still expects from the future, now that he has realized his great dream — a national victory in Belgium — is clear:
Oliver:
“I would most like to win another national race, if possible this year with the young birds, then I can just say that I not only have been lucky, that it was not a one-hit wonder.” (laughs)
“I would most like to win another national race, if possible this year with the young birds, then I can just say that I not only have been lucky, that it was not a one-hit wonder.” (laughs)
Sabol is a very sympathetic guy with whom you can talk about pigeons for hours, but in the races he is ruthless. And when he wins and sees the competition suffering, then he is Hannibal the Croatian Cannibal.
— Mike
Article in "De Duif" 
Article in "De Duif"
