The life's work of the late Astère Vergotte (Aalter)

On 5 January 2022, Astère Vergotte from Aalter died at the age of 74. A few days earlier, on New Year's Eve, Astère was making coffee when he was struck by cardiac arrest. The emergency services were quickly on the spot and resuscitated Astère but a few days later they received the message that Astère had not made it. An uppercut of sorts for Astère's family and many friends. 
Astère was and still is known within the pigeon world as a real top pigeon player. A bit of a master magician who could get just that little bit more out of a pigeon than the average player. He was also a forerunner and specialist in middle-distance and heavy middle-distance racing with hens. The way he could motivate his ladies to top performances was unprecedented. 
He was also on many lofts supplier of pigeons with strong breeding power. As a columnist, too, Astère was a much-read sportsman who imparted wisdom to many a pigeon and offered tips on good care and improving the approach.
It was ingrained in him to teach others things. As a teacher, he had spent almost his entire life doing nothing but teaching children skills and wisdom to help them be good at life.
Many reasons why Astère is still missed by a lot of people and etched in the collective memory! 

Father Cyriel
Astere learned the pigeon business from father Cyriel. He himself was a speed and middle-distance racer in his time. Helping scratch the lofts, rearing, basketing, bringing in the clocks and other worries in and around the loft was Astere's share of successes ... but father Cyriel preferred to feed and prepare the pigeons for the races himself. Astere was only allowed to look over the shoulder. When Astere started flying on his own wings at the current location in Stationsstraat, things did not really run smoothly at first. He did have some pigeons from father Cyriel, but also pigeons from various fanciers. With these, things did not run smoothly. Astere had to watch with sadness how the pigeons fell like bullets from the sky week after week from neighbour Alfons Braet's pigeons, only his own pigeons followed some time later. 
Until Astere had had enough and asked his neighbour if he could buy a round of youngsters from him. However, Alfons - who already had many years of life under his belt - made Astere an unexpected counter-proposal. He asked to house his breeding pigeons with Astere, with the agreement that Astere would provide him with a round of youngsters every year. Fons owned direct pigeons from Roger Vereecke and Cattrysse Gebroeders This was the big turnaround. It transformed the Vergotte colony from ordinary 'prize packer' to 'super champion' in no time. From speed to great middle-distance, the Vergotte pigeons went on to dominate the racing scene. From eternal seeker and apprentice, Astere suddenly became the teacher. The connoisseur, the clever one, the man who could do a little more with pigeons than the rest. Though concretely only one thing had changed - the pigeons. The clothes make the man, says the proverb. Well, it is no different in pigeon racing: the pigeons make the fancier! Breeding a lot, selecting very hard by giving the pigeons every week, and keeping only the real 'toppers' who can cope with this regime. This, and this alone, is the big secret behind the great successes at the Astere Vergotte house. Hence his slogan: the cleverness of the fancier is known by his pigeons.
In 2009, sportsman Astere entered the national spotlight for the first time as 2nd National Champion Great Middle Distance KBDB. The year also in which he was crowned 1st General Champion OVV-FVOV in his own province. It was a first great recognition for the weekly top performances that were recorded year after year in Aalter. The success train has continued unabated ever since. 

 

It's all about top pigeons and real winners
Winning is simply baked into the pigeons of Astère. Just ask well-known champion Rik Cools from Ruiselede. Rik, a teacher by profession, got to know Astère in the school in Aalter where Astère was already working. Besides their task in education, in the teachers' room they quickly exchanged a word about their common hobby: pigeons. Rik, who had also shown his talents more than enough, found in Astère the teacher for playing with hens. Many in that generation only knew widowers and youngsters. Astère was always a pioneer in many areas and convinced Rik to start playing with hens as well. And whether this became a success ! In a short space of time, Rik became a leader at provincial and national level with very strong results. Astère and Rik also made each other better at this approach. Thus, Rik still speaks with great praise about how this all went down.
As if it had to happen that way. During a voucher sale to benefit a society in the region, Rik buys a donation from Astère. In early 2021, he may choose a pigeon from the 1st round at Astère. Rik chooses a beautiful grey hen and let this be a super bird! As a young pigeon Grey (BE21-4111433) already flew 1st Clermont 400 pigeons and 1st Fontenay 303 pigeons and now, as a yearling, she performed very well on the provincial race from Chateauroux with 1st club 1,402 pigeons - 1st national zone 2,630 pigeons. With the still deceased Astère, this pigeon born in Aalter brings back all good memories for a piece. We are convinced that this salute of honour will be very pleasing to all.

Some toppers in this sale: