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Commines
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Julien Commine from Leers- Nord in Belgium
not far from the border with France is
one of the pivotal figures in Belgian
and European pigeon racing. Reputedly
his family of pigeons were for the sprint
and middle distances but as I research
the foundations of our sport the strain
of this fancier lies at the roots of many
of the marathon and long distance families
of Europe. A famous stray of his bloodlines
became the backbone of the Vanbrauene's,
one of the greatest marathon and long
distance families of all time.
Our
subject was initially a farmer and a breeder
of horses and therefore had the necessary
experience of animal husbandry to do well
at pigeon breeding and then racing. His
foundation stock apparently were Wegges
obtained from Michel Fache from Poperinge
and stock obtained from Vandevelde of
Oudenburg. This was his beginnings in
approximately 1900.
From
the latter purchases Commine laid the
foundation of his strain and in 1910 he
obtained another pigeon from Vandevelde,
out of the latter's famous 'Vuil- Bleu
Hen', which he mated to one of his best
birds called the 'Checker White Flight
Cock', who had flown Bordeaux twice although
only 12 months old. Thus up until the
beginning of the war 1914 this mating
would be the source of some outstanding
pigeons especially one called 'Napoleon'
who from about 1912 to 1914, won 1st Creil,
1st Chartres, 1st Bordeaux, 2nd Bordeaux,
1st Orléans, etc. An outstanding
pigeon.
During
the war the pigeons of Julian Commine
were taken over by the German occupying
army and after a dispute with Commine
all of the birds were removed to Brussels.
When the war ended Julian Commine found
some 3 dozen or thereabouts of his stock
at Brussels and some in Germany. However
the great 'Napoleon' was no where to be
seen, that is, until his return to his
home loft in 1919 after being reported.
With the return of his number one bird
Commine made a start again but not before
selling some of his pigeons. Then with
exactly 9 pigeons, Julien Commine went
on to become a great champion from 1920
until his death in 1939 just as mankind
was to experience another act of self
inflicted madness across the world.
At
the sale of Julian Commines stock apparently
they were sold for pittance and famous
fanciers like Maurice Ameel bought numerous
birds which confirmed in time that they
had got a bargain. Although not getting
the price which the birds warranted nevertheless
they went on to make the names of quite
a number of Belgian fanciers. The strain
was prominent until the 1960s but alas
it tended to fade then but there were
super pigeons of the bloodlines like the
great bird of Dupondt which the Vereecke
lofts bought for what was assumed to be
a small fortune. Occasionally one will
still see representatives of the strain
being sold and the Natural Breeding Station
has the bloodlines where grizzles, whites
and other colours abound but the latter
will admit that they are not in a pure
state but are still producing winners.
This is to be expected for I doubt if
a pure strain of pigeons exists after
decades of absence from its original moulder.
In fact the Natural Station are quite
honest in stating that they cross pigeons
into the old strains in order to boost
their vitality, etc. However it is important
that we do not forget pioneers such as
Julian Commine.
by: Liam O Comain
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