Frans & Marcel Van Den Brande

The Van Den Brande Brothers, Master Breeders & Racers.

Watch, Listen or Read about Frans & Marcel Van den Brande Pigeons below here....

Berlaar is a little town in the South East of the province of Antwerp. Many people claim that the best sprint birds in Belgium are to be found in the Berlaar area. The brothers Janssens, whom are regarded as the most famous pigeon fanciers of all time, received some of their stock from the Berlaar region. Competition is so rife within this region that from the same race, the speed of a 1st prize winner in a neighbouring combine is not good enough to win a decent prize in Berlaar.

Many people believe that Charles Meulemans, from Arendonk, was the owner of the best breeding pair ever; known as the “Golden Couple”. The Cock of this pair came from a well-known fancier in the Berlaar region, known as Jos Van Den Bosch. One of the “sprint champions” of recent years are Bros Van Den Brande

The Brothers Frans and Marcel Van Den Brande are quite old-school in their approach to pigeon racing. They don’t darken their babies and they are of the very few that still race ‘natural’. The floor of the loft is covered with straw, not the more popular bean-straw or pea-straw, simply straw. Once the straw becomes dirty, rather than replacing it, they simply put a new layer of straw on top of it.

There is a reason why the Bros Van Den Brande aren’t as well known as other “kings of sprint” such as Sticker Donckers or Boeckx. This is largely down to the fact that the Bros Van Den Brande don’t chase popularity within the sport. The have simple pedigrees, their birds are not of famous origin, and they do not have National Aces.

The reason is they race in a combine (Diamantverbond) with few birds in competition. The races they continuously win might only be against 70 other birds, but the winner will have had a higher speed than the winner in surrounding combines with 1,500 birds in competition or more. Those 70 birds are entered by many fanciers and thus we may have competitions as the following – In one combine 40 fanciers enter 70 pigeons. (They enter 1, 2 or 3 birds, only their very best, since they race for money). – In another combine 5 fanciers enter 700 birds. It stands to reason in which combine competition is strongest. It is about the quality of opposition not the quantity.

Diamantverbond

Of the three first prizes that they won in the 1st month of the 2018 season, two were claimed in the renowned Diamandverbond Union. This union, named after the region that was once home to a flourishing diamond industry, is still the leading competition in the sprint, with the best sprint fanciers competing against each other every week.

These fanciers work hard every week to earn as much prize money as they can. Fanciers are known to basket only their very best birds, and those that fail to deliver several weeks in a row will inevitably be left out. The number of competing pigeons decreases significantly every week due to this fierce competition. As a result, pigeons that would initially win prizes per ten with ease, suddenly fail to win a prize per 3, and these kind of pigeons usually have no place in the racing team in Berlaar.

It is in this prestigious union, where only the very best fanciers stand out, that the brothers Marcel and Frans Van den Brande have been top performers for years.

General Champion

The Diamantverbond Union awarded a title of General Champion Quievrain and Noyon for the first time in 2014. The winners of 2014 were the Van den Brande Brothers. They finished in 2nd place in 2015, before claiming another championship title in 2016 and another second place in 2017.

They have repeatedly outperformed their opponents at club level as well, winning the title of general champion in the club 12 times in 18 seasons. They finished in 2nd place in the remaining 6 seasons. They basketed pigeons in Bevel (along the Nete river) for the first time in 2017, and they became 1st General Champion Quievrain and Noyon here as well.

Among the stars that have won so many great results in recent seasons are De Diamant, Blauwe 213, Super Blauwe 401, De Piraat, De Kapitein and Blauwe 512.

Diamant (BE14-6115421)

Diamant was an exceptional racing bird with 8 first prizes (no doubles) to his name: 1st Quievrain against 221 pigeons, 1st Quievrain against 186 pigeons, 1st Quievrain against 186 pigeons, 1st Quievrain against 76 pigeons, 1st Quievrain against 200 pigeons, 1st Quievrain against 76 pigeons, and 1st Quievrain against 106 pigeons.

He also won 2nd against 274 pigeons, 2nd against 1086 pigeons, 7th against 863 pigeons and 44 prizes in total, including mostly prizes per ten. These results led to a title of 4th ace pigeon YBs Quievrain 2014, 3rd ace pigeon YLs Quievrain 2015 in the Diamantverbond Union, and 1st ace pigeon Quievrain in Bevel 2017.

He is now the sire of the “730 against 17”, a talented pigeon that claimed 10th against 380 pigeons and 27th against 717 pigeons. The sire of Diamant became 1st ace pigeon Quievrain in the Diamantverbond union in 2014, and his grandparents were excellent racing birds as well: 2nd against 187, 5th against 143, 5th against 254, 5th against 2,224, 20th against 922, 24th against 1,740, always from Quievrain.

“ It is in this prestigious union, where only the very best fanciers stand out, that the brothers Marcel and Frans Van den Brande have been top performers for years. ”

Blauwe 213 (BE12-6054213)

This was one of the best pigeons ever in the collection of the two brothers: it won 9 first prizes, including two wins from Quievrain (1st against 638 pigeons and 1st against 772 pigeons), and seven first prizes from Noyon (1st against 142, 1st against 64, 1st against 13, 1st against 81, 1st against 78, 1st against 43, 1st against 27), making him the fastest sprint bird in the province of Antwerp several times. His hard work earned him the title of 1st Ace Pigeon Noyon YLs Berlaar and 1st Ace Pigeon Noyon Old birds Diamantverbond in 2013 and 2015 respectively. He finished in 2nd place both in the club and in the Diamantverbond union in 2014.

His grandfather and grandmother from his father’s side were great racing birds also, together they won a 1st Quievrain against 103 pigeons, 1st Quievrain against 79 pigeons, 1st Quievrain against 444 pigeons and 1st Quievrain against 388 pigeons.

Blauwe 213 is proving to be a talented breeding bird as well, with such talented descendants as ‘Sagan’ (BE 15 6 1 0 6 5 3 1), ‘772/17’ and ‘771/17’. The 772/17 won an 11th against 717 pigeons in Quievrain as a young bird, and his nest mate 771/17 has been quite successful as well, claiming an 11th against 284 pigeons, 6th against 244 pigeons, 8th against 132 pigeons, 9th against 494 pigeons and 14th against 302 pigeons, all in Quievrain. Sagan claimed top results both in Quievrain and Noyon but he was particularly successful in Noyon:

1st Quievrain against 315 pigeons, 1st Noyon against 425 pigeons, 2nd Quievrain against 353 pigeons, 2nd Noyon against 68 pigeons, 5th Noyon against 140 pigeons, 5th Noyon against 68 pigeons, 5th Noyon against 46 pigeons (no doubles), 8th Noyon against 396 pigeons, 9th Noyon against 368 pigeons and 10th Noyon against 984 pigeons.

Super Blauwe 401 (BE 14 6 1 1 5 4 0 1)

Super Blauwe 401 was 1st Ace Pigeon Noyon YLs 2015 and 1st Ace Pigeon Noyon Old birds 2016 in the Diamantverbond Union. He wins 3 first prizes in his racing career: 1st Noyon against 155 pigeons, 1st Noyon against 150 pigeons, and 1st Noyon against 134 pigeons. He also claimed an additional 2nd prize, 3 third prizes, 2 fourth prizes and a 5th and 6th from the same release site. He was successful in Quievrain as well, winning a 3rd against 126 pigeons and a 4th against 349 pigeons. Super Blauwe 401 is now the sire of Blauwe 512.

Blauwe 512 (BE15-6106512)

This is a superstar for team Van den Brande. Blauwe 512 became 2nd Ace Pigeon Quievrain YLs and 1st Ace Pigeon Quievrain Old birds Diamantverbond Union in 2017. He wins 7 top 5 prizes overall:

1st Quievrain against 282 pigeons, 1st Quievrain against 202 pigeons, 2nd Quievrain against 261 pigeons, 3rd Quievrain against 429 pigeons, 3rd Quievrain against 264 pigeons, 4th Quievrain against 146 pigeons, and 4th Quievrain against 71 pigeons.

