Note: Mauricio Jemal, sent an email out to some of us that explained the history of the White Janssens. I have done a small bit of rewrite and publish it now for you the readers of this newsletter. ~ I hope you enjoy it.

In 1965, I purchased a red check white flight hen, belg 58-2591200, later named "Roxana", from Piet de Weerd. I mated this hen to a pure Janssen Brothers of Arendonk blue check cock, which I had also obtained from Piet de Weerd. In the first set of youngsters, this pair produced an almost completely white cock, with a trace of red.

To me this came as a complete surprise, as the Janssens are known to have no white in their breeding. So, how could this possibly happen? I raised several rounds from this mating. Two of the youngsters, a red check cock and a black check wft. hen, were mated together, This brother / sister mating produced, no whites, but one red check wft cock off of this pairing, Mex 67-3295 became the producer of what were soon to be known as the White Janssens

I got some offspring from this cock that were completely white. Piet de Weerd graded several of these whites, with maximum gradings. I should mention that whites were not exactly of my preference at the time. Sure wish I had them now though.

Anyway, in 1978, I gifted to Fred Wimberley of Fort Worth, Texas, a red check wft hen Mex 75-813, off of the Mex 67-3295 cock. Fred has several birds that I had gifted to him earlier, Among them was the "16" cock, (straight Jemal breeding) that originated the Mexico Janssens, in Texas, the rest were, of my breeding majorly, with a few exceptions. This particular hen (Mex 75-813) was not a straight Janssen, as she contained 3/8's blood of the red check white flight hen, belg 58-2591200, named "Roxana", who is the "detonator", that is to say the key, to the "whites". Mex 75-813, mated to whatever, other Mexico Janssen, is the originator of what are called the white Mexico Janssens, in the USA.

Now, for what I believe to be, the most interesting part. What bloodlines were in the red check white flight hen, belg 58-2591200? For those that are in the know, there was a bird, the greatest Barcelona International winner ever. in 1962, this bird placed 1st International Barcelona, winning by a margin of 30 minutes. 1963, again this bird won 1st International Barcelona by a margin of one hour and thirty minutes. This bird, bred by Adelin Demaret of Ottignies, Belgium, became know as "The Vale Barcelona", Without a question, the absolute greatest of all Barcelona winners, The "Vale Barcelona", was sold for a world record price.

Belg 58-2591200 was also purchased at a world record price for a hen. She was, a full sister, to the "Vale Barcelona".

Hope this may serve, as part of the racing pigeon history. Nobody in the U.S. until now knew this story. Not even, in Texas. Saludos to all.

Mauricio Jemal
Uruapan, Michoacan
Mexico

NOTE by John Vance:

In doing research on the 2 x 1st Barcelona International winner, "Vale Barcelona", I find that he was mostly of the Bricoux bloodlines. "Vale Barcelona", was what we call a Silver colored pigeon, and the silver Bricoux pigeons trace back to Nestor Tremmery who purchased his birds from Bricoux in the late 1920's. Tremmery was one of the top flyers in Europe during those days, a contemporary of Vandevelde, Gurnay, Blondeel, Dr. Bricoux, and Stassaert. He sold out his loft on December 18th, 1938 after having won "Champion of Europe " in the 1938 Olympiad with his great seven year old race winner "Fijnen".