Article from AUSTRALIA'S INDEPENDENT RACING PIGEON MAGAZINE
The eagles of the Pyrenees
Alan Brown visits Piet Schellekens of Bavel, Holland
The name Schellekens is a distinguished name in the pigeon-world. With "The Eagles of the Pyrenees " they have built a name that is well known all over the world.
How did this all begin?
Father Jef, born in 1910, developed an interest for Pigeon-flying early in his childhood, already in that stage a great passion raised for the long distance races such as Bordeaux, Rome, Valladolid and San Sebastian.
Due to his busy duties on the farm the pigeon-sport was said farewell.
Fortunately blood is thicker than water and after 30 years, in 1958 he made a fresh restart. The first pigeons came from Noudje Horsten and fellow-villager Jac Wouters, a cock and a hen, and they were of the Horemans strain. They became the "base-couple " of the Schellekens loft and delivered many famous pigeons.
During these early years, Gustaqf Swaelens of Herentals (Belgium) brought in some very successful pigeons, from the breed Meurice-Cannaerls and Delbar
In 1967 they travelled the country for the first time (and not the last time) to the South of Belgium to Andre Vanbruaene of Lauwe, who in that time was celebrating great triumphs.
In the eighties another powerful injection came from the mighty "Harden-strain".
From this noble blood, father Jef bred his own pigeon, which is now known as the "Schellekens-breed".
From the starting period on, they instantly had excellent results. With the famous pigeons "De Bonte", "Dax-duifke" and her brother "be St.Vincenter".
Other top-achievers were "Donkere Dax", "Broer Sterkweker" and the world-famous "Ocana".
In 1969, his son Piet independently started with pigeon flying in Bavel.
This is where I take up the storey with my visit to Bavel, just 15 kilometer's from his brothers home in Kiel. We arrived in the little town of Bavel on Sunday afternoon 3rd March. There was very few people about, infact the only one we seen was a jogger. Who kindly pointed us in the direction of Piet Schellekens home 18 Kerkstraat in a sleepy little street. Although 1 had told Piet I would call I did'nt comfirm that I was definately coming, much to his surprise when he opened the door. But being a true gentleman he made the six of us all welcome and made us a cup of hot coffee. Which I must say was greatfully recieved on a cold March day. He was telling us that he worked as a teacher in the College, where he teaches Mathmatics, Physics and Chemistry. Having got married in 1969 he bought his grandfathers old house in Bavel. When he moved there he brought with him some of the top breeders from the lofts in Riel with him. He has many descendents in his loft to this day from the originals. Many people owe their success to the "Schellekens" pigeons including 11Th Burgers" of Weurt Holland who was both 1st Nat and International winner from Pau with a grandson of the "Zwarte Yvonne" which in turn was the International winner of the Barcelona hens 1978. Piet's good friend Jan Josten of Tienray won 1st International Hens from Barcelona against 4,544 hens with a pigeon direct from Piet in 1988. He was also 5th National Barcelona 5,451 birds and 6th International 21,194 pigeons. Another to do well with the Schellekens pigeons was "Cor Koning who was 4th National Bergerac and also won a car. This was with a pigeon of the "Ocana" lines. Ber Roosen of Eysdon got a cock bred down from "Ocana 11111 which became the base sire of his loft. Unknown to some but "Karel Meulemans" of Arendonk was 1st National Dax with a descendent of "Champion Radar" Piet has won many Championships in his region and at National level. In 1993 he was 1st, 3rd, 4th, & 6th in the long distance races, which earned him the title of the "Golden Crack" of the Fond Club Zuid-Nederland against 4000 fanciers. This is something that had not been seen in the thirty years history of the FZN. He also won the "Grand Prix" Z.L.U. (National Races) These are the races from BARCELONA, MARSEILLE and PERPIGNAN all the top long distance races. Piet showed us albums full of top winning pigeons all beautiful Black pigeons and you could see the work that he had put in to form such a fantastic family of pigeons. Although it was getting a little dark outside he brought some of his pigeons into the house in order for us to handle them. I must say I have never seen nicer pigeons in my life and I have still not got them out of my hear They had real silky feathering and handled medium sized, typicial long distance type pigeons. Piet kindly gave some Photographs of his pigeons before we again made are journey to Houten to the Dutch Pigeon Show. I would like to finish by thanking Piet for having us and I hope some day to return and maybe aquire some of these "EAGLES of THE PYRENEES".
(from Australia's Independent Racing Pigeon Magazine May 2001)
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