Andre
Brouckaert And Three Important Principles
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Since
my return to the sport I recalled aspects of pigeon
racing management in the 1950s and early 60s whilst
in partnership with my father. Reflecting upon
our system of the time I knew that I had to learn
lessons from that period if I wanted to pursue
my objective of breeding for and winning from
distances of 300 miles plus. For as I have said
and written often the channel programme from France
and Britain into the north west of Ireland is
in the words of Gordon Chalmers ' the toughest
of tough routes'. Now my reason for prefacing
this article with the foregoing is that in my
research for it I found myself in total agreement
with its subject Andre Brouckaert. For the reader
I offer my shared thinking with the great Belgium
flyer: (1) if you exploit a pigeon from an early
age its career will not last more than 4 years;
(2) for long distance racing such exploitation
is the height of folly for a pigeon requires in
practice 3 years to become ready to face its long
endurance tasks; (3) always treat your pigeons
with the aforegoing thoughts in mind and eventually
one will create a type of long distance and marathon
pigeon, if the blood is right. The latter principles
of management and the truth contained therein
were confirmed by Andre Brouckaerts achievements
at the ultra distances.
Brouckaert
built his family upon the strains of Vanbruaene,
Cattrysse, Van Hee, and Stichelbaut. Based upon
the objective of creating a strain capable of
winning at the longer distances. A project of
pure specialization. Eventually culminating in
the builder becoming the first Extra Long Distance
Champion Of Belgium. The latter but one of many
achievements recorded in an illustrious career
in the sport. Randomly choosing from the results
relating to Brouckaert for example in 1990 when
no Belgium won any of the 4 International Competitions
of that year he won the prestigious Colombe Joyeuse
European Cup. A competition based upon the same
races from Pau, Barcelona, Marseille, and Perpignan.
A reward which crowned Brouckaert as an international
champion. Prior to this he was the Long Distance
Champion of Belgium in 1975 and 1978 as well as
winning the St.Vincent National in 1980 and the
Lourdes National in 1984. The lofts also won an
international young bird race in Japan in 1986.
The
go slow aspect of management as revealed earlier
in this article ensured that Brouckaert had pigeons
winning at the ultra distances at the ages of
6 and 7 years old. Unlike many others his racers
were not burned out before their prime. Yes, patience
is a virtue and Andre Brouckaert had it in abundance
which is one of the main reasons that he was a
master of his chosen sport.
It is a valuable lesson that many have yet to
pay heed to, both old and young, therefore may
it become the norm in the present and future management
of our thoroughbreds.
by: Liam O Comain
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