B23-6017685
1st National Bourges 13,580 old birds

Distance: 498km
Velocity: 1.291 m/m

When we asked Tom for his address and got “Melkouwen” as the street name, we could turn off our GPS immediately because this street - known in pigeon fancier circles - is one we have driven in many times. Famous fanciers like Gaston Van de Wouwer and Wim & Steven De Troy - and probably I'm forgetting to mention other top fanciers - also live in this long street that crosses both Berlaar and Itegem.

Two brothers and a daughter

Tom and brother Gert got acquainted in their young years with our oh so beautiful pigeon sport. It were mainly original Jozef Goovaerts pigeons (the well-known “Kaasboer”) with which they achieved brilliant results. But in 2002 the pigeon fanciers career of both came to an end. Busy work and pigeon sport...it is not always easy to combine. But once infected with the pigeon virus, it is difficult to get rid of it and both Gert and Tom started again - each in his own name. 

Tom tells further "The busy professional obligations as a chief accountant take up a lot of time and therefore we decided - at the 2nd start - to play only with the youngsters on a small loft of 3.5 meters. The results were good and we thought it would be a shame not to play the best performing youngsters as yearlings or old birds and therefore we added an extra loft of 3 meters. Here we only play with hens. Together with my brother Gert, we have about 25 breeding couples and the youngsters are divided among each other. Their breeding stock consists of original pigeons from Frans De Coux, Johan De Belser, Wilfried Heylen, Erik Volkaerts and probably I am forgetting someone else.

But“ Tom continues ”I also owe a lot to the help of my daughter Eline. She is currently studying for her Maths exam but otherwise she is my great help in the loft. Darkening pigeons, releasing and calling in pigeons ... I can always count on her." 

“Monique” wins 

“Monique” B23-6017685 is a true class hen. As a yearling she showed her ability with

8th National ace KBDB Great Middle Distance yearling
16th National Bourges 7,617d.
29th National Argenton 11,777b.
73rd National Bourges 9,654b.
311th National La Souterraine 7,368d.
578th National Sancoins 12,958d.

With such “soldiers” you can certainly go into battle and it does not surprise us that such pigeons achieve a national victory. 

“Monique” is part of a 16-headed racing team. The hens did winter breeding and before the start of the season, they could brood for a few days. 

The hens loft is divided into 2 sections. In the first part, there are breeding boxes and next to it a “resting pen” where everything is structured in such a way that the hens cannot mate. Attached to the loft there is also a hanging aviary installed and in hot weather the racing hens are confined in this aviary. 

"Whether my hens train hard and a lot? Not so ... but apparently this doesn't bother them to score nationally." 

Mentioned in passing ... on the same flight Tom and Eline also won 8th National against 17,163 yearling birds, while their 2nd old pigeon placed its ring number behind place 107 against 13,580 birds. It was a weekend to enjoy at the Wuyts home.

Congratulations from the whole Herbots team

Stefan Mertens

Stefan Mertens