The
Stichelbaut Strain Of Distant Racing Pigeons
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Initially
I would like to ask myself on behalf of those
interested why or what motivated me to pen an
article on the Stichelbaut strain of racing
pigeons. I think it arose from the fact that
in 2004 one of my most consistent young birds,
in the few races that he had, began to blow
out like a balloon around his neck area just
prior to being sent to his last race.
The phenomenon sent me on a journey of learning
what was happening to the young checker and
in due course perusing the internet and old
pigeon publications I came across the story
of a famous pigeon owned by Alois Stichelbaut
called 'Opgeblazen' which translated into English
meant 'Blown Up'. Apparently this was one of
Stichelbaut's best flyers and had returned from
a race from Tours with his air- sacs over inflated.
In fact he returned from every race in this
condition and had to have a sterilized needle
treatment to return to normality. But inspite
of this he recorded in important races the positions
of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 10th, 20th and 25th
and accrued a sum of 25,000 franks in the period
1938/1939. Which was some money to win then.
'Blown Up' when sold at the Stichelbaut clearance
raised 42,000 franks. Thus the knowledge of
the latter successes associated with the inquiry
into the happening of inflated air sacs is the
key which opened the door to an interest in
this great family of long distant
pigeons.
We
all acknowledge that strength, courage, and
endurance are qualities necessary to participate
in distant or marathon pigeon racing. Well even
the name Stichelbaut itself speaks of these
qualities and in its hay day the Stichelbauts
were spoken of in the same manner as the Jan
Aarden’s. The reference to their 'hay
day' should not imply however that the Stichelbauts
influence is dead nor that there are no pure
or near to pure representatives of the breed
at this period of time. For the son of a fancier
friend of Alois Stichelbaut races as near as
pure representatives of the strain in Belgium,
today. That father and friend of Stichelbaut
was Daniel Labeeuw of Bissegem and today Daniel's
son Frans has the purest colony of Stichelbauts
according to knowledgeable fanciers or champions
of the strain.
But
what was the origins of this great pigeon racing
strain of Belgium? Alois Stichelbaut was a flax
dealer who when he bought two pigeons in 1922
from the loft of a deceased friend, Alfons Derumeaux,
could not have imagined that he was laying the
basis of one of the greatest racing strains
that the world of pigeon racing ever experienced.
Nor could he foresee the success that he personally
would experience especially during the years
between 1930 and 1940. In truth he was laying
the basis of a strain that, aside from their
successes at racing, would contribute to the
formation of great strains such as the brothers
Vanhee,
Vereecke, Descamps- Van Hasten, Marcel Desmet,
and Leo Bostyn amongst others. And that the
blood of the Stichelbauts would run in the best
of the Vanbruaene and Cattrysse, etc,.
In
addition two birds from his uncle Camiel Christiaens
were added to his loft as well as some more
from Vincent Marien and A Vandecandelaere. The
above names may mean nothing to the modern fancier
or reader but in their day they were considered
the best of flyers. From the pigeons of Vandecandelaere
the traditional bronze markings associated with
the Stichelbauts apparently derives for the
latter fancier had a loft mainly of birds black
in colour. Another boost to the family arose
from Stichelbaut agreeing to cross his birds
with a famous Bordeaux flyer of the time named
Armand Declercq. The latter arrangement of crossing
the best birds in each loft improved both families
and was a major development in the growth of
the Stichelbauts.
Alois
Stichelbaut was a severe culler and as a result
he never kept too many birds which led to him
not sending many pigeons to the races. This
contributed to a late development in the acknowledgement
of his loft as one of the best at the time.
In any case he was not a person who sought the
limelight and remained in the shadows of others
such as Bricoux and Sion. Nevertheless the foundation
purchased since 1922 saw the appearance through
cross breeding of three outstanding pigeons
namely (A) the Old Crayonne which was from Derumeaux
and Marien breeding; (B) the Old Scallopede
(a cock) again from the Derumeaux and Marien
stock; (C) and a cock bred from crossing A and
B and a pigeon of Armand Declercq.
Of
the strain there were many famous racers and
winners amongst whom was 'The Old Bordeaux Hen',
a black bronze who
from 1932- 1936 won 14 positions from 1st up
to 44th in important races and was the mother
and the grand- mother of first class pigeons
for Stichelbaut as well as other fanciers. Another
noted bird was ' De Goode Blekem' which won
25 prizes, 15 of the prizes being in the first
ten positions. Another noted racer was 'The
Good Black Cock' who won 19 prizes, including
8 in the first ten.
Sadly
after years of success breeding and racing a
clearance of the strain was held in 1946 raising
145,000 franks. But unlike many families this
was not to be the demise of the Stichelbauts
for a native of Lauwe purchased many fine representatives
of the strain, kept the family pure and advanced
it. This was a retired butcher called Michel
Descamps- Van Hasten. A survey of his lofts
in 1973 confirmed that the stock was 100% Stichelbaut
in origin. This shrewd fancier kept crosses
to a minimum and the latter included birds from
a pure loft of Stichelbauts owned and cultivated
by the Labeeuws of Bissegem. Sadly in due course
the Michel Descamps- Van Hasten collection of
racers and breeders came under the hammer and
in six separate auctions were sold for five
million franks.
An
end to the Stichelbauts? No! For it was then
that the mantle of progressing the strain was
placed upon the shoulders of a well known racer
and breeder of the Stichelbauts namely Daniel
Labeeuw. In retrospect Labeeuw and Descamps-
Van Hasten it canbe said were the vehicles for
the continuation of Stichelbauts pigeon enterprise
which began in 1922. Through their managerial
skills based upon good horse sense they brought
the strain forward as its representatives won
at national and international level throughout
the world. And in our world wide pigeon racing
community wherever you go today the art initially
carved by Alois Stichelbaut has left an indelible
mark. Such is genius.
In
this tribute to Alois Stichelbaut and his strain
I think of the thousands of fanciers throughout
the globe who have experienced a unique joy
arising from clocking a pigeon of this particular
family to win, or come near, or to satisfy in
races where hope is
prevalent and where no one is usually let down.
by: Liam O Comain
