HENRI & HANS VERSCHUEREN

of Zingem, Belgium

by Les Parkinson

Hans on a visit to Gerrard Koopman

I came into contact with Hans Verschueren for the first time over twenty years ago through a minibus trip to the continent. At that time Hans was a fresh faced young man working for a corn company. I remember the trip well because when we visited the corn mill we went up some metal steps that were not exactly dry and a member of the party slipped and was rather bruised afterwards. Hans was a keen young man full of energy and to be honest he still is, always looking for a new challenge. Several years went by before I met Hans again and that was through Peter Morrison. Peter was a regular visitor to the continent at that time and Hans had become his interpreter on these visits. Since then I have met Hans many times and he changes very little. I have only met his father Henri once, that on a visit to their home in Zingem. Our contact then went quiet until one day we were on our way to Northwich and the mobile went. Elizabeth answered the phone and said it was Hans and that he was very excited. I took the phone and he had a job to get his words out to tell me that they had just won the Argenton National. Another connection I had with Hans was when he took us to see Frans Rigole and his family and Frans has since become a good friend.

The village of Zingem where they live is also home to one of the best lofts in Belgium, that of Freddy and Jaques Vandenheede, who were the 1st General Champions KBDB 2012. Henri and Hans live about 1km from the Vandenheede brothers, and Wilson Dekens, winner of 1st National Ace Pigeon Long Distance KBDB 2012, lives only 200 metre from the Vandenheedes Also in the same village live the combination Derweduwen Albert, Dirk & Luc, winners in the past of 1st National Montauban, 1st National Souillac and 1st National Pau. So you can see this village has been home to very good fanciers over many years.

Henri & Hans' 1st National Argenton winner was an original Pros Roosen pigeon bought as a young bird at a charity auction. They raced the pigeon instead of keeping it for breeding, because Grandmaster Pros Roosen asked them to do just that. As a yearling the “PROS” B98-5201689 won 37° National Bourges against 13,118 pigeons, then at two he won 1st National Argenton. Because this pigeon was the only original Pros Roosen in Belgium which won a 1st National at another loft, Henri and Hans decided to keep him for breeding; he is still alive but not fertile anymore. Several grandchildren have done very well for Henri & Hans, as well as for other lofts. 

Here some background details on their team of birds beginning with their current top racing hens Surprise Surprise and Bijoux.

”SURPRISE SURPRISE” B09-4195611
35° National Gueret                         /   2.745 p. ( 2011 )
44° Provincial Vierzon                      /      461 p. ( 2012 ) 
48° National Argenton                     /   3.501 p. ( 2011 )
76° National Argenton                     /   4.782 p. ( 2012 )
134° National Gueret                         /   2.953 p. ( 2010 )
142° Provincial Blois                           /   1.698 p. ( 2012 ) 
221° Provincial Blois                           /   3.600 p. ( 2011 )
373° National Argenton                     /   7.358 p. ( 2010 )
639° National Chateauroux             / 20.517 p. ( 2011 )
772° National Bourges                       / 24.676 p. ( 2011 )
1.029° National Chateauroux             / 16.479 p. ( 2012 ) 
2.143° National Argenton                     / 23.900 p. ( 2009 )

2.754° National Bourges                       / 37.357 p. ( 2009 )

 

“BIJOUX” B094195617
5° Provincial Blois                           /   3.600 p. ( 2010 )
13° Provincial Chateauroux           /   3.172 p. ( 2011 )
15° National Montlucon Z.A         /   6.081 p. ( 2012 )      
16° Provincial Montrichard           /      340 p. ( 2011 )
35° Provincial Blois                           /      856 p. ( 2011 )
42° National Gueret                         /   2.745 p. ( 2011 )   
63° National Limoges                       / 14.211 p. ( 2010 )
74° National Gueret                         /   2.953 p. ( 2010 )
110° Provincial Montrichard           /   3.047 p. ( 2011 )
163° National Gueret                         /   3.415 p. ( 2012 )
190° National Montlucon                  / 17.865 p. ( 2012 )
191° National Chateauroux             / 16.479 p. ( 2012 )
514° Provincial Vierzon                      /   5.893 p. ( 2012 )
551° National Bourges                       /   9.781 p. ( 2011 )  
557° National Chateauroux             / 22.718 p. ( 2010 )
560° National Argenton                     /   4.782 p. ( 2012 )
864° National Chateauroux             / 20.517 p. ( 2011 )
1.070° National Bourges                       / 20.589 p. ( 2012 )
1.440° National Bourges                       / 24.676 p. ( 2011 )

