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Details: Published: 01 January 2020; Hits: 1808

LES J. PARKINSON'S

NEWS-REPORTS-ARTICLES

Henry Van Neste of Feluy

The visits to Belgian lofts had been arranged by Guillaume Vanneste and he had not given himself as driver a great deal of time because we had two hectic days to see some excellent lofts. So what a great day it was when I had the opportunity to visit one of the legends in pigeon racing, a real master and one whose performances have been noticed for many years. There is no doubt about it, he has been an outstanding fancier on the international scene for many years and he is Henri Van Neste of Feluy, Belgium. This is a fancier who has been at the top of in racing pigeons for well over 40 years and during that time his performances point to the fact that he has no intention of giving up.

Henry Van Neste's old bird race loft

I did not catch all of the conversation but I did get the outline of the story and it was about Bilco, one of our scribes for many years and one who has been in the company of Henri Van Neste on many occasions. There was one thing for certain and that is they were exchanging what appeared to be amusing stories of the past and Bilco appeared to be in the thick of the conversation. While we were sitting in the living room of the Van Neste home, Henri’s wife Esther was bringing in refreshments all the time and she was certainly keen for us to have a glass of port with Henri, the only trouble was one went into two and she would not take no for an answer, and the select biscuits were going down well with the port.

As the port went down the stories continued and I was watching Henri, who I am told is no 85yrs and he was really enjoying the chat with Frans & Guillaume. It's just a pity that I could not understand it all. Even though Henri's father was not a pigeon fancier, Esther’s uncle was Honore Vandemeulebroucke of Lauwe who was well known for his family of Stichelbauts. They were not the only family that he had because there was also another well known line and theyw ere those of Charles Van Der Espt. The obvious choice for any family is go to the source so pigeons were obtained direct from a legend of the sport Alois Stichelbaut who was a close neighbour of Honore Vandemeulebroucke in the 30s. Many winning fanciers get a break and that was the case with Henri when in 1961 received 10 eggs from Esther's uncle that led to a great team of racing and breeding pigeons that went on to record performances that were noted by fanciers world wide. Even today we see many fanciers racing and winning with the old lines of Alois Stichelbaut, bloodlines that figure prominently especially in distance winners. It is surprising how many fanciers do or have used this line over the years and with great success. Alois obviously had a small select team that he spread lightly and then others benefited and crossed them as so many do. That was also the case with Henri who over the years brought pigeons in from other top fanciers such as Leopold Bostyn, Andre Lietaer whose are Stichelbaut lines anyway so a good introduction.

Henry Van Neste with Frans Rigole

Then we see the pigeons from Germain Imbrecht whose lines can be seen in today’s stock and with them living only a few miles apart Henri and Germain were frequently in conversation and exchanged of pigeons. Then we have Robert Fayt, Jacques Pattijn then more up to date the likes of Henri Deleu and Pol Tossens. The last to be brought in are the origin of the Cobut strain are: Pure Duray (Ecaussines); Cattrysse and. Coudou pigeons. Henri, like most fanciers, is always looking to improve his stock. No matter how many birds are brought in Henri would only select a few from each loft and when he did select they were really selective. All top winning fanciers are going to be careful about the pigeons that they introduce into their lofts and Henri was as selective as they come. What was noticeable about the pigeons and that is how many reds there are housed in these lofts, and this colour has produced many good winners. I wonder how much the influence of the Imbrecht line has had on producing so many winning reds in one loft.

Over the years the methods around the lofts have changed slightly and with his retirement from the mill he has more time with the pigeons. It was his business that brought about the new house where they live and during this major change Henri parted with most of his birds, especially the race team. When many pass on a major part of their team they find it hard to get back but with a fancier as successful as Henri that was not too hard and he soon established a winning team again. Henri was soon once again on the winning trail and the National performances were soon to be seen at the new lofts in Feluy. The birds left were carefully paired and it was a known fact that Henri preferred to use such pairings as uncle to niece, aunt to nephew and cousins so they are not too close because he would steer away from brother and sister, father and daughter, mother and son pairings. Also as with most fanciers Henri was always looking for a class pigeon to bring in as an outcross but before they went to far into his team they would be thoroughly tested, then and only then if they were successful would they go all the way into his team. By breeding this way Henri did not have to breed large numbers as so many do in Belgium to reach his goal. Through his expertise of breeding and the knowledge that he had collected over the years Henri soon collected a top win when he won his first Long Distance Champion of the Colombophile Belge. So it took just two years to establish a winning team of pigeons after moving to the new home and racing lofts. Henri has terrific stock sense which was a subject that I discussed many years ago with the late Denis Gleave who had his own thoughts on breeding winning pigeons. Denis was a farmer and would always say that to breed winners no matter what sort you needed stock sense and his came through being a farmer and there are quite a few farmers about who successfully race pigeons.

Henry Van Neste with Guillaume Van Neste & Les J Parkinson

In the modern day of racing pigeons fanciers have their won thoughts on what distances they race from and in Henri's case the main interest is the middle and long distance races but he does, like so many others, send to the shorter races as part of their preparation for the season ahead. Pigeons are bred for a reason and Henri believes they are bred for a distance and his are for the middle to long distance and that is where he prefers to keep them. Henri has based his pigeons on the choice of races that he likes to compete in and they are preferably the distance events. This fancier is different from many of the continentals because he races more so on the old tradition UK system of pairing the birds up in Mid March. Something else that he does is to get the racers on eggs but they are not allowed to rear a nest of young birds, they are raced dry. The 2yo and upward team are the one’s that do not rear a young bird, instead they are on eggs for about ten days and then the hens are removed and placed in their own section. The yearlings are treated differently because they do rear one young bird and that is from the stock loft. The yearlings are then raced up to about 350mls during late May, June and early July. The young birds are not very often raced and while we were there they were out exercising and Henri was telling us that they are three rounds off the stock and they exercise for around 4hrs each day and that is all in one go. I must admit that we were there for quite some time and they showed no intention of dropping on the loft and there was no flag so it was at their own discretion.

The only lofts we actually saw while on this visit was the young bird loft because the old bird loft was off limits due to being close to basketting for the weekend's race. The actual old bird loft was in the top half of the new house and a great deal of care had gone into the design so that fancier and birds could be confined to the same building. Henri did say that the yearlings and old birds have their own sections with two for the established team and one for the yearlings, they are never mixed. There is also a corridor the full length of the upstairs loft and there is good ventilation through the roof. The next move after the long distance events have finished the old birds are left to rear a nest of young and these are treasured for the future as Henri believes they make excellent stock birds. It is nearly on going system because by the time they are all separated and the late breds have been seen to Henri is looking at sorting the stock birds out to pair at the end of November.

Henry Van Neste's young bird loft

On about exercising, the widowhood cocks also exercise well and quite easily do their hour at both ends of the day and again they are not flagged so they must always be in good condition. For the pigeons to exercise like they do they have to be fed on good corn and fed well and from what I gather they are. I do wonder if the woods that are part of the property are anything to do with why they exercise because there must be quite a few wild birds knocking about and they could disturb them to a certain extent. What I was surprised at about the exercise regime is that Henri does not let the old birds and yearlings out together, the old are out first and then the yearlings. I would like to have seen more and been able to understand the conversations that were going on, I did get some of it but more would have been very nice.

Raymond Cobut friend of Henry Van Nest and supplier of pigeons

I would like to thank Mick Bray and Guillaume Vanneste for their help in gathering information on this legend of the pigeon racing world. I would also like to thank Henri Van Neste and his good lady for their time and looking after us on this occasion and it was a pleasure to meet one of the legends of the sport.

Strains for a system

How many times do we bring new pigeons into our loft only to find that they do not suit the system so out they go again? This may be seen by many as an ongoing problem because they cannot get to grips with a certain fancied family of pigeons. Some pigeons have recently come into my position for a short stay and I am amazed at how they have reacted and they are not old young bird’s neither they are about May/June bred. But they are already showing keenness and have paired up even though there are no boxes in that section. There are also old cocks and hens but they have not shown the drive that the Nadira pigeons have so far shown. I am looking at them and thinking that they could make a good roundabout pigeon with both the cocks and hens showing interest at such an early age. I also wonder just how many fanciers do not give their new introductions a chance to prove themselves. I must say that I am impressed with these pigeons and will probably be taking a look at introducing a couple myself after all I am always prepared to try something new, trouble is they nearly always don’t react to the way I do things. But as I say with the way these are now showing at their age they might just be worth a try. Nadira is probably the best pigeon ever raced in Europe having won 2 x 1st Internationals plus many more positions so could be OK.

