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Andre Vermotte201206

Keith Mott

Writes about winning fanciers past & present

Andre Vermote of Ostend, Belgium

 

A name that has been at the forefront in the Belgian pigeon fancy in the 1970s was that of Andre Vermote of Ostend. Andre was born in Ostend and started up in the sport of pigeon racing in 1963 at the age of 18, with 17 youngsters from friends. He joined the Gistel club, but had very little success with his original ‘All Sorts’ pigeons. He then obtained some stock from Mons Vandevelde of Ostend and began his climb to the top rung of the Belgian success ladder.

His present day family all started with his ‘ace’ stock pair, ‘Spreeuwtje’ and ‘De Oude Blauwen’, which were called the Miracle Pair, being responsible for many champions the world over. ‘De Oude Blauwen’, a blue cock bred in 1964, was a Cattrysse / Deweerdt cross and ‘Spreeuwtje’ was 75 % Van Der Espt blue pied hen bred in 1967. This pair bred many champion racers direct, including ‘De Wringer’, a 1968 bred slate blue cock and winner of many top prizes including 2nd prize Chateauroux 1970, 1st prize Dourdan and 1st prize National Cahore in 1971.

Another great champion closely bred to the Miracle Pair was the blue cock, ‘De Atleet’, winner of 2nd Ace Pigeon of Belgium in 1971 and his sire was half brother to ‘De Wringer’. Andre says that all his top performers in his loft through the years are bred down from the Miracle Pair. The blue cock, ‘Perpignan’, winner of 1st. International Perpignan for the Vermote loft in 1976 was a great grand son of the Miracle Pair. ‘De Barcelona’ was a son of ‘De Wringer’, whilst ‘De St. Vincent’ and ‘De Sprinter’ were bred from brothers of ‘De Wringer’, all outstanding racers. Andre Vermote says his pigeons do well pure or crossed with other top performing strains.

Andre had a lot of help from his great friend, Emiel Denys, when he started up and the Denys pigeons have crossed well with the Vermote pigeons, producing some first class racers. Emiel Denys paired up the Vermote loft for Andre one year. The Vermote loft is world famous for its countless performances in International and National races through the years including: 1971: 1st National Cahors, 1976: 1st National Perpignan, 1st open International Perpignan, 1981: 1st National Perpignan, 1st open International Perpignan, 1985: 1st National Limoges. In 1999 the Vermote loft won in the Kampion Schappen 1st National Marathon, 1st National Superprestige, 1st National Decathlon plus many other premier positions.

Andre says good loft design should have feeling and fanciers who never visit the prize table have no patience or the wrong strain of pigeons for the job they want them to do. He pairs up his 14 pairs of stock birds and 50 pairs of racers in February and breeds about 150 youngsters each season. Like most of the Belgian masters he races on the widowhood system, with the International and National races in mind. Andre’s maintains his pigeons excel from 200 to 700 miles. He races the widowhood cocks up to 700 miles, the hens up to 300 miles and the yearlings go through to 400 miles. For training the birds fly out at 06.00hrs and 17.00hrs every day. He likes inbreeding but not to much and likes to cross with another inbred winning family. He likes late breds and says the Miracle Pair were late breds and when he selects breeders he likes a nice rich eyesign.

We’ve gone a bit Continental this week! I hope my readers have enjoyed our little trip in to Europe. For any comments, I can be found on telephone: 01372 463480. See yer!

TEXT & PHOTOS BY KEITH MOTT.    20/12/06