Quality; no quantity!

A requirement that Will and Falco Ebben always considered as very important is top quality; with only a handful of birds at their disposal the only way to top results. Keeping that thought in mind the two started their quest for good birds.

Ad Schaerlaeckens
In 1998 a first step to top quality was made in the purchase of five pairs of eggs at probably Dutch best pigeon fancier;  Ad Schaerlaeckens from Baarle-Nassau. An acquisition that did not ask for much patience to get good results. In 1999 already the first appealing performances were listed with the newcomers, when on the 7^th of August on the PS Maxence race 1^st and 2^nd against 2,185 birds was won with two nest sisters. Both these hens were bred from the Schaerlaeckens ‘egg’ NL98-2331507, a granddaughter to ‘Creilman’ who also became dam to winners of a/o 1^st PS Maxence 255 birds – 1^st St. Ghislain Hornu 281 birds – 1^st Houdeng 199 birds – 1^st PS Maxence 111 birds - etc.
At Ad Schaerlaeckens the ‘Creilman’ was already a legend by life, as a breeder as well as a racer. In his active racing career he won 1^st prizes against 4,214 birds, 3,004 birds and 1,157 birds. He is a direct son to the super pair ‘Mattens’ x ‘Sissi’.
But with that the Schaerlaeckens successes at Ebben did not come to an end yet! Especially NL98-2331505, a granddaughter to ‘Orleansdoffertje’ (brother ‘Creilman’) of Ad Schaerlaeckens had an incredible impact on the strain. She produced a/o the ‘Super 27’, an incredible crack!!! She won a/o: 1st Houdeng 3,279 birds, 1^st St. Ghislain Hornu 877 birds, 1^st La Ferte Bernard 486 birds, 1^st Houdeng 392 birds, 1^st St. Ghislain Hornu 264 birds, 1^st La Ferte Bernard 152 birds, 2^nd National NPO La Ferte Bernard 13,736 birds, 2^nd La Ferte Bernard 2,930 birds, 2^nd St. Ghislain Hornu 2,234 birds, 2^nd La Ferte Bernard 1,094 birds, 3^rd St. Ghislain Hornu 2,680 birds, etc. As youngster she became acebird and her nestbrother (NL01-1505826) made a noise in the world winning 1st Aerschot 352 birds and 1st Niergnies 286 birds. Besides, the 826 is sire to ‘Cynthia’ (NL02-1282791), that performed superbly as a young hen and became best acebird in Federation (260 members) and 3rd acebird in Amalgamation (4,500 members)!
Another Schaerlaeckens-cockbird turned out to become a true super breeder, the NL98-2331509. His daughter ‘De Bourgesduivin’ (NL01-1507092, owner Ton Ebben) became acebird on one day long distance and won top prizes like: 1^st Bourges 757 birds, 1^st Bourges 276 birds, 1^st Orleans 209 birds, 1^st Bourges 100 birds, 1^st Vierzon 98 birds and 1^st Orleans 59 birds. Absolute top!
But probably the best breeder Will and Falco Ebben purchased through Ad Schaerlaeckens is ‘Ko’ (NL98-2331508). He too is a grandson to ‘Creilman’ and he is sire to many toppers. ‘Good Yearling’ for example is a direct son to him and ‘Cynthia’ is a granddaughter.
The top birds as mentioned above are the result of the 1998 purchase at Schaerlaeckens. But the years after several direct Schaerlaeckens-birds moved to Ebben, that only strengthened their colony just that bit extra. Like for instance a son to ‘Ace Four’ (NL96-5660145), 1st acebird in Middle-Brabant amalgamation in 1996. This great topper was purchased in 2002 and in 2003 he already produced some very talented descendants. For the coming years again Falco and Will ordered eggs at the grandmaster from Baarle-Nassau.

Arie van Beek
Being a pigeon photographer and reporter for Holland’s biggest pigeon magazine Neerlands Postduiven Orgaan, Falco made quite a few useful contacts in pigeon sport. Besides, as no other he found out where to get the best birds available. Such a masterly loft with inimitable birds was that of Arie van Beek, better known as the ‘De Klak van IJzendoorn’, where Falco paid his first visit in 1999. Falco and Arie appeared really to get along very well and therefore it did not take long before the first Klak birds moved to the breeding lofts of the Ebbens.
And not just any birds, but direct youngsters from illustrious names such as: ‘Der Bomber’ (1st best middle distance bird and 1st best overall bird in Amalgamation in 2001) - ‘Blauwe Jos’ (1st long distance – one day – acebird in Amalgamation in 2001) - ‘Kras 621’ (1^st long distance – one day – acebird in Amalgamation in 2002) - ‘Kras 334’ (Best young bird in Federation 1998). A sister to the ‘Super 78’, therefore a daughter to Van Beek’s number 1 breeding pair, appeared to become a miracle in breeding for Ebben, especially when paired to the Schaerlaeckens-cockbird ‘Ko’.
In 2004 some direct youngsters were purchased of full brothers to the legendary ‘Blauwe 613’, the best bird Jos de Klak ever owned.

The Old 45
So at Will and Falco Ebben the birds of Schaerlaeckens and Van Beek dominate the colony. In the strain however the ‘Old 45’ (NL94-2644445) deserves an honourable mention. This Verbart bird of origin, from the lines of the legendary ‘46’, guaranteed offspring with amongst them a whole regime of top racer (when crossed to birds of Schaerlaeckens and Van Beek).

The battle for glory
In their quest for superior birds the Ebbens most certainly did not move in too hurried a manner. Only the very best was good enough for them to take place in their only small accommodation; a criterion that already bared its fruits sensationally. And the only way to intervene in the battle with all concurrence, racing only 8 pairs of racers . . . a battle that brings out the best in the Ebbens and that results in outstanding performances!

Results