1.182° National Argenton                     / 23.900 p. ( 2009 )

Henri and Hans have the following strains:

1. Vanbruaene Andre through Konin Asakura, a Japanese pigeon businessman who used to live in the village called Wevelgem, the same village where Gino Clique lives. In the pedigree of the basic Vanbruaene breeder at the lofts of Henri and Hans B88-3238532, which they got from Mr Asakura, we find the “ZWARTE BARCELONA” B72-3177021 of the late late Andre Vanbruaene. How did Hans obtain this pigeon from Mr Asakura? Because in that year, Hans was a student (Publicity, Marketing and Public Relations) and as a study case, he wrote a book about the economical aspect of the Belgian pigeon as a ‘product’ being exported worldwide. That’s why he visited Mr Asakura several times. One day he got this pigeon from Mr Asakura as a ‘special gift’. In several good pigeons of Henri and Hans, we find back the name of “KONIN” in the pedigree.

1. Pros Roosen. In 1998, there was a charity auction in the area of Deerlijk (the village of Etienne Devos; the auctionneer was Philip Herbots. Hans bought the youngster of Pros Roosen and after the auction he went to his father who was sitting at the other side of the auction room. He said: “Father, can you give me some money please, because I have bought the youngster of Pros Roosen and I don’t have enough money in my pocket to pay for it... I really want that pigeon papa”. Henri gave the money to Hans because he knew that Hans had a ‘good feeling’ for pigeons. And that was the right feeling! Later that youngster got the name “Pros” B98-5201689 and won a 1st National Argenton in 2000!

The ‘feeling’ to select the right pigeon

Later Hans showed again that he had the “feeling for pigeons”; he bought a youngster at a very small loft, that of Andre Bettens who gave him the choice out of more than 50 youngsters. He chose a nice blue hen with a white spot by the eye: that youngster got the name “BETTY” B08-4057212. This hen was raced by Henri and Hans and won as a young bird
1° Provincial Blois against 1.480 pigeons in the East of Flanders Province, against all the famous fanciers.  “Betty” 212/08 is to be sold, together with her partner “DE 220” B04-4200220, which was a bred at the lofts of Henri and Hans, winning 1st Provincial Blois against 1.085 pigeons (line “Zilveren” G. & C. Philips x Hebberecht x Sion P. Gilles).
Henri & Hans paired these 2 Provincial Blois winners together. This is a unique breeding pair of 2 provincial winners on the same race.

Out of this “Golden Blois Pair”, Henri and Hans raced only 1 direct child, the B10-4296783. She is to be sold as well. She’s the winner of:
39° National Gueret                    / 2.745 p. ( 2011 )
89° Provincial Montrichard      /   4.049 p. ( 2011 )
205° National Argenton            /   4.782 p. ( 2012 )
216° National Argenton            /   4.126 p. ( 2011 )
298° National Bourges              / 20.589 p. ( 2012 )

949° National Montlucon          / 17.865 p. ( 2012 )

Henri and Hans have bred several children of the “Golden Blois Päir” which were reserved for the breeding loft. They are convinced that these children will breed winners for other fanciers.

Hans Verschuren in his loft with one of his National candidates

3. Geert & Clara Philips

In 1992, Geert and Clara Philips won 1° National Bourges yearling with their pigeon called “ZIPA”. Hans went to the National Bourges winners and discovered a real goldmine there, based on the purest blood of “PANTER” and “ZILVEREN”, the 2 golden basic lines of the “Miracle Loft” of Raoul & Xavier Verstraete. When Hans handled those Philips pigeons he says he fell in love.

The first pigeon Hans got from Geert & Clara Philips was the “BLIKSEM” B92-4581040, which was a great grandson of the famous “PANTER” of Raoul & Xavier Verstraete (Theo Gilbert).  The same breeding line (PANTER) is the golden basis at the lofts of Jos Vercammen.
His father was B90-4130230 “GIBA P.G.”, son of “GIBA” B85-4271161.

The “Bliksem” 040/92 became a golden breeder at the lofts of Henri and Hans. He gave one son, called “BILLY BOY” B94/4157174, a pigeon which was raced during 7 years. His best racepoint was the Bourges National (433km). He was basketed 7 times (7 years) for that race and these were his results:
198° National Bourges / 10.652 p.
297° National Bourges / 24.612 p.
346° National Bourges / 21.170 p.
370° National Bourges / 12.682 p.
606° National Bourges / 19.396 p.
819° National Bourges / 10.872 p.
866° National Bourges / 10.520 p.
The last race of his career was Limoges National (600 km): 143° National Limoges / 11.574 p.
Then he was sold to Mr Wu Yijian in Xi’An.