Club/Fed news

My first club news this week just missed the deadline last week and it is from Mick Barlow who tells me that 11 members from the Blackpool Col sent 309 birds to Penkridge when they were liberated at 11am in fresh westerly wind. The man himself Mick Barlow had 6 drop together 3 timed on same minute 12.54.00. his first was the same blue pied cock that won the week before and also collected the £5 NOM after topping the sheet. Thinking he had won he set off to club to have his hopes dashed by Ron and Shirley Mott who had timed a mealy Lambrecht cock to beat the trio by two yards. This partnership have flown out of their skins this year from race one, so well done yet again. Mick managed to win the money so some consolation. As ever Kenny Cardwell was right behind the leaders as was George Parker. The South West Cheshire fed race from Swainswick saw 52 members enter 774 birds that were liberated at 10.45am in a West wind. This week the fed was topped by Middlewich 5B winner Bill Whisker who finished ahead of Greenbank winners Dave & Baz Mellor who were also 5th. In the Crewe West End the red card went to Manley & Lloyd ahead on fellow club member Colin Lindop. 6th position goes to Ken & Stan Bosson with Mike O’Hare & Ron Woodward next on the list. Me old mate Bob Humphries comes in 8th ahead of Mick & Wendy Mellor 9th and C Rowtledge 10th. There are just two club winners missing out on the top ten of the fed result this week and they are Hitchin & Horsfield who led the way in the Wettenhall 10B while Graham Davies did likewise over at Henkelow. Meanwhile the Moulton club were at Mangotsfield when 6 members entered 92 birds that were led home by a grizzle hen pooled all the way and racing to the lofts of Mr & Mrs Roy Croxton on 1715ypm. 2nd & 3rd went to R Barnett with two blue cocks recording vels of 1687/1681ypm. 4th went to Mr & Mrs Phil Buckton who saw home a blue cock on 1640ypm. Other pool winners are Peter Atherton and Alan Dimelow. The Lostock FC were at Wincanton that saw 8 send 214 birds with the top two positions going to Robert Kent who saw home a blue pied and chequer both being hens to record vels of 1671/1669ypm. Kenny Burke 3rd after seeing a chequer hen go through the trop on 1666ypm ahead of Keith Herbert who saw home a chequer pied cock on 1653ypm. In the Minshull midweek race from Kempsey 9 sent 291. The top two positions go to John Stubbs with two blue cocks that recorded vels of 1309/1308ypm, john has not been in the best of health so we wish him well. 3rd goes to Kenny Burke and his very good helping hand Gary Hodkinson are racing a very good pigeon. I was talking to Keith Herbert at the marking for the mid week club and he was telling me that since Gary has started to help Kenny with the pigeons out has gone the old loft and in with a new one so we shall have to call in one day and take a look. 4th goes to Keith Herbert who clocked a blue cock to record a vel of 1304ypm. PO Malcolm Hewitt sends the latest from the Rudheath club whe were at Mangotsfield for their latest races. 1st & 2nd go to the Wincham wizard Derek “Del Boy” Woodward with his team of Syndicate Loft specials and are two blues recording vels of 1742/1740ypm. Malcolm went on to tell us that Derek also had 2 more right up behind them but the club have a gentleman’s agreement that only the first two take club prizes but the others do go for fed honours only, well done Derek (Malc). 3rd is Big Daddy himself Jim Smith with a blue hen not bad for a send of only 8 birds from Jim the vel is 1737ypm. We then have the Magic Man himself Ian Cooper who has been slow getting his young birds going which is about usual and records a vel of 1684. Malcolm also sends the provisional result for the clubs breeder/buyer race flown in conjunction with this race.1st with a breeder/buyer is Paul Harrison whose Roland Janssen grizzle was bred himself to take £355. 1n second place is one bred by Frank Lockwood & Ann Curbishley and raced by Paul Harrison over at Weaverham to net them both another £108 each and that made it a good race for Pau so well done to everybody concerned. In the Poynton RBLHS 12members sent 209 birds to Hullavington approx 128 miles. Mike Webb was 1st 2nd & 4th Club, 1st & 2nd North Sect Fed 636 birds vels 1521/1520.3/1515ypm. Mike’s birds were two Jos Thorn cross Koopmans whilst the other was a gift bird from club mate Geoff Townley. Ernie Sellars was 3rd Club, 3rd North Sect Fed vel 1520.03ypm with a gift bird from club mate Ken Johnson. Poynton’s third YB race was also from Hullavington where 11 members sent 170 birds. Mike Webb took the first three positions in the Club and North Sect of the Fed 559 birds vels 1639/1636.9/1636.5ypm with Three Jos Thone cross Koopmans off Ian Stafford. Richard Given was 4th Club & North Sect vel 1632 with a Chris Knowles Roland Janssen x Van Camp. The Middlewich FC were at Mangotsfield when the partnership of O’Hare & Woodward took the top two positions with two blue Vandenabeele hens recording vels of 1767.7/1767.4ypm. 3rd goes to Alan Groom on 1733ypm with a dark Van Den Bosche hen racing to the perch while Mr & Mrs Dudley Niblett continue to be amongst the prize winners with a chequer Van Den Bosche hen on 1710ypm both the later two