The Daughter Pigeoner

by Liam O Comain

I have written about the great Emiel Deny's before and I will refer to him again in this piece for he happens to be the father as implied. What is being revealed however, for I acknowledge that time has placed this unique event in the dark regions of many of our memories, is the winning of the International San Sebastian in 2002 by Emiel Deny's daughter Rebecca, while the father followed with being runner up. What a unique experience for father and daughter - one in millions!

Rebecca, a lawyer, desired to have some form of recreation from a busy schedule so she opted for the sport of pigeon racing. Being a Deny however had she an option?

Racing from Zulte in Belgium time revealed that the magic of the father had rubbed of on the daughter for Rebecca prepared a hen named Libelle which was bred by her father at Tielt and what is now history won the classic race. One hour later Emiel timed his cock bird Edelman to take 2nd in the International. Yes, once again the Deny strain confirmed that they were athletes of the air. May I also add that the pigeon occupying 3rd position in this race was also a Deny owned and flown by Vermote of Ostend. 

Libelle, as a youngster, raced from Arras and Clermont and as a yearling won 107th from St.Vincent. Her bloodlines contain some of the best of the Deny strain going back to the immortal Tee.

This was not to be a drop in the ocean for in 2003 Rebecca Denys hen Iris - 3100713/00 - won 1st prize International Hens, 1st Provincial Hens, 1st in the club against 210 birds, 4th National 1,569 old birds and 8th International 2,891 old birds. Iris is a small hen and her  father is 3308577/97. A son of Blauwe Pau Coutteau 4554778/93 (Pau Coutteau 220/89) X daughter Donkere Kasse 660/84. The mother of Iris is 3108027/99. A racing hen, which won from Narbonne in 2000, and Barcelona in 2002 and 2003 (131st National Barcelona Hens). She is a daughter from Kleine Seigneur 379/95 (from Schone Zwarten 329/90 5th International Perpignan 1993 X Signorita 744/91 grandmother 1st International San Sebastian 2002) X daughter Kleine TEE (7th International Barcelona 1997). Iris and the parents are on the breeding loft now. From San Sebastian Rebecca  won 1-12-14-15-21-25-30-51-86…504 hens International and 8-57-73-81-101-114-140-236… 2,891 International old birds.

Yes, Rebecca, as a member of the younger generation is destined to carry the surname of Deny's well into the new millenium in the sport of long distance pigeon racing.