Bissegem, a district of Kortrijk, was the home of the well-known master pigeon breeder and pigeon lover Frans Labeeuw, son of Daniel Labeeuw, an eminent figure who managed to preserve the Stichelbaut pigeon breed over several decades.
Frans Labeeuw was born on March 19, 1935, and passed away on January 26, 2024. It is a fact that the Alois Stichelbaut pigeons gained world fame through various contributions. The very well-known Piet Deweerd once stated that the Stichelbauts were "the best pigeon breed ever created for heavy work", i.e., Barcelona, Narbonne, Perpignan, etc. Piet was convinced that the Stichelbaut pigeons were likely better than the world-renowned Aarden breed, created by himself.
Here is a story in a nutshell, especially for those who have the passion for heavy work. A lifelong work of inbreeding and Stichelbaut origins via top lofts in Belgium and abroad by Frans Labeeuw. This top endurance pigeon breed will be offered to enthusiasts of overnight flights via Pitts after his passing.
Start in Bissegem
The Stichelbauts Labeeuw find their origin in the total sale of Alois Stichelbaut's loft in 1946, where the Labeeuw family purchased three base pigeons.
Daniel Labeeuw, father of Frans, was a very good friend of Alois and knew perfectly which pigeons to buy. Daniel Labeeuw organized the sale in Brussels in 1946 and bought three pigeons at the suggestion of Alois Stichelbaut, namely: "the White Feather from 41," 109691-41, inbred from the "Old Bordeauxtje" x her own son. Labeeuw was so fond of this pigeon that he also bought her father at the total sale of Stichelbaut - although he was already 12 years old - and her son "the Geschelpten" 19909-44. With these pigeons, success came almost immediately, evidenced by a 1st national Chateauroux in 1946. Friends from this period built their lofts with these pigeons, such as Maurice Delbar; Gebr. Catrysse; Jozef Vervisch (base strain Vanbruaene-Stichelbaut, Joost De Smeyter-Restiaen); Roger Vereecke; Paul Gilmont; Marcel Desmet; Oscar Desmet; Deschamp-Vanhasten; Gebr. Janssens; Bruno Waelkens; Ferdy De Scheemaeker, Roger Mylle, etc...
Meanwhile, after the death of his father, Frans took over the colony and remained true to the breeding principle of Alois Stichelbaut and Daniel Labeeuw.
National victories: a characteristic of the Stichelbauts Labeeuw
- 1st National Chateauroux 4664 p. - Daniel Labeeuw Bissegem
- 1st Champion of Belgium - Daniel Labeeuw Bissegem
- 4th International Libourne - Daniel Labeeuw Bissegem
- 5th International Libourne - Daniel Labeeuw Bissegem
- 1st National Felixtown (England) - Verhaege Goes NL
- 2nd National Felixtown (England) - Verhaege Goes NL
- 1st National Brive - Buyse Remi Hooglede
- 2nd National Brive - Buyse Remi Hooglede
- 1st National Montauban - Nolf Omer Bissegem
- 2nd National Montauban - Daniel Labeeuw Bissegem
- 1st National Libourne - Vanbruaene Andre Lauwe
- 1st International Barcelona - Vanbruaene Andre Lauwe – the father of the Electriek was 100% Stichelbaut via Daniel Labeeuw
- 1st International Pau - Bostijn Leopold Moorslede - Benoni
- 1st International Biaritz - Bostijn Leopold Moorslede
- 1st National Argenton - Bostijn Leopold Moorslede - Chico (2nd national Tulle, 1st national Argenton, 1st national Brive 5571 pigeons)
- 1st National Brive - Bostijn Leopold Moorslede - Chico
- 1st National Nantes Young pigeons - Woodfield Jef England
- 1st National La Souterraine Young pigeons - Denteneer Daniel Peronnes
- 1st National La Souterraine - Descheemaecker Brothers Antwerp
- 1st National Limoges - Descheemaecker Brothers Antwerp
- 1st National Limoges - Descheemaecker Brothers Antwerp
- "The Barcelona" Jozef Vervisch Kortrijk 7 times Barcelona with 4 top results
- 1st National Barcelona 11607 p. 2012 - Descheemaecker Ferdi Ooigem Miss Stichelbaut
- 2nd International Barcelona 25348 p. 2012 - Descheemaecker Ferdi Ooigem Miss Stichelbaut
- 1st Best Long Distance pigeon Italy - Barbulescu Nicu – the father of the winner was a 100% Stichelbaut, a brother of the Montauban
- 1st Best St Vincent pigeon Belgium 2014 - 2016 - Mille Roger – the father of the winner a 100% Stichelbaut, named "the Labeeuw"
- 1st Best St Vincent Belgium 2015 - 2016 - Mille Roger - the father of the winner a 100% Stichelbaut, "named the Labeeuw"
- 1st European Best pigeon Marathon 2017
- 1st Best pigeon France 2017 – The mother of this pigeon a 100% Stichelbaut Frans Labeeuw
- 1st Champion 1st Best pigeon Hungary - Szebeny Layos
- 1st Long distance Germany - Hans Hovelberend
- 1st Barcelona Masters Tandem 2006 - Labeeuw Frans & Devos Etienne
- 1st Barcelona Masters Tandem 2008 - Labeeuw Frans & Chris Hebberecht
- 1st Barcelona Masters Tandem 2014 - Labeeuw Frans & Henry Vanneste