today we take a deep dive into the successes of the absolute sensation of the Belgian pigeon sport: Tom and Eline Wuyts from Itegem. In the heart of the legendary diamond region, they are making history with a blend of pure craftsmanship and a heartwarming father daughter partnership that leaves the competition stunned week after week.
The Double Strike of Itegem: A Masterpiece on Quievrain
On Monday April 6 2026, the pigeon world witnessed a moment that will be discussed for years to come. In the prestigious Antwerpen Centraal competition, no fewer than 7,182 old birds started the race from Quievrain. What Tom and Eline achieved there is nothing short of pure sporting dominance: they claimed both the first and second prize right under the noses of the gathered elite.
The winning bird, the now legendary BE24 6094847, raced home at a blistering speed of 1552 meters per minute. He was followed immediately by loft mate BE25 6042144, who secured the victory in the yearling competition against 4,698 birds. To put this into perspective: with a small team of only 20 birds in the basket, they managed to outclass an immense field of over seven thousand birds. That is true bravoure on the flight line!
The Winner: BE 24-6094847
This hen is an absolute sensation in the air. Looking at her record, you can immediately see she knows how to stay ahead of the pack. Her absolute highlight is undoubtedly the 1st prize against no fewer than 7,182 pigeons from Quiévrain. That is pure class.
In addition to that massive victory, she shows enormous consistency with early prizes at various distances:
A 1st at Noyon against 53 pigeons.
A 3rd at Noyon against 434 pigeons.
A sharp 7th on the provincial race from Bourges against 208 pigeons.
A 17th at Sermaises against 1,364 pigeons.
This is a pigeon that finds the top under different conditions and distances.
The Father: Dreamliner (BE 21-6084787)
The apple clearly doesn’t fall far from the tree. The father, Dreamliner, is an original Luc Van Mechelen pigeon and has emerged as a true goldmine in the breeding loft. He is not only the father of this top performer but also the grandfather of the 17th National Ace Pigeon KBDB Greater Middle Distance for young birds.
His own ancestry is mouth-watering. We see names like the legendary Gaby Vandenabeele returning via the line of “New Bliksem”. “The influence of the famous “Kaasboer” blood through Van Eynde-Goovaerts is also present. This is a pedigree full of winning blood.”
The Mother: BE 22-6034263
On the mother’s side, we see the input of Gert Wuyts and Erik Volkaerts. She is the nest sister of the “6034262”, who himself flew a 33rd National Châteauroux against no fewer than 17,081 pigeons. This proves that the winning mentality is deeply anchored on both sides of the family. The cross between the speed of the Van Mechelen pigeons and the power of the Volkaerts lines seems to be a bullseye here.
The Weather: A Perfect Monday for Winners
It was Easter Monday and the conditions were ideal for the real stars. While the early morning fog cleared quickly, the sun made way for a clear blue sky. With a nearly calm start, the birds had to rely entirely on their own strength and character. No help from a strong tailwind, just pure orientation and physical power. The result proves that the Wuyts pigeons possess a psychological profile that allows them to steer the right course immediately, even under great pressure.
A New Start with a Golden Lining
Although Tom previously enjoyed success with his brother Gert using the old Kaasboer lines, life necessitated a break starting in 2002. But the spark never faded. In 2023, Tom returned to the sport, encouraged by his daughter Eline. She promised to support her father whenever needed, a crucial factor given his demanding career.
This tandem works in perfect harmony. While Tom manages the bloodlines and researches the pedigrees himself, Eline is the indispensable force in the daily care of the young birds. Whether it is whistling them in, feeding, or clocking the birds when Tom is away for work: Eline is there. This restart was further strengthened by a close collaboration with brother Gert. Together, they manage a breeding loft built on local champions such as Erik Volkaerts, Johan De Belser, Frans De Coux, Wilfried Heylen, Luc Van Mechelen and Hok Van den Bruel.
A Palmares to Dream Of
The recent double victory is the icing on the cake after a sensational series of successes. In 2025, the combination already secured the national victory on Bourges II against 13,580 old birds with their wonder hen Monique. But there was more. The young top cock Safari showed his immense class with a major victory on Noyon in the Antwerpen Centraal competition against 4,279 birds.
The famous De 25 has also made a significant mark. Besides an 18th national Chateauroux against more than 15,000 birds, he claimed a local victory on Sermaises as a youngster, being the fastest of the entire field of over 7,000 birds.
Fun Facts and Statistics
Did you know that Monday seems to be the absolute lucky day for this tandem? No fewer than three major victories were achieved on this day: the national win on Bourges, Safari’s victory on Noyon and now the historic double strike on Quievrain.
Additionally, their efficiency is unprecedented. In the race on April 6, they saw their early birds, including De 25, arrive smoothly right after the winners. This resulted in an impressive prize percentage with a very limited number of entered pigeons. Tom and Eline Wuyts prove that the passion for the pigeon sport is very much alive and that with the right dedication and top quality genetics, you can storm the absolute world stage. Keep an eye on this duo, because the season has only just begun and the competition has been warned!
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss
