History
BAT Bistrica Loft’s story is dated…long time ago…
My name is Svilen Stamatov and around 1985 when my father brought at home 2 pigeons and made a small cage at out apartment terrace. He was taking care of them, I was 6 years of age and he was giving them seeds and moisturized bread with cut leafs of salad… That was the very beginning – my first impression and experience with pigeons. My father was not pigeon breeder, he just got some birds as pets for the kids. After few years as I as growing, my summer vacations were spent at my grandfather’s villa and my family was bringing me every vacation there. At that time, my pigeons were with me and my grandfather built a bigger loft in the attic of his villa. It was not the best modern place, but what actually what a pigeon need – nice and clean dry place with small hole to go outside… and our attic has a roof door that was inside the loft. So everyday I was there and I could just open the roof and watch the birds going in and out. I had different types of pigeons but since I grew to 12 years I focused on racing pigeons. In my city – Varna, when I was growing, it was the oldest club for Racing pigeons in Bulgaria – named “Polet”. I was the youngest member that was free of charge, because at that time students were free to participate. Of course at that time was hard to have very good birds, but I took some eggs from some of the friends and some young birds from another. So that was the foundation of my inspiration with that amazing sport. Few years later I turned 18 and needed to pass army in Bulgaria so I have to give my pigeons to some friends. When army due was over, I was young man, who went to university and honestly I had no time for the pigeons. Few years later I met my present wife NATALIYA and we spoke many times about my child passion with pigeons. She was listening me with real interest, how is everything happen with pigeon returning home from a great distance, how a pair is making love play and take care of the nest and offspring…
Then another page turned in our life and we moved to Bulgaria’s capital – Sofia. We rented an apartment and lived few years like this. Our first son came to this world – KALOYAN and we become real parents. Then one, a friends who were using a villa which was rented decided to cancel the rent and in a conversation with my wife we decided that is a good time to try to get this villa and spent a nice time there – all the family, making a garden, planting some vegetables… and of course some chickens. When the small coop was built, my childhood dream came back to me… that I can have a small loft! It was easy, as the land was available, so I got my first pigeons in later in my age – I was 33 at that time. At 33, our second boy was born also – SIMEON.
We have started to develop our villa for few years and I got more an more inspired of my pigeons. After 3-4 years we decided to buy our own spot of land and build us a house and loft so we can develop us and our business to another level.
In 2014 that was completed and our own space was bought. In a village called Bistrica, near to Vitosha mountain, 10 km away of Sofia city center we had dreamed place.
In 2017 I was ready to start my racing career in Sofia club. At that time our club was a bit limited to short distance races but in 2018 and 2019 we succeeded to add more races in middle and long distance races – over 500km, up to 850km or even more. The only real difficulty to our Balkan terrain is the Old mountain barrier that the pigeons must cross to come back. Anyway , many Bulgarian clubs had same problem with terrain but in some years of testing the correct birds appear and the mountain crossing will not be a problem.
By the time I started to search for base birds so I bought from PIPA two base birds –
1st was Bender’s Best, bred by PEC (PIPA Elite Center) – direct daughter to Bender (1 Nat Ace GMD KBDB 2012) and mother is daughter to “The best” (1 Nat Ace MD WHZB 2008)
2nd was Cannonball 002, who was direct son of Olympic Cannonball of Aviator’s Loft – Martial Maindrelle.
We become friends with Martial and shared many important info about our knowledge for the birds and genetics. Martial is one of the best genetic breeders in the world.
So basically this is the short story of how pigeons influenced my life and my racing carrier was started.
In 2017 I bread a late pigeon that was not raced in that autumn. Next year in 2018 it was well grown male with half feathers changed only. That pigeon flew on all races including 2 races 500+ with prices on then. Then came the last race at 640km. Tat pigeons returned home with 40 minutes prior my second pigeon and 1:30h prior 5th pigeon that was the first one not from my loft. He finished 2nd ACE in Lond distance races in our club and 39th in national long races.
Next year in 2019 that pigeon was in my sight and a potentially a champion. On short races he did not show any very good results. Then the 1st 500+ km race came – it was a very hard race and main pigeons in whole club came, not very good. It was extremely hot and as usual was the 1strace that we generally change direction – behind the Old mountains (all short races are on the other side and Old mountains no need to be crossed). Anyway this pigeon got a price card from this race in mid prices.
Then came the main attraction to me – 2nd flight from 500+km – Tulcea, Romania – 520km. It was National flight for our club. My pigeon BG17-33271 was ready to fly. He came 1st national. Already gained 2 prices for the year… we got ready for 3rd race. That was race from Mikolaev, Ukraine. 850km. Our club never had races from this area and with such distance. I decided that this bird is ready and in preparations I was keeping him alone and every day I showed his female for an hour… He was so active and brought another females in his pace, so I had to take out many of females out. Then he brought his name: CASANOVA. Casanova was already a National winner, but there was another peak to go…
In early August we had this race… grouped with many Romanian clubs we brought our pigeons to their meeting point and Casanova was in, ready to fly 850km. Release time was 5:45am. Start was given and I was at home waiting for my birds… it was 16h when I started to look in the sky, too early for birds , but the excitement was so big! 17h, nothing, 18h, nothing, 19h, nothing. The speed was just drop below 1000m/min. At 19:59 with a speed 991m/min a pigeon came out of sky and at the moment I noticed it – it was Casanova…. Casanova came 1st for the club and only pigeon on the day and 2nd in the group.
Casanova won 6 price cards on 6 races over 500km. 1st on 640km in group and club. 1st on 520km national and 1st in the club on 850km. He became 1st ace pigeon for long distance national in out federation.