| The
De Weerdts
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The name De Weerdt of Kortemark, Belgium, relates
to another master of the sport of pigeon racing.
This being the first loft to win the The Europe
Cup and the West European Super Marathon in the
same year. A father and two sons partnership namely
Emiel and Bernard and Freddy. Emiel's first pigeons
were part of a wedding dowry. This was in 1947
and it is reported that Emiel once stated-' I
got four birds and a beautiful blonde from my
father- in- law'.
The
gifted pigeons formed the basis of a good short
distance team but eventually Emiel desired to
ascend to middle and long distance forms of racing.
He decided to base his hopes on the strain of
Charles Van der Espt. As a clerk De Weerdt's senior's
income was not large so he saved up in order to
make his first purchase. When he saved 5,000 Belgium
Francs his father gave him another 5,000 upon
which he purchased 4 eggs and happily returned
to his loft. Thee of the eggs hatched and within
two years De Weerdt had champions. Thus began
a great career and by 1967 our subject again purchased
from the same source.
In due course they decided to cross some other
strain into their own and decided upon the Stichelbauts
of Marcel Desmet, purchasing two sisters which
contained Barcelona International bloodlines.
They also at that time purchased a small blue
pied and after a short period of time the cross
proved to be a good one.
As
a line bred family the De Weerdt lofts won the
Barcelona International Championships in 1984
(as stated), which included 1st Europe Cup Barcelona
with the FC Gistel Team. The latter was an outstanding
success and perhaps was the creme de la creme
of many victories not alone for themselves but
for others. In fact a study of the pedigrees of
great modern European distance families reveals
their influence.
In
their own lofts a few of their favourites included
'Spiritus' who won 12th National Cahors, 40th
National Limoges, 1st National Cahors, 23rd National
Montabaun. Also 'Anja' who was 1st Hens Barcelona
International and 'Liesbet' who won 1st National
Barcelona. The De Weerdts are small to medium
with great feathering and a very rich eye colour.
The partners raced them on the natural system
and as stated preferred line breeding.
I
hope that this brief introduction will pay due
tribute to a great strain of long distance and
marathon racing pigeons. And yet paradoxically
perhaps not as well known as it should.
by: Liam O Comain
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