If you have been following the Belgian national middle distance races over the last decade, you have undoubtedly seen the name at the top of the sheet. Sabrina Brugmans Pigeons have become synonymous with speed, consistency, and an uncanny ability to dominate the Bourges and Argenton classics.

In the international press, the story is often romanticized. They love the image of a woman beating the men at their own game. But for those of us who live and breathe the sport, the truth is far more interesting than the fairytale. The success of this colony in Halen is not a stroke of luck or a mysterious feminine touch. It is the result of the laser focused vision of one man: Stephan Machiels. We sat down to separate the myths from the facts and to uncover how this loft managed to win the prestigious Golden Pigeon title not once, but three times.

The Solo Mastermind

To understand why these pigeons fly so fast, you first have to understand the hierarchy in the loft. While Sabrina Brugmans lends her name to the colony and acts as the team’s most enthusiastic supporter, the day to day management is entirely in the hands of Stephan. He is the mastermind. He does not just feed the birds; he observes them with the eye of a true stockman.

Stephan is not doing this alone, but he is the one calling the shots. He is assisted by his good friend Valère, often mistakenly reported as his father, but in reality a loyal friend who helps keep the wheels turning. This clear structure allows Stephan to be ruthless in his selection. In this loft, a pigeon is an athlete. If it does not perform, it does not stay. There is no room for sentimentality in Halen, except perhaps for one very special bird.

The Hen That Was Never Sold

Most commercial lofts make a fatal mistake when they hit the jackpot. They breed a National Ace pigeon, get a huge offer from Asia, and sell their gold. They cash in, but their results collapse two years later. Stephan Machiels made a different choice. The absolute foundation of the current success is a hen named Blue Ace, with ring number BE12 5000639. Contrary to many internet rumors, she is a hen, not a cock. And crucially, she was never sold.

In 2014, Blue Ace was crowned 5th National Ace Pigeon Great Middle Distance KBDB. She was a racing machine, but Stephan saw something more in her. He saw the future of his loft. He refused the offers and placed her in his breeding box. That single decision is the reason why Sabrina Brugmans Pigeons are still dominating in 2026. Blue Ace became the mother and grandmother of a dynasty. Her bloodlines gave the colony the stamina to keep winning for over a decade.

A Triple Golden Pigeon Victory

In Western Europe, there is one championship that commands more respect than any other, and that is the Golden Pigeon. You do not win this by luck. You win it by nominating your first three pigeons and clocking them early, series after series. It is the ultimate test of trust between a fancier and his birds. Winning it once is a dream. Stephan Machiels has achieved the impossible by winning it three times: in 2018, 2023, and again in 2025.

This consistency is rare. It proves that the system in Halen is not dependent on one lucky season. It is a replicable formula for success. Combined with recent Olympiad birds like Olympic Britt and a cabinet full of Provincial victories, the track record places this loft among the absolute elite of the Belgian sport.

Evolving the Bloodlines

A smart fancier knows when to look in the mirror. Even with the golden genes of Blue Ace, Stephan realized a few years ago that the game was getting faster. Instead of stubbornly sticking to his own family, he went looking for an injection of pure speed. He found it in a collaboration with Op de Beeck Baetens from Putte. By crossing his tough, endurance based lines with their explosive Van Dyck and Kannibaal bloodlines, he created the modern racing machine. It was a masterstroke that revitalized the colony and led directly to the recent Golden Pigeon victories.

Mastering the Motivation

So how does he do it? How do Sabrina Brugmans Pigeons manage to break away from the pack on a 500 kilometer flight? The answer lies in a perfected system of hens on widowhood. Stephan is a master of motivation. The training regime is hard; the hens exercise with an intensity that rivals the cocks. But the magic happens before basketing. Stephan plays on their territorial instincts. He creates an atmosphere of jealousy and desire in the loft. When those hens are released in France, they aren’t flying home for the feed. They are racing home to defend their spot and reunite with their partner.

The Verdict Of the Pigeon Boss

The name on the result sheet might say Sabrina, but the signature on the performance is Stephan’s. By keeping his foundation hen Blue Ace at home, trusting his gut feeling in selection, and daring to cross in new bloodlines, Stephan Machiels has built a legacy that most fanciers only dream of. For anyone looking to improve their own loft, the lesson from Halen is clear: cherish your best breeders, be strict in your selection, and remember that in this sport, hard work beats talent every day of the week.