If you put the word elite in the name of your product or brand you are planning to set a high bar. Elite stands for a select group with exceptional qualities or privileges, that allows you to achieve a very high level.
Nikolaas Gyselbrecht and Dirk Deroose, two strong men supporting the PEC
This shows the enormous ambition of Nikolaas Gyselbrecht when he founded the PIPA Elite Centre. He wanted this loft to be the best; it had to stand out from the rest and make it to the top.
It takes a lot to excel in all disciplines of this sport and it requires a combination of talent, guidance, training and making the right choices, which is often referred to as having a feel for it. You need a strong drive, expertise and the will to succeed as well. This is what allows a sportsman to stand out and to become a top class athlete. The same goes for pigeon racing.
Top class pigeon racing has everything to do with the quality of your pigeons; top quality pigeons are indispensable. If you want to be successful over an extended period of time you will need to have pigeons that have what it takes to win top prizes. You need pigeons with great class that have that little bit extra!
We can think of easier tasks than creating and developing a breeding loft with the primary goal of becoming the number one. This was the biggest challenge ahead when the PIPA Elite Centre (PEC) was founded. The word elite takes a prominent place and it illustrates what Nikolaas Gyselbrecht had in mind with this loft: composing a breeding loft with the very best champions and pigeons that have overpowered their opponents in their favourite disciplines. He was looking for elite pigeons.
Our national ace pigeons are a perfect example! These pigeons are capable of dominating the entire season, which then results in a title of national ace pigeon. This title goes to a country’s best pigeon in a particular discipline. Nikolaas Gyselbrecht was well aware of the importance of these ace pigeon titles.
Of course it is quite a task to obtain national ace pigeons. There are only a few of them every season, they are in high demand and they are really expensive as well. Nikolaas was lucky to work together with his companion Hugo Batenburg, with whom a number of pigeons were purchased together. Meanwhile Dirk Deroose has also joined the team of the PEC and his business insight, along with his financial support, will further boost the PEC to the very top.
That is how Nikolaas has managed to transfer several national prize winners in the longer middle distance and a few exceptional winners in the long distance to the PEC in the last few years. These pigeons are worth paying for because we have seen many ace pigeons develop into top class breeding pigeons and sometimes true stock pigeons in the past. Several of these pigeons have really influenced our sport at (inter)national level with their impressive breeding qualities and great results both in the racing and the breeding loft. Several fanciers have gained international recognition thanks to these results!
Ace pigeons and glorious winners
The PEC has gained an excellent reputation over the years, based on a collection of breeding pigeons of impressive quality. The main role is played by the national ace pigeons that were purchased by the PEC or that have been staying there for a while.
Quite a few ace pigeons and great prize winners have had a temporary stay in these lofts, while on their way to their new home. Other excellent pigeons such as New Freddy, Amalia, New Laureaat and New Witbuik are still on the list of pigeons currently housed at the PEC. This also means that these invaluable breeding pigeons have been kept in Belgian hands, which is more the exception than the rule these days. We have included the most important pigeons of the PEC:
New Freddy BE09-5052387
1st Nat. Ace Pigeon Longer Middle Distance KBDB 2010
This amazing pigeon of Pierre Matthijs was moved to the PEC in the middle of the 2010 season. They discovered that the bloodline of this pigeon has enormous breeding capabilities as well. Let’s have a look at the most important racing and breeding results:
1st Nat La Souterraine 4,144 old birds 2013 for Pierre Van Meeuwen 1st Nat Zone C1 Gueret 1,908 young birds 2013 for Paul Huls 2nd Nat Bourges 18,478 young birds 2013 for F & J.Vandenheede 2nd Nat Gueret 15,007 yearlings 2013 for Verreckt-Ariën 2nd Nat Zone A2 Châteauroux 4,503 yearlings for F & J.Vandenheede 7th nat. Zone A2 Argenton against 4,379 young birds for Dirk Deroose 8th Nat Bourges 18,478 young birds 2013 for Marc Van Haute
The most important achievement is of course the title of First Nat. Ace Pigeon Longer Middle Distance KBDB Old Birds 2013 for Casaert-Sénéchal, which was won by Nikolaas, a half brother of Amalia! This is just a brief overview of the most successful descendants of this New Freddy bloodline.
Amalia BE10-9039333
1st Nat. Ace Pigeon Longer Middle Distance KBDB 2011
The first nat. ace pigeon longer middle distance KBDB 2013 is an outstanding pigeon from the lofts of Casaert-Sénéchal and she is a half sister of Nikolaas. This is no coincidence, good origins never lie. She was the second consecutive national ace pigeon longer middle distance to join the PEC breeding loft, after New Freddy. The PEC now has the chance to incorporate the outstanding breeding qualities of Amalia in their existing pigeon family, which is great.
New Laureaat BE08-2222675
1st Internat. Barcelona 25,294 p. in 2013
8th Nat. Barcelona 12,281 p. in 2011
323rd Nat. Barcelona 11,590 p. in 2012
This is the new superstar in this loft and winner of a first internat. Barcelona 2013 and winner of the Gouden Vleugel title, in one of the toughest and most beautiful Barcelona races ever. He originates from the golden bloodline of Laureaat Barcelona (winner of a 1st internat. Barcelona 1995 in similar conditions) of the Gyselbrecht family from Knesselare. The dam of New Laureaat was actually bred in the lofts of Dr. Carlo Gyselbrecht. That explains why PEC was eager to buy this pigeon, which they did together with Hugo Batenburg. This is an exceptional pigeon that was given a king suite.
New Witbuik NL09-1244606
1st Nat. Barcelona 2012 in The Netherlands
A fantastic pigeon and glorious winner of Barcelona 2012 in The Netherlands. This pigeon has a pedigree that would amaze any extreme long distance fancier. This excellent pigeon can now show his qualities in the cooperative lofts of the PEC and Batenburg-van de Merwe. We dare say that New Witbuik will soon be listed in the pedigrees of many new champions and winners of longer distance races. This New Witbuik has everything a first class pigeon should have!
Bender BE11-4220607
1st Nat. Ace Pigeon Longer Middle Distance KBDB 2012
Olympiad Pigeon Cat. G in Nitra 2013
This top class pigeon of the young Stijn Van Laere has found his way to the PEC as well. He stayed in this loft for a short while and he was paired to the very best breeding dams available. Several of his descendants will soon be paired to descendants from other national ace pigeons, based on the idea that ace pigeons are bred from ace pigeons.
New Ace BE10-4030190
1st Nat. Ace Pigeon Long Distance KBDB 2012
This amazing pigeon of Wilson Dekens could stay in the breeding lofts of the PEC for a while, before making a journey to the Far East. He was paired to some of the finest Batenburg van de Merwe pigeons, which means the excellent breeding qualities of this bloodline have been kept in Europe.
In addition to these national ace pigeons and national winners the PEC houses a whole group of other talented breeders as well, including, for instance, Blauwe Prins of Pros Roosen, which was kept in the transit lofts for a while. This pigeon bred a fantastic breeder, the Zoon Blauwe Prins BE11-4097042, which soon became a prominent figure in the PEC breeding loft. He is now the sire of the following pigeons:
BE12-4186175, a very talented pigeon housed in the lofts of Freddy & Jacques Vandenheede
Souillac 66 p. 2 (behind loft mate)
Prov 916 p. 6
N.Zone 1,588 p. 16
Nat 3,641 p. 19
Tulle 164 p. 5
Prov 1,571 p. 19
N.Zone 2,209 p. 27
Nat 6,972 p. 120
La Souterraine 512 p. 6
N.Zone 7,450 p. 72
Montrichard 394 p. 7
Prov 2,178 p. 13
Poitiers 491 p. 20
Prov 3,845 p. 90
Nat 13,135 p. 338
Bourges 288 p. 20
N.Zone 2,377 p. 104
BE12-5061839, winner of the following results for Verreckt-Ariën:
La Souterraine 77 p. 1
Prov 1,363 p. 3
Nat 11,236 p. 158
Chateauroux 103 p. 7
Prov 1,569 p. 28
Nat 19,691 p. 133
Argenton Pr 2,441 p. 22
N.Zone 4,878 p. 23
Nat 22,463 p. 78
Gueret Nat 15,007 p. 918
Prince’s Delight BE13-6053049, an excellent young bird of Jelle Roziers and winner of:
Nevers Zone 2,453 p. 88
Nat 11,579 p. 193
Chateauroux Nat 12,071 p. 295
Bourges Nat 18,478 p. 517
Issoudun Nat 16,615 p. 1096
Argenton Nat 19,390 p. 1780
Prince’s Sweetness BE13-6053050, a nest sister of Prince’s Delight in the loft of Jelle Roziers and winner of:
La Souterraine Zone 2,319 p. 60
Nat 13,089 p. 349
The New Bak 17 was a great addition to the PEC breeding loft as well and he is the sire of, for instance, the 5th best young bird of Belgium over 7 national races in 2013, based on the provincial results.