Blauwe 512 is now the sire of a first prize winner from Quievrain against 669 pigeons. The sire of Blauwe 512 is Super Blauwe 401, the dam is Sneeuwwitje 307/19. This Sneeuwwitje is a daughter of Blauwe Aerts 696/12, which is also the sire of such renowned birds as Piraat and Kapitein.

Piraat (BE 14 6 1 1 5 4 6 9)

De Piraat is yet another ace pigeon winner in team Van den Brande: he was 2nd Ace Pigeon YLs Quievrain with a 1st against 444 pigeons and a 1st against 377 pigeons. The dam of Piraat is Het Vaal, winner of a 1st of 745 pigeons. The dam was a great racing bird, and so was Piraat’s grandfather from his mother’s side: he claimed a 1st Quievrain against 3,734 pigeons.

Kapitein (BE15-6106502)

Kapitein is a full brother of Piraat, and he inherited not only his dam’s pale colour but also her sprint qualities. However, the brothers were not convinced of his potential initially. He did not have a great start with a 373rd against 1193 pigeons and a 570th against 1,997 pigeons, but Kapitein then decided his run-in period was done, and he started to really excel, winning a consecutive 29th against 893 pigeons, 4th against 256 pigeons, and 4th against 590 pigeons. He became 1st Ace Pigeon Quievrain YLs in the Diamantverbond Union in 2016, based on the following results:

1st Quievrain against 264 pigeons, 1st Quievrain against 45 pigeons, 1st Quievrain against 40 pigeons, 2nd Quievrain against 353 pigeons, 3rd Quievrain against 261 pigeons and 3rd Quievrain 202 pigeons.

“ Frans and Marcel have completed just one shorter middle–distance race in their long career, and it was quite a successful event. It’s safe to assume their opponents were relieved to hear it was just a one-time experiment. ”

Cruyff (BE 17 – 6 0 8 27 1 4) and Ronaldo (BE 17 – 6 0 8 2 70 7)

Cruyff and Ronaldo appear to be the leading names for 2018. Cruyff, a promising young bird, already won 4 first prizes and a second prize:

1st Quievrain against 125 pigeons, 1st Quievrain against 717 pigeons, 1st Quievrain 444 against pigeons, 1st Quievrain against 121 pigeons and 2nd Quievrain against 203 pigeons.

And he was off to a flying start in 2018 as well:

1st Quievrain against 326 pigeons and 1st Quievrain against 196 pigeons.

The sire of Cruyff became 1st Ace Pigeon Noyon YLs in Bevel in 2017, and his grandfather from his father’s side was 1st Ace Pigeon YLs Quievrain 2015 in the Diamantverbond.

Ronaldo comes from some talented bloodlines as well: his sire was 1st Ace Pigeon Quievrain old birds 2014 in the Diamantverbond, and both his grandfather and grandmother from his father’s side were renowned racing birds. The grandfather from his mother’s side is none other than Piraat, which we introduced earlier on. Ronaldo ended the 2017 season with a 7th against 160, 12th against 349 and 1st against 481, and he has had a great start in 2018 as well, winning a 2nd Quievrain against 326 pigeons, a 2nd Noyon against 313 pigeons and a 20th Noyon against 578 pigeons.

Frans and Marcel have completed just one shorter middle-distance race in their long career, and it was quite a successful event. It’s safe to assume their opponents were relieved to hear it was just a one-time experiment.

However, The Van den Brande racing birds have shown their potential in the longer distances in other lofts: one team that did particularly well with the Van den Brande breed is the Leideman Brothers and their Goed Grijs. This fantastic racing hen, that has the same grandmother as the talented Cruyff, has won 7 first prizes in her racing career, each time in an important race:

1st N P O Laon against 6,371 pigeons, 1st Duffel against 5,821 pigeons, 1st Laon against 1,502 pigeons, 1st Wijchen against 786 pigeons, 1st Heusden-Zolder against 656 pigeons, and 1st Hapert against 231 pigeons.

Pigeon fancier Pasha from Romania has done really well with his Van den Brande investments, winning a 1st National Ace Pigeon title long distance YBs 2016. The Leideman brothers and Pasha are in fact not the only fanciers that did great with the Van den Brande breed; so were Gaston Van de Wouwer, Roger Maris, Alex Docx, Jo Van den Brande, Ludo Helsen, and Laurent Serneels.

These renowned fanciers are well aware of the abilities of their Blauwe 213 descendants and other talented birds. In The Netherlands, the Jager Brothers, the Van Brandenburg Brothers, Sibble Bros and Jan Van der Putten all have been able to raise the bar thanks to the relatives of Piraat, Kapitein, Super Blauwe 401, and Blauwe 512.

2018 proved to be the last year racing for the Van Den Brande bros and they decided to have a clearance sale, PIPA conducted and presented to the world a superb sale of all the birds of Frans and Marcel Van Den Brande.

So widely respected are the birds from Frans and Marcel Van Den Brande that at their clearance sale through PIPA, Hans and Evert Jan Eijerkamp bought two of the star hens ‘Diamant’ and her sister “Sister Diamant” as the foundation hens to breed to the very best of their Herman Ceuster cocks to produce in their words “a new super breed of Sprinters”

“ Van Den Brande is a modern strain that is destined for continued greatness around the world. ”

Van den Brande birds are not as well-known as many of the regions superstar sprinters. Their birds however appear many times in the back breeding of these superstar lofts. Frans and Marcel never courted the limelight, they are private men who enjoyed racing pigeons at the very highest level against the toughest opposition.

For years the Van Den Brande birds have been a very successful breed in the UK and Ireland, they have not been commercially pushed as others have, but those who have them in their lofts tend to remain fiercely loyal to these birds that are powerful fast sprinters, which are now proving to be a competitive middle distant bird and also capable of flying across the water, as is being proven by lofts in Ireland.

Another recent success for these birds came from Jos Van Den Brande at the medium-distance classic Bourges ,477 kilometres, in 2017. The short and medium-distance player Jos Van Den Brande from Heultje (Westerlo) in the province of Antwerp won the 3rd national course against 38,456 youngsters. This was also the 3rd fastest of 59,243 pigeons. Furthermore, Jos Van Den Brande also won the 13th National against 38,456 youngsters only with little used pigeons.

Jos Van Den Brande has been racing extremely well on the short and medium haul for many years and is a real star in his area. In the old and yearlings, Jos only races with the cocks. With the young birds racing both cocks and hens. The hens are then also basketed on the national flights of the medium-haul route.

Its base comes from the Van Den Brande brothers and his friend Henri Menten, where pigeons are regularly exchanged or bred together.

After Jos Van Den Brande had another top year in 2018 with the 8th national AS pigeon K B D B young pigeons small middle distance B 18 – 6 2 0 0 5 3 4.

The absolute highlight in 2019 was his long successful career with the title 1st national champion K B D B small middle distance Youngsters 2019 and 4th national AS-pigeon K B D B small middle distance youngsters 2019 with the female B 19 – 6 1 4 0 4 3 4 !

Van Den Brande is a modern strain that is destined for continued greatness around the world.

Smyth Bros. / Kenyons

The Smyth Brothers, Master Breeders & Racers, Ballymena, Ireland.

Watch, Listen or Read about Jim Kenyon & Smyth Bros. Pigeons below here....

This is one of the greatest strains of the last and present century. As a well-known writer on long distance pigeon racing proclaimed “In confirmation, this family of racing pigeons for more than half a century has faced and conquered what is perhaps one of the toughest, if not the toughest, route in the world of pigeon racing”. This is an authentic long distance and marathon strain in its own right. For far too long the pigeon racing fraternity has seemingly failed to recognize or acknowledge this truth.

It origins obviously lie in another strain but the two Smyth brothers (Bobby and Hughie) from Ballymena in the island of Ireland forged perhaps the first long distance and marathon strain of the land of Ireland. A partnership whose results at the distance were achieved by sending only a few birds to the races. But there is no doubt based upon their results and the results of their strain in the lofts of others that these two Irish fanciers were masters at their craft!

