Alexander Hansenne

Donnie Zehr Dec 05, 21

A friend who now lives in the Province of Liege, pointed out that most true fanciers were wrong in neglecting the old Belgian strains, being interested only in the present-day Champions. The late Henin mentioned in his book: “How to Become a Champion” that the period from 1855 to 1865 was a period which involved the true evolution of the racing pigeon strain (in brief, it was the period of the “Great Crossings.” Until the year 1900, this was the period of the Wegges, the Jules Janssens, the Jurions, the Hansennes, the Desirants, the Ruhls, the Massarts, the Thironnets) names which, for the greater part, fell into oblivion through evolution.
To really convince oneself of the importance of this study, it is enough to look back and to ask oneself the question: “What would be our national history, if the succession of the facts which made our forefathers famous, after the French Revolution of 1789, were not known to us?”
Many would live in ignorance, and remain with no knowledge of the earlier facts. But the real investigator would look back, and by all means, he would try to discover the past history of the first evolution. For the benefit of the younger fanciers, we shall write some particulars about the best loft in the world (the only loft worthy of that name) and that is the loft of the late Alexander Hansenne of Verviers.

At times, I must laugh at fanciers who visit the shows, show me pigeons with short beaks, and then tell me in all seriousness: “This is a pure Hansenne.”
Permit me to first mention that the late Hansenne died in 1901, and all of his birds were sold during the winter of 1901 - 1902, in “La Brasserie du Sac” in Brussels, shortly after the sale of Desirant, which took place in 1900, in “La Nouvelle Cour de Bruxelles,” also in Brussels.
We must point out that during that period, the personalities who held the most important positions in the pigeon sport were mobilized for the organization of an official sale and the stamping of all pigeons. These sales were mostly conducted by Felix Gigot, a pensioned officer who was also a journalist. and the owner of the paper: “Le Martinet,” and in 1897- 1898, was the organizer of the Wegge sales. Sometimes, these sales were organized by the gentlemen Poot, Chairman of the if Protectrice;” by Lambert, chairman of “L’Union et Progrès” and by Delaere, of “L’Echo des Concours” of Brussels.

Let us remember that, in our opinion, it was very doubtful that these strains (even though cultivated by experts) could survive in their pure state. The owners were sometimes forced to use an outcross to keep their colony younger. Among my documents, I have come across a photograph of Hansenne, who, for nearly a century, had held the admiration of the entire world. A study of the facial expression of this great fancier shows us that, first of all, he was an earnest person. The classic pose of that period, wearing white collar and tie, is once more a proof of honesty and earnestness; he could not help but hold the respect of everyone who knew him.

The late Hansenne was very adamant in his decisions, and had strong and well-defined opinions concerning his pigeons. This was part of the reason for his extraordinary success of that period during which he became a living legend! Numerous anecdotes are available, concerning him in the pigeon sport. For such a talented fancier, it was unavoidable for him to reach the highest fame in the sport of pigeon racing, through the knowledge he had in helping him discover good birds, as well as the special knack he had, which helped him to discover whether or not his birds were in proper form. It was unfortunate, however, that he took. all of his secrets to the grave; no one has ever heard anything about them.

Around the year 1865, Alexander Hansenne was a baker by profession, in Spintay Street in Verviers. At that time, he was not as yet famous, although he came to the public’s attention much later. He happened to be on friendly terms with a Mr. Rensonnet of Dison, an American who had come especially from America, to buy birds from the best lofts in the country. He and his fellow-countrymen bought some 20-25 pigeons from Hansenne, paying high prices for them. At the same time, he sold from his Liege loft, a pigeon known by the name of “De Oude Nouan” for the sum of 1,700 francs, which at that time, was the equivalent of the average salary for a public servant for a full year! Today, in 1972, a similar bird would have to sell for about 200,000 francs, or 2,174 pounds! When this pigeon came into the possession of Mr. Pirlot, Hansenne assured him that he would have his purchase price back within the same year. After the bird was broken in, it is true that it won many races for its new owner. How could Alexander Hansenne create a strain of such great fame in the pigeon world? The answer is quite simple... he bought two entire lofts, to make sure he could get the very best birds in each! The misfortune of others turned out to be to his advantage, on another occasion. When the whole country was stricken by cholera in 1896, he had the opportunity to buy some very good pigeons. Among. the countless victims of the cholera, was a fancier by the name of Bonjean, who had in his possession, a splendid blue pigeon; there was also a Mr. Guelissen, the owner of a beautiful velvet pigeon. These two birds were the start of a new period: a period of fame which was strengthened after the total sale of the pigeons of a Mr. Dedoyard of Ensival. For the most part, his loft consisted of bronze and dark pigeons. These were large, long-casted birds with large ceres around the eyes and the beak. Hansenne evolved a combination of these three foundations, and cleverly was in possession, very soon, of a colony of pigeons which was never greater than sixty in number... but which owed their greatest reputation to a “Blauwe” (Blue) stock hen which resulted from these crossings, and which was the mother and the grand-mother of the best birds in the loft. At the time of his greatest glories, he lived on Disonstraat, in Verviers.

