| Eric
Vanacker of France
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
In
a small French village called Pouilly-sur-Serre
lives Eric Vanacker, a name perhaps unknown
to many outside of his native country
but one with the potential to spread beyond
national boundaries. Vanacker's family
background has no trace of the sport of
pigeon racing but the sport is beginning
to make this particular surname one to
be proud of especially at the distance
and at international level.
Always
a lover of animals, Eric, in his early
years kept various species but when a
stray racer touched his life this opened
the door to the world of our thoroughbreds.
This being when he was approximately 14
years old. Then he lived at Halluin where
in due course he was to race in the sprints
and at the middle distances. In time however
his forte was to be the long and marathon
distances especially within the latter
years of the previous century.
Coupled
with his decision to go for the ultra
distances in about 1994 Vanacker purchased
some new bloodlines more appropriate for
the type of racing he had decided upon.
These were of the Eijerkamp/ Muller and
the Roosens/ Cobut families coupled with
some Silvere Toye lines. This proved to
be a good choice for after due patience
and proper preparation Vanacker won 1st
National, 9th International from Pau in
1999. This base lies at the heart of his
many following successes.
The
1999 accomplishment was to be outpassed
by the wonderful achievement in 2003 when
'Le New Perpignan', a blue chequer cock
won the Perpignan International. This
great pigeon prior to this win had scored
in 2001: 8th National, 177th International
Marseille; 152nd National Pau, and 236th
National Perpignan. 2002: 5th National
Pau; 8th National, 137th International
Perpignan plus 184th International Dax.
Also sometime prior to the International
Perpignan win 'Le New Perpignan' was 14th
National and 25th International from Dax.
Other
loft successes in recent years included
8th and 170th National Marseille; 125th
National Dax ; 5th, 8th, 17th, 214th National
Pau; 12th National Perpignan as well as
another International win when Eric won
the Montelimar International. In 2004
Vanacker scored 56th, 103rd, 119th, 137th,
152nd, 226th National Barcelona as well
as 86th and 201st National Marseille.
All from a team of 24 widowhood cocks
for cocks alone are seriously raced as
2 years old and beyond while the young
and the yearlings are raced for education
purposes only. 'Gerry Plus' being their
basic feed.
The
Eric Vanacker family of pigeons are destined
to reap further glory within the international
pigeon arena in the years ahead for if
one can achieve the above results in a
brief period of time as an extremely busy
person what will be the fruit of his retirement
years? It will be interesting to witness.
by: Liam O Comain
|
