De Zutter & Son
1st national Champion Argenton 1996
(505 km, 15.882 pigeons)
Champion titles 1997
Belgian Champion “Kuregem Centre” 1997
The “Kuregem Centre” Championship is awarded by the following combination wins of preselected pigeons: – the three first preselected old pigeons on the national races Cahors (764 km) and Barcelona (1056 km) – the three first preselected young pigeons on the national races of Argenton (505km) and La Souterraine (545 km) – the first preselected old pigeon as well as the first preselected yearling on the race La Souteraine
1st All-round Champion of the province East-Flanders 1997
This Championship is awarded in the province East-Flanders (16000 members) for the best results in all different categories.
1st Champion of the province East-Flanders Long Distance 1997 (Youngsters)
1st Champion of Belgium “Kureqern Center” 1997 (Youngsters)
2nd Champion of Belgium “Kuregem Center” 1997 (Hens)
1st Champion Flanders Cup National 1997 (East Flanders Marathon, youngsters)
King of F.C.D. (Fondclub der Denderstreek) 1997 (Old pigeons, Yearlings, Youngsters and Hens)
De Zutter & Son won more than 30 1st prizes on all distances from 100 till 1 000 km.
De Zutter & Son
“Best Pigeon Loft of Belgium 1998”
Independently selected in 1998 by IIDe Reisduif’ and “Belqische Duivensport”
Belgian Champion IIKuregem Center” 1998
The “Kuregem Center” Championship is awarded by the following combination wins of preselected pigeons: – the three first preselected old pigeons on the national races Cahors (764 km) and Barcelona (1056 km) – the three first preselected young pigeons on the national races of Argenton (505km) and La Souterraine (545 km) – the first preselected old pigeon as well as the first preselected yearling on the race La Souteraine
Belgian Champion IIBelgische Verstandhouding” 1998
The “Belgische Verstandhouding” Championship is awarded by the following combination wins of preselected pigeons: – the four first preselected old pigeons on the national races of Brive (658 km), Limo 1st (591 km) (Old pigeons + Yearlings), Peri 1 ueux (690 km) (Old pigeons + 2-Year Olds)
– the three first preselected pigeons on the national races of Montauban (784 km), Dax (877 km), Marseille (846 km), Perpignan (910 km) and Narbonne (853 km) (Old pigeons and Yearlings)
Belgian Champion K.B.D.B. of the province East-Flanders 1998
This Championship is awarded in the province East-Flanders (16 000 members) for the best results in the categories Youngster and Old pigeons on the short-, middle- and long-distance races.
King of F.C.D. (Fondclub der Denderstreek) 1998 (Old pigeons, Yearlings, Youngsters and Hens)
De Zutter & Son is the first loft in the history of the Belgian pigeon sports to win the championship “Kuregem Center” two years in a row (1997 and 1998)
Furthermore De Zutter & Son were the first ever in Belgium to win the “Kuregem Center” championship as well as the “Belgische Verstandhouding” in the same year (1998).
These titles are raced on a National basis with literally all of the big names of the pigeon sport in Belgium competing!
Say no more!!
LATER RACING PERFORMANCES OF DE ZUTTER:
De Zutter races in the club, EERLUK DUURT HET LANGST, in the town of Moerbeke, which is over 100years old and has in excess of 100 members.
His club offers doubling in the FeD, which is a combine of four clubs with a total membership of 450 lofts. This combine forms part of the FVOV, which encompasses the Province of East Flanders, which has in turn over 10500 lofts competing.
It goes without saying that to win at this level of competition and birdage is quite difficult, but to do this consistently, year after year, is quite remarkable and can only be attributed to exceptional quality of pigeons.
DE ZUTTERS 2004 RESULTS:
A: At Club level – middle distance:
1st champion old birds 1 +2+3
1st champion young birds 1 +2+3
1st champion hens’ +2
1st champion-most prizes won
1st ace pigeon old birds
1st ace pigeon young birds
2nd champion yearlings
King of the middle distance.
Long distance:
1st champion old birds 1 +2+3
1st champion hens 1 +2
1st champion most won prizes
2nd champion yearlings 1 +2+3
King of the long distance.
B: At Combine level (450 lofts)
Prize of honor most prizes won with the 1st pigeon assigned.
1st ace pigeon middle distance: old birds.
