| The
Decroix Strain
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The
Decroix's, Noel and Serge, from
Rumbeke in Belgium were perhaps
the first international specialists
in long distance pigeon racing.
Little unknown until 1980 after
the partners won the Lourdes International
with a pigeon known as De Haan,
in English translation The Rooster.
To be followed in 1984 with 1st
International Perpignan with a
bird called Goliath. Then in 1986
Jonge Bliksem (Young Lightning)
won 1st International Lourdes.
That year the partnership also
took 4th International Lourdes
with Domino. To be followed by
many other successes over the
years.
There
were a number of inputs into the
Decroix family but as great fans
of Leopold Bostyn the latter strain
had a strong influence. In fact
some of Decroix's other champion
stock bore Bostyn like names such
as Chico, etc,. The latter champion
was a direct daughter of Bostyn's
Chico and she won 1st National
from Cahors for the Decroix's.
Although
bearing Bostyn bloodlines there
were other inputs into the Decroix
family during its initial development
such as the bloodlines of Michel
Descamps- Van Hasten and Daniel
Labeeuw. Thus the great Stichelbaut
blood lay at the core of the Decroix
pigeon racing enterprise. Flowing
in the genes of such Decroix favourites
as Witpentje, Plastron, Bleken,
and Pol amongst others.
Interestingly,
the genes of the great Benoni
are in the Decroix strain via
their Chico or as it has been
called Geschelpte Chico.
This can be seen in the journey
of breeding and racing accomplishments
via Daniel Labeeuw's 1st National
Libourne of 1949 which produced
a stock bird which in turn bred
Benoni, 1st International 1970.
Benoni in turn bred a stock bird
Benoni 2 which bred Chico, 1st
National Brive and 1st National
Argenton. Chico then bred a stock
bird which bred Geschelpte Chico
which won 1st National from Cahors.
Thus four generations of national
winners divided by three generations
of stock producing winners. An
excellent breeding approach, perhaps.
In
the thoughts of many knowledgeable
pigeon sport commentators or pigeonologists
there is no doubt that the Decroix
strain occupies a hallowed spot
in the pantheon of European International
pigeon racing. I have no doubt
that they deserve it and I hope
that this brief piece will make
the strain known to a wider audience.
by: Liam O Comain
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