Jules
- another Janssen
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
I
have written about the world famous Janssen
Bros of Arendonk but there was also another
fancier of the same surname called Jules
Janssen whose contribution to the sport
of pigeon racing was outstanding. Jules
Janssen from Rue Seutin 6, Schaerbeek,
Belgium once held the position of the
Minister of Finance in the Belgium Government
and was in his day reputed to be the 'Father
of the Sport' in his native country. At
least he was one of its founding fathers.
To
the older generation of fanciers this
particular Janssen would have been well
known especially in these islands and
the English speaking pigeon world through
the exploits of the stud of the late T.Buck
and the world famous 'Theatre Lofts' of
Jack Lovell. The Buck 'Janssens' as some
referred to them were winners of
countless prizes in Fed, Combine and Open
competition and Jack Lovell of London
was noted to have received numerous expressions
of thanks and congratulations from fanciers
world wide arising from the exploits of
his pigeons especially of the Jules Janssen
bloodlines. In fact there are many outstanding
strains who have had Jules Janssen bloodlines
at their foundations including the Janssens
of Arendonk. (The latter family were not
related to this maestro of the art of
breeding). In relation to the base of
the Arendonk family some authorities imply
that the Janssen Bros and especially their
father was somewhat secretive about the
pigeons used. This may have been unintentional
but there are those who contend that Jules
Janssen was a source if not the full source
of their strains base. Suggesting that
sharing the same surname of an then famous
fancier would have seen the Arendonk family
making contact with Jules Janssen.
The
strain under focus was of the Brussels
type of the long distance racing pigeon
which tended towards being large, blue
and chequered in colour, and was descended
from the Wegge strain. Jules Janssen patiently
created his strain after he had received
some pigeons from Karel Wegge. He had
been helping Wegge for sometime to look
after his pigeons and when he decided
to have a loft of his own the Wegges were
an obvious choice.
In
due course his name became famous especially
as a breeder of marvellous stock and from
throughout his native country his bloodlines
were sought by hundreds of the fancy.
T. Buck had a stud book of Jules Janssen
dating from 1893 which he presented to
Jack Lovell and in it is revealed the
names of many founding fathers and great
exponents of the sport who had received
birds from Jules Janssen namely Vandevelde,
Gits, Delbar, Grooter, Van der Espt and
Jurion. Also there are Delmotte, Carpentier,
Gallez, Vekeman, Pittevoil and Coopman.
The brothers Cattrysse family also carried
their bloodlines via the Vandeveldes and
in due course the following strains were
helped by the Jules Janssens namely Havenith,
Sion, Bricoux, Tremmery and Stassart.
Of course there are others but the sample
provided should confirm that this was
a pivotal strain in the sport of pigeon
breeding and racing.
In
Britain it is opined that the Jules Janssens
lie at the base of or influenced the development
of the Kenyons via the black pieds of
the Thorogoods. They are also said to
have been used by the great English national
flyer Marriott via T. Buck and there is
a story by Jack Lovell in which it is
related that N. Barker got in a red stray
cock of Janssens which he was allowed
to keep, bred good birds off it before
gifting it to J.W. Logan who was of the
opinion that it was his best breeder.
Yes, as well as Logan there were many
other lofts in these islands who housed
the Janssens for Jules breeding skills
helped to develop the sport at its infancy
and beyond.
In
conclusion, Jules Janssen warrants a special
place in this series because of his contribution
to the sport of pigeon racing, especially
the genetic contribution which is to be
found at the base of many outstanding
strains of the fancy.

by: Liam O Comain
|