“This is one of the greatest strains of the last and present century…. ”

The brothers when caught by the bug of pigeon racing early in their pigeon racing lives decided to buy the best and race the best. It was then that apparently they read the comments of Major Osman of the Racing Pigeon weekly that one of the best strains was the Kenyon strain. So they decided to stock their loft with the best of the latter.

Jim Kenyon was from Skermesdale, Lancashire and raced his pigeons from his Blaguegate Lofts. Jim Kenyon based his family on the very best long distance blood available at the time – the Hansseene birds of Mr. Charles Thoroughood were the initial principal influence, later on W. Beards Black Pied Cock known as “The Major” was a dominant influence in this family, “The Major” raced The English channel into Lancashire from France on 14 occasions including two 500 Mile smash races winning top prizes including 1st Fed Doll, France. He sired at least 12 individual first prize winners. He also had stock from Mr. G King of “Fairlight King” fame, who was winner of first open NFC Pau, France.

“that one of the best strains was the Kenyon strain. So they decided to stock their loft with the best …. ”

Two other important birds in this family were Champions “What’s Wanted” and “Valiant” – the former won The Northwest Classic race from Nantes, France, 2 years running – the only bird ever to do so. “Valiant” won 1st Open Marennes in the National flying club, 500-mile race against 1748 Birds, winning the race by over half an hour. Another great champion of the Black Pied strain was “Money Spinner” who from 12 channel races was eleven times a prize winner – winning an RPRA award and high cash prizes. One of the best ever young bird performances in the National Flying Club Young bird Races by was by Bill Ishmael’s Orrell Georgina. This great Kenyon won 1st section L from Avaranches, France, only being beaten by birds flying 100 miles shorter. Kenyon Bloodlines have been winning at the highest level for more than 90 years. A few examples are the First Open Grand National Pau, France in 1952 at 700 miles, also from San Sebastian in 1953 at 700 miles. There was a 4th Open from Nance in 1951, at 450 miles and a 1st Scottish National winner in 1954 and the Irish National Flying Club, Nantes Race from 600 miles.

In 1989, the Welsh Grand National winner from Lerwick was won by Howell and Son. Their great hen “Leading Lady 2”was flying a distance of 600 miles and recorded a velocity of 928 yards per minute. The Sire of Leading Lady was bred by Smith Brothers, Ireland.

From 1943 onwards some good pigeons where bought from the Kenyon lofts and through the astute management of the brothers the result was some of the best racing performances seen in Europe. But alas the remoteness of Ireland was a factor which contributed towards the strain not being given its due.

For the Smyth’s, the best started in 1948 when they were 11th from Rennes, France, at a distance of 510 miles with a hen called “Rennes Queen”, she was one of only 12 birds to return in race time (3 days). This hen also took 18th Open from the same race point in 1949 beaten by her daughter, Northern Leader. The latter was 7th Open in a race where only twenty-five pigeons were timed. This was out of thousands sent, but aside from the crossing of two seas – the maritime climate was always an obstacle for Irish pigeons to overcome.

“……But alas the remoteness of Ireland was a factor which contributed towards the strain not being given its due. …. ”

In 1951 the partners scored 23rd Open in the National race from Rennes, a very hard race with the winning velocity around 800 yards per minute. To be followed in 1953 with 33rd Open NIPA Derby from Landerneau, France, and 62nd and 75th Open National Redon, France. The latter a distance of 532 miles. The following year 1954 saw the strain winning three positions in a tough National from Redon with only 28 birds home in race time. The positions were 20th, 21st and 24th Open.

The brothers scored again in 1955 from Redon, the velocities were down around 700 yards per minute,when the pigeon who was 21st in 1954 won 4th Open National. This was the famous “Leading Lady” who went on the following year to win 6th Open from Redon at a speed of 579 yards per minute. Then, perhaps the greatest racing pigeon ever, in 1957, scored 9th Open from Redon. Another tough race but Leading Lady was only three positions behind her cousin who scored 6th Open. That bird being “National Effort” who went back in 1958 to Redon and finished 36th Open. Also in this race a Grand Daughter of Leading Lady was 38th Open National.

