Rapido Based Busschaerts
A multitude of colour, character and quality. The old bloodlines of Pluto, Rapido and the Little Black. Dominated by the Rapido line. Mostly Peids, Gay Pieds, occasional Whites.
Mick holding his No 1 Stock Cock CK1 |
George Busschaerts Champion Rapido BELG 70-3204114 |
Rapido Busschaerts, picture shows CK1, Pencil Saddle Cock. My No.1 Rapido Cock |
Rapido Busschaerts out in the aviary |
A nest pair of Rapido Busschaerts sat on the garden wall. (Grandchildren of CK1) |
A nest pair of summer bred Rapido Busschaerts as featured in the 2008 B.H.W Calendar |
Busschaerts, Busschaerts beautiful Busschaerts. You can’t help but admire them. The late Georges Busschaerts powers of selection and unique breeding methods have ensured the longevity of his strain. My base stock was acquired in the mid 1980’s. Mostly bred from direct stock. Since that time I have not allowed the generations to slip through my hands. The late George Busschaerts legacy is mine and I invite you to share it with me.
Georges Busschaert was born on 12th May 1911. Along with Georges his father two brothers and sister all had an interest in pigeon tacing.
At the end of the 1920's the Bushaert family moved to Beveren - Leie where they established a haulage business. At the same time they invested heavily in racing pigeons from various sources. Maurice Delbar, Vandevelde, Sticklebout and Commines just to name a few.
At the end of the 1940's the haulage business was sold. Busschaert opened a carpet factory in Kent, a racing partnership was formed with Gil Duncan of Deal, Kent. With the pigeons that Busshaert provided the partnership set about breaking records in the Kent clubs and feds. Between 1956 - 62 they won over 150 1st prizes, often dominating the fed results. Other fanciers rapidly became interested in the Busshaert pigeons, enabling Busschaert to sell to English fanciers. The famous Newton pair were sold at this time, their offspring dominated the West Durham amalgamation and later the up north combine. The north east of England soon became a hot bed for the Busschaerts. Everyone wanted them. Georges Busshaert became a household name within the British racing scene.
In 1960 Busshaert returned to Belgium. A new phase in the Busschaert began. Gradually the old Coppi - Tito - Crack bloodlines were replaced with the new Klaren - Sooten bloodlines. Busschaert described them as smaller, better handling, with the ablity to fly further. Throughout the 70's and early 80's these new Klaren - Sooten pigeons were sold into the UK and just as before, Busschaert pigeons dominated the racing results. Champion Rapido was bred from the Klaren - Sooten family. His Offspring were noted for their sprinting ability. Also as a point of interest, Rapidos offspring were very often pied, gay pied and even pure white. An entire dynasty of sprint - middle distance racing pigeons were established upon Rapidos bloodlines.
In 1982 Busschaert held a final dispersal sale. This sale shortly proceeded his death. Included in this sale were the bloodines of new introductions into the Klaren - Sooten family, such birds as Daniel, Jeroom, Den Atleet. Obviously Busschaert could not resist the temptation of buying the best to mix with his own strain. Thus making them Busschaerts, the most versatile strain in the world.
This short article produced by Mick Hibbert appeared in the British Homing World 21.7.07. Ken Aldred had previoiusly visited my lofts complementing the standard of my Rapido family. I invited Mr Aldred to try a pair of young birds. He chose a nestpair, a pencil pied cock and a white saddle hen. I was later informed that both birds had completed a difficult race program with the hen of the pair gaining minor prizes. Most satisfactory.