When you talk about top-tier pigeon racing, you talk about raw passion, razor-sharp selection, and birds that fly like their lives depend on it. In Hallaar, Belgium, the tandem of Roger and Nick Thys, backed by mother Godelieve, presents a masterclass in what racing pigeons with true bravado looks like. No massive commercial lofts or empty promises here , just a dedicated family combination outperforming the national elite week after week.
The 2026 season has turned into an absolute triumph that rewrites the history books for Thys Pigeons!
The Glorious Triumphs of 2026
Winning a national championship is never a stroke of luck. It demands an iron-clad consistency, nerves of steel, and world-class athletes that claim top prizes against thousands of competing birds. In 2026, the Thys family dominated the skies:
1st National Champion Great Middle Distance Old Birds KBDB 2026
1st National Sancoins against 9,582 pigeons (489 km)
5th National Ace Pigeon KBDB Great Middle Distance Yearlings with their new superstar “Jack”
The Birth of a Legend: “Jack”
No top season is complete without a true eye-catcher. In 2026, a new diamond emerged: “Jack.” This incredible racing cock flew the lights out all season, crowning himself 5th National Ace Pigeon KBDB Great Middle Distance Yearlings. “Jack” perfectly combines the raw power of the old foundation lines with phenomenal modern speed, a true prototype of the modern Thys pigeon.
With this monumental streak, Roger and Nick proved once again that their racing team is simply unbeatable on flights between 450 and 600 kilometers.
A Royal Record of National Victories
Anyone following European pigeon racing knows that the success of 2026 rests on a foundation of pure gold. The trophy room in Hallaar is packed with National victories and Ace Pigeon titles accumulated over recent seasons:
1st Nat. Ace Pigeon Allround Young Birds KBDB 2024 with the unforgettable cock “Iron Sagan” (B24-6097418).
1st Nat. La Souterraine 7,368 yearlings 2024 (and the fastest of the entire convoy of 12,611 birds) with the stellar hen “Blue Dream”.
1st Nat. Ace Pigeon Great Middle Distance Yearlings KBDB 2023 with “Fonne”.
2nd Belgian Olympiad Pigeon Allround Maastricht 2024.
1st Nat. Ace Pigeon Great Middle Distance Yearlings KBDB 2022 with “Lotte” (B21-6032716), a direct daughter of gold-mine breeder “Black Pearl”.
1st Nat. Ace Pigeon Allround Young Birds KBDB 2022 with the hen B22-6034005 (also out of “Black Pearl”).
1st Nat. Champion Great Middle Distance Young Birds KBDB 2021.
1st Nat. Argenton against 14,787 old birds in 2021.
Golden Bloodlines and Proven References
This success story started decades ago with grandfather Alfons Puttenaers, who passed the pigeon racing bug to his grandson Nick. Over the years, the strain was reinforced with elite quality from Geert Lambrechts, Jozef Goovaerts (“De Kaasboer”), Dirk Van Dyck, Gaston Van de Wouwer, and Gerard & Bas Verkerk.
The undisputed foundation cock of the loft is “De Witte 6” (out of Portier x Stamkweekster), a name you find in nearly every single pedigree of their current champions.
The tremendous breeding power of Thys Pigeons is clearly visible in their highly successful co-breeding projects and references with legendary names across the sport:
Patrick Boeckx: A joint breeding venture using a cock from Patrick Boeckx (“New Sagan”) paired with a Thys hen directly produced the national icon “Iron Sagan”.
Roziers-Xiang: The exchange and co-breeding with Jelle Roziers proves that Thys pigeons cross seamlessly with other national elite lofts to yield immediate top prize winners.
Leading Lofts: Notable names like Frans & Dirk Maris, Vermeerbergen-Wilms, Wim De Troy, and the Engels family have all successfully exchanged, co-bred, or introduced these winning genes into their own lofts.
The Power of Simplicity and Strict Selection
What sets the Thys family apart is their straightforward, no-nonsense approach. No secret potions or heavy medication routines are found here. Instead, they rely on robust natural health, regular check-ups by veterinarian dr. Mariën, and premium feed mixtures from AIDI.
The pigeons spend a great deal of time soaking up fresh air in open aviaries, and only one rule rules the loft: the basket decides! Pedigrees are nice, but only early prizes on the race sheet guarantee a perch for the winter.
Roger, Nick, and Godelieve prove season after season that devotion, family teamwork, and a sharp eye for quality are the true keys to world-class performances. They are an incredible advertisement for our sport.
To the global racing community looking for the peak of the Great Middle Distance: hats off to the masters from Hallaar—Roger & Nick Thys, Simply the Best in 2026!
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss
