Roland Janssens
For two generations the lofts of Janssens-Segers have specialised in sprint racing (Snelheid) from the race points of Quiéverain and Noyon, 99 and 204 km respectively. Roland’s father Jules Janssens first started racing to the lofts in Beveren over 60 years ago. Roland was brought up with the birds and the partnership was completed with Roland’s uncle Julien Segers.
The Janssens-Segers birds have a high proportion of white / grizzles and are in the most part small-medium sized birds with wonderful muscle and feather quality. The white / grizzle line originally came from Jef Boel of Temse back in the 60’s. All the white / grizzles birds in Roland’s present day loft owe their to the ‘Oude Ijzeren’ (Old Ironman) who won 45 x 1st prizes and his prepotency is responsible for generation after generation of champions. A fact not gone unnoticed on the continent. In the late 80’s two Californians; Chic Brookes and Brad Laverne visited the Janssens-Segers loft following the recommendation of the famed selector of pigeons Piet DeWeerd. After some negotiation the two Americans left with some of the stars of the Janssens-Segers loft including ‘The White Bandit’ 17x1st (Son of the ‘Oude Ijzeren’) and soon after ‘Wizard of Win’ 16x1st. Piet DeWeerd was heard to say that ‘this was the finest group of sprint birds he had ever seen leave the country and that birds with such records seldom leave!’
Unfortunately both Roland’s father and uncle have passed away some time ago but Roland has raced with equal success under the Janssens-Segers name for the past 20+ years.
Roland has consistently been at the top of his club Eendracht Beveren, and Federation Greater Beveren. He is one of the top snelheid players in the Province of Waasland and has been Provincial champion on several occasions in both the Bingo (nominated bird) Championships and overall championships. Roland has also had notable success in the National Championships the most recent being 1st National Old Bird sprint in 2006 with the Kleine Jos.
The white / grizzle line is still highly influential in Roland’s loft and is remarkably resistant to out crossing, with new blood regularly being brought in to strengthen the stock. These introductions are paired straight to his best so he can quickly tell their quality. Roland is a hard task master and if any introductions don’t make the grade they do not last long on the Janssens-Segers loft. Roland never pairs whites to whites and very rarely pairs whites to grizzles. With the white line coming from one individual pigeon inbreeding can be detrimental to the strain. Having said this not only has the white / grizzle line had a prepotency when it comes to producing champions but also in passing on character and fighting spirit. These are a true Belgian sprint family!
Currently notable within Roland’s team are birds from his good friends Jos Huygens and Henk De Weerd plus Kevin Roosens, Raf & Lars Luykx, Gust Christiaans, Roger Lismond, Vleugels Wuyts, Jos Van Den Brande and Erik Bergmoes.
We first visited the lofts of Roland Janssens in the early 90’s on a trip to the continent with local pigeon ‘entrepreneur’ Graham Milliken. A close friendship with Roland and family has built over the years, which has meant we have selectively brought over the very best of Roland’s up to date winning lines. The family constantly evolving over the years.
Roland’s birds are popular throughout the pigeon world which is remarkable for a man who does not go out of the way to promote his birds. Roland like his father before him is primarily a racing man and always ensures he has as good if not better in his loft before letting birds go.
Some of Roland’s more recent champions include ‘Rode Bingo’, ‘Kleine Jos’, ‘Super Jaarling’, ‘Blauw Bingo’, ‘Geschelpte As’, ‘Rode Sprint’ and ‘Johnny Boy’.
The Roland Janssens have won at club and federation for us and more significantly many others throughout the UK and Ireland. A little further afield and Mellor Roland Janssens are even winning in Iceland! If you know how to race sprint pigeons or want to add some speed and fighting spirit to a family suited to further distance the Roland Janssens are the perfect introduction.
Roland and his birds can be seen on the DVD Around Antwerp 9 with Dave Allan and is regularly featured in the Belgian Pigeonsport publication ‘Het Duivenblad’.
