A name like Freddy De Jaeger needs little explanation in the pigeon world. In Knesselare, just about everything that could be won has been won over the past decades. Following Freddy's passing in January of this year, all pigeons will now be auctioned through Pitts, including all offspring from 'Lloyd' 1st Internat Barcelona and 'Warrior' 1st Nat. Ace pigeon KBDB Fond 2015.
History
Since time immemorial, the De Jaeger family has been involved with pigeons. Between W.W. I and W.W. II, it was grandfather Francis who took the reins and achieved great results in the then speed flights. During W.W. II, it was forbidden to keep pigeons, and thus after the war, they had to restart with a few pigeons that were hidden with friends in areas where pigeons were allowed. After W.W. II and following grandfather Francis's passing, the pigeon sport was continued by son Albert. Initially, they achieved much success in the speed flights before switching to the middle distance. Results only improved from there.
In the early 1960s, along with teenage son Freddy, they transitioned to heavy middle distance and long-distance racing. It was a time when all the great names from East and West Flanders congregated in Knesselare to compete in the fond club Knesselare on the famous Angoulême flights (distance 650 km). The "Comb. De Jaeger & Zn" (Albert and Freddy) achieved formidable results in these races. They raced with seven brothers for several years, yielding exceptional results in harsh pigeon weather. These pigeons were largely descended from the breed “Gaby Verstraete,” the then-world wonder from Balgerhoeke and the basis for countless breeding lofts among the best fanciers in the country. Reinforcements came from various top lofts such as René Moens from Astene, as well as from Wendzynski from Northern France. The results continued to roll in, and the outcomes became increasingly impressive.
Building at the top
Freddy De Jaeger was raised in the pigeon sport. Father Albert was a real ace in the middle and heavy middle distance. So much so that he was excluded or restricted in participation in several federations. And this wasn’t due to weak performance—on the contrary! It speaks volumes about the 'sledgehammer' that the late Albert occasionally brought out to reduce the entire competition to proverbial scrap. The pigeons often wreaked destruction at the De Jaegers!
After father Albert's passing and the subsequent public sale, Freddy teamed up with his neighbor under the banner De Jaeger-Scheyvinck. More successful paths were forged, resulting in numerous victories and prominent titles – such as winning the East Flanders Marathon. After the sudden passing of Adrien Scheyvinck, his uncle Gerard Van Maldegem was brought in to care for the pigeons. However, due to the growth of his business, the pigeon sport was increasingly put on the back burner for Freddy. He was indeed the CEO and manager of 'Jaegerson', a supply company for plate processing, which was then housed in the shed behind his home.
With the further expansion of his business, the shed behind his house soon became too small, and Freddy moved his company to nearby Beernem. In the meantime, his son and daughter also joined the business, gradually taking more control. This allowed Freddy more free time to fully immerse himself back in the pigeon sport. He struck a deal in the mid-1990s with Daniel De Vylder to share the ups and downs of the pigeon sport, with Daniel serving as the caretaker to ensure continuity in the pigeon household. The shed behind the house was transformed into a true pigeon palace!
New lofts for early successes
In 2010, the loft accommodation was given a new look. They found that the lofts in the warehouse remained too cold and chilly for too long to allow for early successes. Top condition usually only came in the summer, around July. This was in stark contrast to part of the widowed team that resided in the large garden loft next to the warehouses. Hence, Freddy had a brand new garden loft built (an early birthday gift from his wife Kristien) which has ample space (around 90 living boxes) to house the racing team! Kristien Lemahieu is the daughter of the world-renowned player in Barcelona, namely Karel Lemahieu, and also a cousin of Paul & Mark Lemahieu (of the famous Rooring pigeon).
Attention to detail and adapting to the situation are traits that characterize top champions like Freddy De Jaeger! But Freddy kept raising the bar even higher and thus, in the summer of 2012, reached an agreement with Marijn Laureyns to collaborate from the 2013 season, housing the best of their two colonies – after thorough selection based on results and lineage – at the lofts in Knesselare. Marijn, the “NR 1” from Meetjesland, was then working full-time on the care of the pigeons and the maintenance of the pigeon accommodation.
Lofthouse Structure
The oldest long-distance pigeons of the current generation came from local resident Maurice Verschuere from the line of his famous "Primus Inter Pares," one of the absolute best Barcelona pigeons. Another successful line came directly from the top formation Vandamme-Boddaert from Oostkamp, where a starring role was played by the foundation hen "Witpen '90" who had the renowned blood of Gebr. Decroix from Rumbeke flowing in her veins. To enhance the tandem with gold, Freddy visited many top fanciers or attended the biggest auctions from the pigeon magazines. Thus, pigeons can be found from:
*Julien Vaneenoo from Wingene (from the line of the super crack "Rocky"), with whom he became general champion KBDB in 2007.
