Devriendt Partnership
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The
Devriendt partnership stretched across the decades
of the last century beginning in 1907 with Oscar
who, following in the footsteps of his father,
started in the sport after ending his college
education. Obtaining his first stock from the
Cools Brothers of Earnegem and Jerome Stael of
Moere. The town of Moere was the home of this
family as well as being the base of two famous
brothers- the Cattrysse's. However due to the
1st World War the pigeon sport was abandoned as
Oscar joined the army in defence of his country.
Upon its ending he restarted in the sport and
selected the great Theo Vandevelde to be the source
of future greatness. That being the core but other
bloodlines were brought in from Cattrysse, Bernaert,
Van der Espt, amongst others, which implies that
Oscar Devriendt was determined to build a family
capable of competing with the best. Which as the
records show he did. Winning in his time an endless
list including a bedroom suite, mirrors, armchairs,
gold jewellery, cycles and cars, etc,.
In
later years Oscar had the joy of being joined
with his sons Maurice and Marcel in the sport
and this trinity of fanciers made a reputation
across Europe and beyond. Some of their champion
birds included Le Zwarteband who scored 1st Derby
National Angouleme, 22nd National Montabaun, 15th
National Dax, 38th National Limoges, 1st National
St. Vincent plus 12th International St.Vincent.
This great flyer won the last national by one
hour with only two birds on the day. Another great
was Le Paon who won 2nd National two weeks running,
each time winning a car. He also scored 11th National
Libourne, 2nd National Bergerac, 1st National
Cahors, 44th National Montabaun, 45th National
Cahors, 77th National Dax, 57th National St.Vincent
and 170th National Montabaun. Another was Le Pale
Oeil Blanc who won 2nd Libourne National, 3rd
Libourne International, 68th Angouleme National,
6th Derby National Limoges, alongside other national
and provincial positions. This family of pigeons
also won well in Canada, the United Kingdom, and
the U.S.A.. Indeed representatives of the family
scored at the middle distances as well as the
longer distances. It also had the reputation of
being the best strain to conquer the rough terrain
of the Rocky Mountains according to research material.
The
Devriendts housed about 15 pairs of breeders and
raced widowhood with about 35 to 40 cocks. As
a winning team their strength lay in the stock
loft, a fact or requirement that many fanciers
overlook at their peril even today. But Oscar
and his sons Maurice and Marcel knew, as masters
of the sport of pigeon racing, that in order to
win one had to breed winners. If one has to take
a message from this small tribute let it be that:
without the right stock your plans will forever
run amok.

by: Liam O Comain
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