SERGE VAN ELSACKER-JEPSEN
of Schilde, Belgium
by Tony Coombs
In 2009, whilst attending the Spring Exchange at Houten, we took the opportunity to visit the van Elsacker-Jepsen lofts at Schilde, Belgium. Along with most of the coach party we were given a very warm welcome by both Serge and his wife Kirsten. Openness, sincerity and honesty would best describe the answers given to the many questions asked of Serge. Many of his top pigeons were available for handling and discussion. We are well aware of the many UK fanciers who succeed with pigeons originating from van Elsacker-Jepsen lofts and now it is no longer a surprise for to me to understand why this success follows the pigeons where ever they go.
I was left in no doubt that Serge is a fancier, even though being at the top of the sport for 25 years, who is always looking for continuous improvement in his pigeons, methods and knowledge.
The pigeons are targeted towards the middle to long distance races. Most of the pigeons I handled were medium sized, feeling muscular in the hand and they epitomised the phrase 'silky feathered'. The origin of his strain has come from numerous Dutch and Belgian fanciers, all with the common denominator of success behind them. Serge has no hidden agenda when selecting new stock, in the fact that he must also like the owner of the new pigeons just as much as he likes the pigeons themselves as well as their performances. The base pigeons are basically Janssen – Meulemans, Stoces, Schellens (Louis De Leus), Hofkens and for the last two years also the Gaby Vandenabeele pigeons.
Serge races his pigeons on the total widow system, expecting top performances from both cocks and hens enabling him to always select from performance, his best hens and best cocks for future stock birds.
When racing his corn mixture is basically the same all week, which may be topped up with a sunflower hearts, crushed peanuts and pop corn maize nearer basketing for the longer races.
He chooses only natural products from Rhonfried in his water, which include cider apple vinegar (Avidress), Blitzform and Avipharm. He told us that as each year goes by he tends to use less and less of the products that he once used.
Most interesting to me was that like so many other top continental fanciers he is not too hung up over the cleaning of his YB lofts, preferring Pea/Bean straw on the floor and only changing it when needed. Guidance from an Ad Schaerlaeckens article I believe. This practice avoids many of the e-coli (YBS) problems that many fanciers encounter, he assured us.
His lofts were roomy and well ventilated and even his stock pairs, most of whom were in single pairs in aviaries, were ensured to have plenty of room.
Such continuous improvement of the Van Elsacker-Jepsen stock and methods has accumulated in the following results in 2010 alone:
1st champion yearlings Antwerp Union middle distance 2010
1st champion old birds long distance Antwerp Union 2010
1st champion yearlings middle distance Antwerp Union-ZAV 2010
2nd champion long distance yearlings Antwerp Union 2010
2nd King Antwerp Union 2010
1st Champion middle distance yearlings Schilde 2010
1st champion old birds middle distance Schilde 2010
1st acepigeon allround schilde yearlings (Tijger 6065060.09)
2nd acepigeon allroundschildeold birds (Speedy Gonzales 6092226.09) 2" nat. ace pigeon 2009 kbdb
4th National Championship great middle distance (all Belgium )
1st champion yearlings kempische fondklub (kfc)
1st ace pigeon yearlings 6136216.09 kempische fondklub (kfc)
2nd champion old birds kempische fondklub (kfc)
trophy winner MSN championship yearlings
3rd olympiad pigeon middle distance Poland with "Speedy Gonzales" and also the 5th 'Olympiad pigeon middle distance Poland with "Tinkelbel"
A modern family of pigeons with top performances under the care of a genuine family was the topic of conversation on the coach home.