He is a direct Marcel Aelbrecht and without doubt one of the very best youngsters of the world famous Bak 17. The introduction of pigeons of Aelbrecht and De Rauw-Sablon has significantly improved the breeding and racing results. Think, for instance, of the excellent breeding dam Last Limo, a direct Frans Sablon and one of the last daughters of breeding legend Limoges, which is in turn a direct son of the Dream Couple. Last Limo was paired to Magic Freddy (a son of top breeder Freddy) and she is now the dam of:
Miss Bourges BE00-4065848
Blois Prov 2,462 p. 4
Bourges Loc 925 p. 1
Nat 30,748 p. 15 etc.
As you can see, these are pigeons that have made it to the top and that have developed into great breeders as well. This pigeon was very successful in the lofts of F. & J.Vandenheede but she was returned to the PEC to strengthen their breeding team.
Another breeder of exceptional quality is the Lucky 848BE00-4065848. This is probably the best De Rauw-Sablon breeding cock of the last ten years and this is illustrated by the most recent champion that was bred from this fantastic bloodline:
Inbred Lucky Ace BE12-4186157
5th Nat. Ace Pigeon Long Distance Yearlings KBDB 2013
’13 Tulle Pro 1,571 p. 4 ’13 Souillac Nat 3,641 p. 24 ’13 Chateauroux N.Zone 4,503 p. 6 ’13 Montluçon N.Zone 4,766 p. 30 ’13 Libourne Nat 6,134 p. 337 ’13 Bourges I Pro 2,647 p. 149
He originates directly from the PIPA Elite Center of Nikolaas Gyselbrecht but he was raced in the lofts of Freddy & Jacques Vandenheede. He originates from an inbred pair half brother x half sister.
Sire: Lucky 001 BE11-4097001
A full brother of the dam of the 1st La Souterraine 16,576 p. in 2011 for Verreckt-Ariën, and a half brother of Top Breeder BAK 17 Aelbrecht. He was bred from Lucky 848 BE00-4065848 x Daughter Freddy BE08-5165494.
Dam: Lucky 004 BE11-4097004
A half sister of Lucky 001 and also a daughter of Lucky 848’ BE00/4065848, paired to Old Sablon Hen BE02-4409350 (a daughter of Son IJzeren 839/00 x Aline 958/96, which is a full sister of the 2nd National Ace Pigeon Long Distance KBDB 2001 and a full sister of Limoges and Superkweker 548 of Aelbrecht. This means she is also a daughter of the golden Dream Couple of De Rauw-Sablon)
Last but not least we close this list with another outstanding breeding pigeon that comes from Gaston Van De Wouwer, a wonderful son of stock cock Kaasboer called New Kaasboer BE09-6111600. One of his first descendants, Super Gaston, was an exceptional racing bird with the following results as a young bird:
Super Gaston BE11-4244025
Orleans Prov 3,042 p. 7 Montrichard Prov 3,091 p. 9 Bourges Prov 6,361 p. 10
He finished in the provincial top 10 three times right from the start. This proves again that pigeons with good bloodlines or origins will inevitably come to the surface sooner or later!
This explains the main concept and the strategy behind the PIPA Elite Center: breeding youngsters from the very best pigeons on the planet and making optimum use of their exceptional breeding qualities. The goal is to create a super class pigeon breed that originates from a collection of breeders that stands out from the rest in terms of quality. They are looking to compose a breeding team that consists of the international elite of our sport!