1st champion middle distance: hens 1 +2
1st champion long distance hens’ +2
1st all-round champion middle distance: old birds 1 +2
1st all-round champion middle distance 1 +2
1st all-round champion’ +2
2nd champion young birds 1+2
4th champion middle distance yearlings 1 +2
1st all-round king FeE-DAM
C: At Provincial Level (more than 10500 lofts)
1st prize Euro-Inter-provincial BIARRITZ (over 1OOOkm) -hens
2nd prize Euro-Inter-provincial BIARRITZ -old birds
3rd prize Euro Inter-provincial BIARRITZ – old birds
1st prize Provincial LA SOUTERAINE 28/8/04 – old birds- (NOTE: THIS HEN CAME TO SA)
1st prize Provincial VIERZON – old birds + hens
1st prize Provincial BLOIS – hens
- 1st All-round King (overall champion of the Province East Flanders).
DE ZUTTERS 2005 RESULTS:
De Zutters 2005 results were again absolutely fabulous and the following is quoted from an article written for the Belgium fanciers by his club president Mr. Pierre de Rijst, who later became the President of the entire Belgium Pigeon Sport.
“GOOD PIGEONS DO NOT NEED ANY EXTRA CREDITS”
That is the title, which fits perfectly to the excellent results, which our friend Willem De Zutter achieved. Many of us had thought that the results of the season 2004 could not be equaled in the years to come. Now that everything has been analyzed, we must again bow for the extraordinary results of Willem De Zutter in the championships of the middle and long distance.
WILLEM WON 51 FIRST PRIZES FOR THE SEASON.
In 2005, he also won again three first provincial prizes. When you think about it that the region in which Willem races his pigeons has the worst position in the country for the pigeon racing (the province has 10,500 members) then we must acknowledge that Willem has extraordinarypigeons in his lofts.
It is getting increasingly difficult in the club of Moerbeke to buy any Trophies for Willem De Zutter as he has gotten so many already. He won the following prizes for 2005 season.
Heavy middle distance:
1st champion old birds. 1st champion yearlings, 1st champion female birds, 1st all-round champion,
1st King (overall champion middle distance)
Long distance:
1st ace pigeon old birds, 1st ace pigeon yearlings, 1st champion yearlings, 1st champion female birds,
1st All-round champion.
The president of the club has a problem with the trophies. Willem has won too many in the past years. It is really difficult to come up with something new.
The championships of the FeD (+-500 members) were once again a “one man SHOW/~ Willem won the following:
1st all-round king, 1st all-round champion,, 1st all-round champion heavy middle distance (1 + 2). 1st champion heavy middle distance old birds (1 +2), 1st champion heavy middle distance female birds (1 + 2) 1st champion long distance female birds, 1st aCQ bird middle distance old birds, 1st ace pigeon long distance female birds, Prize of honor 1st basketed birds (nominated).
The championships of the FVOV (l 0,500 members) have not been completely analyzed yet. In 2004 Willem was the 1st all-round champion. It would be hardly possible. Considering the amount of members, to win it again in the next year. But we can tell you already that Willem is in 2005 2nd all-round champion FVOV.
So we really did not exaggerate the title of our article. Willem De Zutter does have the best racing pigeons in the whole region.
NOTE FROM CHARLES BENN:
I have visited De Zutter each year during November since 1985 when we celebrate his birthday and this tradition has continued with him spending at least a month with us during February of each year.
Each year until his official retirement from professional racing in 2010, this phenomenal family of pigeons has dominated the top of the overall results. I have watched his family of pigeons evolve over the years and become world famous.
I have raced them myself with unbelievable results. To list all of my results would take some reading but here is just a little something to whet the appetite.
2004 Young Bird season (Five races flown ending 29 May 04 from Willowmore-404km to East London)
Benn is overall club champion (as he was the year before) and creates a new record by taking the first 17 positions in a very difficult last race. Most fanciers had half their team still out by 6pm at ring out that evening, with the birds having to contend with rain, mist and gale force winds.
I have also had the only bird on the day in our combine from Potgietersrus (1000km) with a De Zutter.
During 2006 again only bird on day in the club from a very tough Hennenman in our special Yearling
Series where my two registered teams were overall 1st and 2nd in the club for the series.I have consistently flown in the top 10 of our +100 member’s strong Union over the years and have won the overall championship on a number of occasions.
Over the years I have put this strain on the map in SA and there are many grateful fanciers out there today with this wonderful family performing for them.