“This hen also took 18th Open from the same race point in 1949 beaten by her daughter, Northern Leader………….”

Since the exploits of Leading Lady the fabulous Smyth Strain has won 27th Open from Les Sables, France (610 miles) in 1960; 21st Open from Les Sables in 1961; 42st Open Dinard, France, in 1965; 49th Open from Nantes, France (570 miles) in 1966; 8th Open Old Bird Derby from Dinard in 1967; 22nd Open National Nantes in 1968; 63rd Open National Nantes and 31st Open OB Derby Dinard in 1969; 2nd and 6th Open Beauvais, France, 517 miles in 1970; 24th and 45th Open National Nantes in 1971; 2nd Open Nantes National by another hen named Northern Lady in 1973; 17th Open OB Derby Dinard in 1976; 135th Open National Rennes in 1977; 24th Open National Rennes in 1978; 48th and 101st Open National Rennes in 1979; 26th,125th,and 127th Open Les Sables in 1980; 40th and 58th Open National Les Sables in 1981; 66th Open OB Derby, Dinard in 1982.

Then the National racing received a setback arising from France’s ban on racing pigeons in 1983 but the alternative races (although shorter in distance) from various parts of the island of Britain saw the Smyth strain continue to win many prizes. It must be said that over the time of the above old bird results the Ballymena lofts scored time and time again in the Young Bird Nationals into Ireland. In fact they have a terrific record in this area of pigeon racing.

“……Then the National racing received a setback arising from France’s ban on racing pigeons in 1983 but the alternative races (although shorter in distance) from various parts of the island of Britain saw the Smyth strain continue to win many prizes. …. ”

In 1988, the racing of Nationals returned to France again and the brothers were 64th and 145th Open from Rennes. The following year saw them 41st Open from Rennes and 45th Open in the NIPA Derby from Dinard. This was followed in the next year by 66th and 192nd Open from Rennes as well as 1st and 2nd in the Friendship National from Sartilly. In 1992 the lofts scored 7th and 14th Open from Rennes followed in 1993 with 12th Open in the OB Derby from Dinard. 1994 saw 133rd and 194th from the Rennes National and 58th Open in the Derby from Dinard. Since then the lofts have scored in 1997 from St. Nazaire in France (554 miles) with 97th Open. Scoring again the following year with 10th position in the Friendship National from Dinard, France.

It should be noted that the Smyth strain of racing pigeons have provided National winners for other Irish fanciers and others from abroad including providing the sire for Ted Vowles’ hen “Gwendolene Supreme”, who won 1st Section, 1st Open from Palamos into Britain at a distance of 700 miles. Of course there is much more that I could add to back my contention that this is one of the best strains of long distance and marathon pigeons that the sport has ever experienced. A strain that has produced many champions including perhaps the greatest distance racer – Leading Lady – so far in the history of the sport.

Smyth brothers were Northern Irish financiers of the year as recently as nineteen eighty-three. Over the years. They have won with with their Kenyons many positions. In 1981, the loft won double “Hall of Fame” diplomas, these are awarded to pigeons which scored three times in the Irish National King’s Cup race from France.

The Smith pigeons have to negotiate 2 very difficult seas, and it doesn’t require much thought to realise why when you compare them with for example Continental 500 & 600 mile Racers that the Irish Kenyons possess superior intelligence and courage coupled with the finest physical qualities, health and Constitution.

“……The Smith pigeons have to negotiate 2 very difficult seas, and it doesn’t require much thought to realise why when you compare them with for example Continental 500 & 600 mile Racers that the Irish Kenyons possess superior intelligence and courage . …. ”

Smith Brothers, when interviewed in 1980 by the British Homing World stud book said, “a considerable number of the leading lofts in Ireland owe their success to the introduction of this, the greatest of strains and it is well known that our Kenyons, both pure and crossed have won practically all the highest racing honours possible.” Indeed. It’s well known that the Smith Brothers Kenyons were doing so well, that Jim Kenyon himself re-imported birds bred by the Smyth brothers because he knew that the selection process they had been through via their sea-racing exploits than his own.