One son was kept in the breeding loft, “LAST SON BILLY BOY” B01/4496104, and he bred the “WITKOP BILLY’ B07-4027641, winner of:         
62° National Souillac                           /   7.597 p. ( 2009 )
441° National Montauban                   /   6.654 p. ( 2010 )
597° National Brive                                / 16.815 p. ( 2010 )
688° National Limoges                         /   6.138 p. ( 2009 )
1.212° National Limoges                         / 11.869 p. ( 2009 )

 

“ZILVEREN” line of Geert & Clara Philips
Also in the year 1992, the year that Geert & Clara Philips won 1st National Bourges for the first time in their carreer, Hans got a pigeon directly from the breeding loft of Geert & Clara:

the “Son Zilveren P.G.” B91-4279727.
Hans made a lot of publicity for Geert a Clara Philips, especially in Taiwan; that’s why he got this pigeon as a special gift.
He could choose one pigeon at the breeding loft and he chose the right one... again!
Father: “Zilveren PG” B83-4179124
Grandfather: “ZILVEREN” B79-4223430 of Raoul & Xavier Verstraete, winner of 3 x 1st prize, out of the pair “Wondervos” B73-4545188 x “Goudklompje” B71-4007120, 1st Provincial and 2nd National Ace Pigeon.      

Grandmother: “La Souterraine duivin” B80-4316038, winner of 10° National La Souterraine / 10.896 p.

Mother: “Dochter Goede 26” B83-4574691
Grandfather: B82-4100326 “Goede 26”
Brother to the famous “Zotje”
Grandson of “Geschiften” Hofkens x “Zotje Bol”
Grandmother: “Merckx duivin” B76-2650541

Hans with the 1st National Champion of Romania

 

Charles Goossens

Daughter of the famous “Merckx” B67-6668946 from Charles Goossens.

“Son Zilveren P.G.” B91-4279727 became a golden breeder at the lofts of Henri & Hans Verschueren.

One daughter is “SILVER LADY” B97-4451130.

On the big Bourges National race, she won:

2° Club / 1.573 p.
2° Region / 2.095 p.
2° Provincial / 10.018 p.
5° National / 38.152 p.
Hernestsister “LADY 131” B97-4451131 arrived as second pigeon, winning 167° National against same 38.152 p.
Both sisters were sold to Taiwan.

From the same “Son Zilveren P.G.” 727/91, Henri & Hans bred a hen called “LADY 778” B98-4505778. She went to the breeding loft immediately. She became a golden breeding hen too. One of her sons is the “PINOKKIO” B00-4352902, for sure one of the best Bourges National racers in Belgium. Twice he won in the real Top National:

In 2002 - 24° National / 11.689 p.
In 2004 - 50° National / 23.694 p.

The father of this “Pinokkio” is “Marco” B96-4057751, bred from the line of the famous basic breeder “WRINGER” of Chris & Octaaf Hebberecht.
The “Marco” won 3 x Top prizes in the Bourges National:

39° National / 11.396 p.
96° National / 10.872 p.
120° National / 13.572 p.

If we look at all the top results in the Bourges National race, from this “ZILVEREN-line”, we can say that this is one of the best breeding lines for the races 400 500 km. Bourges National is 433 km to the lofts of Henri & Hans.

Hans with the next generation

Horse Racing Director

Hans is the director of the biggest horse racing track in Belgium, in a village called Kuurne near Kortrijk in the West of Flanders province. Henri is 74 old now and has been elected again in the local commune for a political position. That’s why father and son have decided to sell all their pigeons now, accept some 2012 young birds and some old breeders such as “Pros” (1998), “Pinokkio” (2000) and “Marco” (1996). One golden hen is called “Bijoux”, ring number 617/09 and another golden hen is “Surprise Surprise”, ring number 611/09. Those 2 hens belong to the best racing hens in today’s pigeon sport; they will be raced for another season. There children and sisters are to be sold.

Hans has decided to concentrate more on pigeon business. He has started a project to promote champions lofts from other countries than Belgium and Holland; he strongly believes that other countries have very good pigeons too and people deserve to be promoted. He is well qualified. He has acted as the auctioneer at top auctions for the likes of Georges Carteus, Taveirne-Rigole, Gerard and Michel Vanhee, Emiel Denijs, Kurvers-de Weerd, Menne & Daughters and Santens Brothers. He was the auctioneer for the National KBDB Show in Ostende 3 times (together with Filip Herbots and Jan Hermans), he did the presentation of the Gala Evening at the Olympiade in 1997 (when just 30 years old), and he used to be sales manager at Dufky-Elite pigeon corns, Herbots Products and Paloma pigeon food, as well as Chief Editor of the “Reisduif”, the most important pigeon magazine in the East of Flanders Province.