Among the very best that he had in his loft, we must mention “De Criquet” and the “St. Vincent.” These were black pigeons. The history of “De Criquet” of Hansenne is nearly the same as that of “Baron Vandrouille" belonging to Mr. Bernard of Charleroi, in the year 1945. Born in 1876, as a very small late-bred, this “Criquet” was not much to look at.

The descendants were for a long time, very doubtful, and for this reason, “Criquet” was kept in the hen’s loft for the first winter.., he did not look like a cock. One day, the Master of Verviers found this bird in a corner of the loft, where he had gathered some feathers for a nest, and had paired up with one of the stock hens. Seeing this, Hansenne placed him at once, in a neighboring compartment of the loft. Later on, this bird became one of the best pigeons in the loft. The following year he won FIRST PRIZE from Paris, and a Third Prize from Toury. In eight successive years, he was raced in all of the important races, but “Criquet” never knew defeat.

In 1878, he took First from Issoudun and Fourth from Villeperdue. The first time he was basketted in 1879, he took First from St. Benoit, and on the second race, he was 10th from Poitiers.
In 1880, he was 24th from Bazas, and 4th from La Souterraine.
In 1881, he was 10th from Morcenx and 35th from Letourne.
In 1882, he was 14th from Narbonne and 35th from Tolosa.
In 1883, in the Grand National from Bilbao, he also did well, and his last year, 1884, was marked by his winning the Third prize from Tolosa and the 21st from Libourne. In his career which spanned eight years, this great pigeon flew the entire length of the French territory (always, for big money) but unfortunately, we do not know how he ended his career.., a career which was glorious to the very end. When we read the sales programs of these famous pigeons, we can easily see how many of them were lost over the Pyrenees.

We must also mention the famous “St. Vincent.” He was stronger than the “Criquet” and of the same color. He also distinguished himself, in the same manner, but in an even more glorious fashion during his eleven successful years, ending his glorious epoch in 1886, with a Second Prize from Auch. Pigeons of that age are mostly pensioned off today, and only a very few pigeons of six or seven years of age (at the maximum) are sent by some fanciers to Barcelona, a race which sometimes takes a week. All I can say is that the pigeons of Hansenne had extraordinary staying power and a long lifespan, and for many years they gave these hereditary qualities to their descendants. Many fanciers throughout the racing world are proud to be in posession of authentic descendants of this strain.

Alexander Hansenne kept other colors, other than dark birds. We shall mention the names of the most important pigeons, which will prove this statement, because every now and then, the Master of Verviers would buy an extra pigeon, and these were not always of the same color. He bought at the sale of Polis in Verviers, a blue bar, which bred him “De Goede Bonten” (The Good Pied) and which he later sold to a Mr. Doumier of Ans. Of the finest in the lofts, we must list the “Mozaique,” the hen of Hoei, the “Bordeaux,” the “Calvi,” the “Goede Kleine Donkeren,” or “Good Little Dark One”, the “Hart op de Rug” or “Heart on the Back,” the “Handige” (The Handy One), the “Creil” etc. etc.
As a contemporary of the likewise great pigeon fancier Emile Rhul, Hansenne came into contact with Veekemans, at that time a director of the Zoo at Antwerp, and who was also a famous pigeon fancier. One day, Veekemans gave Hansenne two pigeons. Hansenne gave one of these away but the other turned out to be a good stock hen which later bred him the “Jonge Nouan.” The following year, she was paired to a brother of the famous “Salbris” and bred “Monnaie”... this was an extraordinary bird that was always sent to the long races, always well pooled, and this gave her the name.