were flying to the perch. In the Middlewich 5B Dave Wilkinson tops the list with a chequer cock while son Craig racing to his new address is working hard to catch up with dad David who clocked a chequer Lambrecht cock on 1668ypm. This winner also won a few weeks earlier and has been raced as a hen but it is becoming obvious that this is a cock. Alan Groom is there yet again and took the rubber off a blue w/f Van den Bosche hen racing to the perch while Winsfords Mel Bratt came home 3rd on 1661ypm. 4th goes to Dave & Lynn Healey who saw home a blue cock going through the ETS system, Dave was saying that he finds it much easier that the old system of catching the pigeons. There pigeon is from the Scottish lines that have been doing well and crossed with the Dutch Janssen’s that are now their number one stock pair. John Lawson called to drop the result of the latest race for the Royal Wires members, not very often that I catch him because he usually drops the notes through the door and is gone. John was saying how well the Frank Howard pigeons are flying for fanciers and also those of John Kirk who is not in the best of health at the moment we wish him well. The club were at Mangotsfield when 10 sent 135 and held in conjunction with the breeder/buyer race being held this year. Bill Mather had a good race with 1st 3rd & 4th recording vels of 1729/1703/1701ypm. The club his winner being a blue hen bred from stock off Frank Howard. His 3rd is a blue Walter Docx cock bred from John Kirk’s stock with the sire winning 6 x 1sts and then going into the stock loft with the dam being a half sister to the sire and also won for Bill. 2nd went to John Donaldson and is the breeder/buyer winner and was bred by Ray Worrall. The breeding on the sires side is Steve Cook’s Leo Van Rijn while the dam is from Ray’s own stock. The West Coast fed moved on to Worcester that saw 60 members enter 1601 birds to be liberated at 8.45am in a light South Wind. Once again in the driving seat and is another good week for father and son partnership Roskell & Williamson taking first three positions with the first and third birds bred from their old stock of Hession Van Reets, second bird also bred by themselves from Frans Vanwildemeersch stock. The partnership also took another four positions in the Federation being 1st 2nd 3rd 13th 14th 15th 16th entered via the Pilling club. The next five positions were taken by fellow club members and the two Overwyre clubs taking eighteen positions in the Fed this week. 4th & 5th go to Mr & Mrs H Pearson followed by Mr & Mrs French who were 6th & 20th fed. M Duckworth clocked two close together collecting 7th & 8th while the Stalmine club was won by JB Riley with 9th ahead of the Blackpool Col winner Kenny Cardwell who was 10th & 11th fed. 12th went to Jones & Harrison racing with the Kirkham & Wesham HS with JA Devalle from the Staining HS being 17th & 18th leaving 19th for Brian Fisher who won the Queens Inv. Club winners not appearing in the top 20 this week are Blane, Edge & Blane from the Fleetwood HS. J Mclellan who entered via the Fleetwood & Dist HS. Roy & Mark Acton in the Marton HS. C Mellor & Son from the Thnornton & Cleveleys Club. Roskell & Williamson win the H Burgess Memorial Trophy. The 3 Charity races average was won by Ron & Shirley Mott on 1574ypm ahead of the in form Roskell & Williamson with a vel of 1569ypm. The South West Cheshire Fed were at Wincanton when 51 members entered 797 birds to be liberated at 9.40am in a South West wind. The top three positions went to different clubs starting with A Williams who won the Hankelow club ahead of the Greenbank partnership of Tommy Hulme & Son. Crewe West End always figure prominently in the result and they take the next 7 positions led by Mick & Wendy Mellor who are 3rd 6th 9th & 10th with the other four positions of 4th 5th 7th & 8th going to Mr & Mrs Keith Lovatt. A couple of club winners missing out on the fed this week and they are the ever present Jones Bros at Wettenhall where the info has dried up and Middlewich 5B winners David & Craig Wilkinson. The Mangotsfield race for the Winsford lads saw 13 members send 231 birds and it was another brilliant bit of flying was put up by the Jones lads taking the first three places. their winner being a chequer hen sent on chipping eggs with the parents winning 9 top prizes between them and being off their very good Andre Clemens stock. their next in the clock is another chequer hen sent sitting eggs again from the same family with as expected from this loft both parents being big winners while their third in the clock is a young hen flying to the perch. Club PO Mike O'Grady went on to say "I myself believe their consistency that i have flown against in Winsford in the time that I have lived here and with that I mean no disrespect to any of the great flyer's the town has seen over the years. But these lads do it at all levels of racing they compete in year in year out and their fed results compare along with our top flyer's kin the fed. I hope that one day they will have a go at the Nationals" 4th goes to last weeks winner David Dickinson unfortunately no details available at the time of going to press.

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