Belgische Verstandhouding, livelier than ever !
11 Apr 2022
Running, falling and getting back up….that's how it seemed to be for getting some champions celebrations organised. It was no different with the Belgian Verstanden (Entente Belge). A party was planned to honor the 2020 laureates… but was removed due to the strict social restrictions related to the corona pandemic. The dynamic board has always proposed “postponement but no adjustment” and one day the day of freedom will come again. And so it happened…..On Sunday 10 April, as if it were a symbolic starting signal for the new 2022 season, the honoring of the laureates-champion-winners 2020 and 2021 could take place. There was clearly some urge to bang at the pigeon flock. With no fewer than 310 attendees, the Salons Cortina in Wevelgem was the place to be for the international pigeon sport that is in the best interests of the Belgian Verstand attitude. France, Germany, Spain (and by extension Lanzarote), the Netherlands…..everyone had made every effort to attend. The top of the KBDB was also very visible and omnipresent. Salons Cortina is a house of trust for such events, and as usual it was a very neat and tasty menu on offer.
Chairman Norman advocates a sport without jealousy and strong transparency
Chairman Filip Norman welcomed everyone warmly and was happy because this was possible again, despite the social challenges of the past years. The current war situation in Ukraine is also a cloud that should not be underestimated that still hangs fiercely threateningly over our heads. He praised the correct-open and good communication of the KBDB, which does everything it can to be very open to its members, both in the good and the less good news. The past Barcelona 2021 was also discussed. After the flight, there was some criticism about the very difficult course of the match. Chairman Norman repeated his decision at the time, deliberately delaying the release of the pigeons because of the difficult weather conditions and repeated the credo of the Belgian Verstand that the well-being of the pigeons will always be central. Zero risk in a release is not possible, but doing everything possible to match it as closely as possible will remain the guiding principle for the future. As befits a real captain, Filip Norman also defends his sailors. After secretary Yvan Eeckhout won the ace pigeon in the extreme long distance, some people found it necessary to spray vitriol and question the authenticity of this achievement. Full confidence and respect for the efforts of his secretary were fully expressed.
KBDB honors chairman Norman for 25 years of chairmanship
The Belgian Association exists 90 years…. and Filip Norman has been the driving force and chairman of this for 25 years. After such a period of helmsmanship you can rightly be called a true and genuine chairman. In an interpretive speech, President Pascal Bodengien and the President of the National Sports Committee Denis Sapin praised this presidency, emphasized the seriousness with which the Belgian Verstandings team organizes competitions, and fervently hope for a similarly motivated cooperation in the future. A deserved tribute to chairman Filip Norman.
Tribute to Yvan Eeckhout by the French Senate
On the one hand surprising and on the other hand justified was the tribute paid to secretary Yvan Eeckhout. Through Senator Jean-Pierre Decool, Senator for Northern France and Vice-President of the Committee on Culture, Education and Communication, an emotional Yvan Eeckhout was honored for his many years of efforts in the pigeon sport and for the always correct and honest collaboration with the French government for the organization of the competitions. Senator Decool, who also worked hard to solve the cross-border problems that the pigeon sport is confronted with, was full of praise for the collaboration with the “Belgians” and very specifically for Yvan Eekchout. A signal that there is cooperation across national borders in the interest of the pigeon sport and that offers opportunities.
Long live the champions!
The celebration of all the 'clean nation of champions' over the 2020 and 2021 seasons went very smoothly. It was a good idea to get the two years together on the podium, per tribute and category. It is clearly noticeable in the atmosphere of the room that these are achievements that resonate within the pigeon world. The laurels linked to the national anthems of the respective country winners give everything an even stronger cachet of pride and solidarity. The presence of the mayor of Lanzarote, who also honored several champions, was an additional emphasis on the international aspect of the pigeon sport.
Verleije Davy & Amber for 2020 and Joël Verschoot for 2021 are the strong winners of the General Championship
However, what it's all about at this party is honoring and highlighting the winners of the General Championship and the winners in the various other rankings and flights. It is therefore logical that we once again emphasize the very strong performance of Verlije Davy & Amber for the 2020 season and Joël Verschoot for 2021. It is reserved for few and to be on the highest podium place there is a magnificent achievement. Other laureates and winners deserve at least as much praise. Few were missing at the roll call. The crème de la crème of the international long distance and extreme long distance were present. Voila, the celebrations 2020 and 2021 have almost all been able to continue. Proof that we should always hope for the best and that sooner or later everything will be okay. The first sprint races have been completed, the door to a pleasant and good pigeon season is wide open again. Long live the pigeon sport! Geert Dhaenens