Racing pigeons, pigeon business and being director of a horse racing track are difficult to combine, so although he has the real pigeon fancier’s blood in his veins, he has decided to sell most of his birds. Henri & Hans will be very happy to see other people win 1st prizes with their pigeons.

Hans at the race track which is his main job

To conclude, here are some of Hans’ thoughts:

Hans : My experience after a life in the pigeon sport, as a hobby and my profession, is this: of course everything starts with good pigeons, we know that. On the other hand, I am convinced that so many people have good pigeons in their lofts, but most of them don’t know how to feed them, how to keep them healthy, how to train them and how to motivate them.

I don’t believe any longer in feeding programmes and schedules offered by food companies; those schedules are a basis which is good to follow, but each day is different. You have to observe your pigeons and see what they need.
Also at the return of a race, how can someone decide what a pigeon needs? Nobody can. One pigeon has been suffering more than the other one, so each pigeon will need a different dosage.

Hans at the lofts of Janssen bros with two fanciers from China

Maybe I can give some of my experiences here. When pigeons return from the race, the first thing I give is a condition power in the drinking water, which contains a lot of light proteins, vitamins, amino acids, trace elements and electrolytes.
OK, I’m in a good mood today, I will give you my secret: the first baby powder, it’s called NAN1. I put 1 soupspoon in 2 litres of water.
It’s very cheap but very effective.
I don’t give food, just fresh grits, which have been washed and dried, so that there’s no dust inside.
After 30 minutes I give some food, which is some Gaby Vandenabeele mix from Beyers, some Casaert mix from Van Robaeys and some breeding mix of Mariman.
2 hours later I take away the water with babypowder inside; during 30 40 minutes nothing to drink. After 40 minutes I mix a soupspoon of “RECALL” in the drinking water; that’s a product which is used by athletes.
Then I give some more food, same mixture as mentioned above, some small seeds.
The last couple of years we have raced only hens, except one cock “Noel” for long distance.
After the race, the hens stay together with their cocks till the next morning, then we seperate them and each hen gets a separate bath. Some hours later in the evening, especially in the second part of the season, we let them fly out with their cocks again for an hour and let them in the loft together during one more hour.

I always compare the pigeon sport with human life: what a difference making love when you have been running a marathon or working hard all day, than the next day when you are recovered (laugh).

On the Monday we don’t let our pigeons train, not in the morning, in the evening yes, but without forcing them. The next days we let them fly twice for 1 hour and especially hens must be forced to train with the flag. But if you feel that your hens don’t react positively to the flag forcing, take away the flag and let the pigeons enter into the loft. It means they are not recovered 100% and not ready for the forced training. These are things which nobody can teach you. You feel it, or you don’t, that’s the difference between a good and a bad fancier. The hens are all in separate widowhood boxes with wooden plates between, so that they can’t see their nextdoor hen.
The day of the basketing, when I notice that my hens are not eating enough, I don’t feed them in the morning and I take away the drinking water.
In the afternoon I feed them with smaller quantities, sometimes 5 6 times, and even put seperate pots in the boxes, because the pigeons will see it as a new kind of dish and they’ll eat again... of course then we give them clear water.

For respiratory I work with special drops in the boxes, based on essential oils of eucalyptus and other herbs.

Every 2 days I put 2 or 3 drops in each box.
I never use antibiotics for respiratory problems; against canker I use the Belgamagix-pills of Belgica de Weerd, almost every week in the evening after the race.
The hens are raced weekly on 300 to 550 km; that means 6.000 7.000 km in 1 season.
They select themselves in the most natural way. 
Motivation is also very important. Before basketing I never show the cocks to the hens. I prefer to basket them quietly. And they know very well that their cocks will be waiting in the nestbowl at their arrival.
At the end of the season, on the National races of Argenton, La Souterraine and Gueret, I pair up 2 hens with the same cock, then I let them fly out together during the week, one time in the middle of the week: one cock and the 2 hens which are crazy about the same cock... you can imagine what happens... human life.

Because of my new project as a Director of the biggest horse racing track, I don’t have the time to do these kinds of things any more. That’s why I have decided to stop racing for a while. Because pigeon racing is a full-time job.

March 2013

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