*Sylvere Toye from Otegem, who played incredibly strong in 2007.
*Frans Waerniers from Knesselare (from the line of his 1st National winners or the golden "Super-Ludo hen").
*Remi, Andre & Carlo Gyselbrecht from Knesselare: of course, from their line of "Laureaat Barcelona" (1st Internat Barcelona) and their "Sampras" (2nd Nat Barcelona).
Additionally, pigeons from Gebr. Comyn from Kanegem, A De Smidt from Knokke, and long-distance ace Emiel Denys from Tielt, "maestro" Gaby Vandenabeele from Dentergem, G. Carteus from Ronse, A. Cornelis from Lotenhulle, Rik Cools from Ruiselede, and Antoine Timmerman from Knesselare.
The breed Roger Florizoone from Nieuwpoort (friend and neighbor of the late Karel Lemahieu) has been extremely important in the breed development for the heavy long distance. This with direct descendants of "De Witneus" (Primus Inter Pares '97) and his son "De Barcelona" (1st Nat. Barcelona 1999) plus a whole series of close relatives. Thus, the entire core of the Florizoone breed was found at the breeding loft. From this line also came long distance stars like "De San Sebastian," "Atleet," "Sammy," "Kleine Sammy," "Conquistador," along with many top-class descendants later on. The pigeons came directly from Florizoone but especially via the renowned Hendriks-Meyberg, bringing the gold of Florizoone to Knesselare.
Further development of the breeding loft came along the small but iron-strong performing long-distance colony of Ignace Viaene, resulting in the world-renowned "Peiren" breed being brought in, including "Shakira": mother of 1st pr. Intern. San Sebastian 2006, "Liesje": full sister 1st pr. nat Perpignan YL 2004, "Igno" and "Maïte," son and daughter of 1st Prov. St. Vincent.
In 2005 and especially in 2006, a whole series of Dutch top pigeons were acquired from Cees van der Poel from Ridderkerk, from Gebr. Bras from Dordrecht, and also from Comb. Batenburg - v.d. Merwe from Klaaswaal.
At Cees v.d. Poel, there are descendants of "De Stamvader" (a pure Jan Theelen). Also descendants of Carteus, Cramers, and comb. Houtekamer pigeons. From Gebr. Bras, 2 pure brothers and 1 sister of the famous "Ijskop" were obtained. That "Ijskop" was not only a super flier but also the father of "Chenoa" 1st Olympiad pigeon heavy long distance of the Netherlands. The mother of Chenoa is a daughter of "De Stamvader" of C. v.d. Poel, from which various descendants, as previously mentioned, were placed in the breeding loft, one of which is even a half-sister of mother "Chenoa." From Comb. Batenburg-v.d. Merwe, a daughter of the "St. Vincent-Cock" was removed. This cock is the father of several absolute long-distance top pigeons in the Netherlands and also grandfather of 1st ace pigeon Long Distance.
In 2007, reinforcement was sought in Germany from the super stars "P.& H.- P. Brockamp" from Boppard. In 2008, the following pigeons from Brockamp were introduced to the breeding loft:
A son and a daughter of Super Breeder "George" (a pure Carteus) who are also full brother and sister of "Mistral" 2nd Olympiad pigeon Heavy Long Distance 2007. Additionally, they are half-siblings of the best long-distance pigeon in the world, namely "EURODIAMOND" 1st Olympiad pigeon Heavy Long Distance in Oostende 2007.
A daughter of "Mistral" x Nat. Ace pigeon international flights Germany 2006.
A daughter of "Eurodiamond" x daughter "Superbordeaux."
Several close relatives of the aforementioned super champions.
For the heavy middle and light long distance, success has been achieved for several years with pigeons from Grandmaster Gaby Vandenabeele. Among the acquired pigeons was the wonder hen "THE TSUNAMI," which later became the absolute foundation pigeon of the loft.
Furthermore, in recent years, reinforcement has been brought to the loft with pigeons from F. & N. Norman, E. Meirlaen, M. Aelbrecht, Dobbelaere-Debuck, W.M.J.F. Boddaert, and J. Thoné.
Not to be forgotten is the contribution of a selection of top pigeons (breeders and fliers) from Marijn Laureyns, who devoted himself full-time from 2013 to further development of the pigeon colony.
(SOURCE: www.teamdejaeger.be)