Father Fernand Malfait (80) started in 1969 as an independent car body repairer and in 1972 he began with pigeons in the semi-long distance category.
Even as a young man, Serge was passionate about pigeon racing, and after years of success in the semi-long distance, he made the transition to the long distance and heavy long distance.
Now Serge (52) runs a garage together with his youngest brother in Jabbeke. Although their father is now retired, he still helps as much as possible in his sons' garage. Fernand takes care of the racing team at home, which for 2025 consists of 7 old pigeons and about 20 yearlings, while Serge looks after the breeding pigeons that are housed with him and manages the pairings. Together, they decide which pigeons are sent for which races.
Care
At Malfait, cleansing is fed at the beginning of the season; only after 2 nights in the basket is sport on the menu, consisting of 4 different brands, always full feed. The lofts are never cleaned during the season, and the veterinarian only visits before the season and when absolutely necessary. Every 2 to 3 weeks, something is given against trichomonas. The early young pigeons are only trained, and the late young ones never see a basket in their birth year. As yearlings, the trained young ones go to Agen and the late ones fly 2 to 3 national semi-long distance races and preferably 1 long-distance race. As two-year-olds, they must be able to compete in all races.
Memorable Agen
For Fernand and Serge Malfait, the most beautiful victory was in the tough Agen race in 2019: “It had been scorching hot all week, and the release was postponed by a day. On the day of the release, temperatures rose above 35°C, and no Belgian pigeon reached its loft that same day. At 04:24 in the morning, 'Remco' landed on the landing board! He won the 1st national Agen old pigeons with a lead of 1 hour and 10 minutes over all 8579 Belgian pigeons. Only three pigeons managed to reach 800m/min that day...”
The fact that this star was indeed top-notch was proven by 2 half-brothers (same father as Remco!) at Agen: in the yearlings category, father and son Malfait easily won 3rd and 9th national against 7331 pigeons, using the 1st and 2nd pigeons drawn!
Breeding Development
The first long-distance pigeons at Malfait were Dordin pigeons. One of them flew in 1983 at Lourdes international, placing 20th against 3423 pigeons, and three weeks later 22nd international at Perpignan among 3589 opponents. This immediately became the first foundation pigeon of the colony.
Later, the second foundation pigeon 'De Olympiade' was added. This pigeon became an Olympic pigeon in long-distance competitions with the following results:
- 2nd Angouleme 263d
- 6th prov La Souterraine 331d
- 7th Chateauroux 825d
- 34th prov Poitiers 2748
- 76th internat Dax 4730d
- 78th nat Cahors 7528d
- 138th internat Perpignan 10444d
- 209th nat Brive 21012d.
In 1996, a son of 'De Olympiade' won 1st international Dax.
A grandson 'Bettini' became the next foundation pigeon with, among other prizes, 1st national Dax 2004. 'Bettini' was no stranger to success as, as a 2-year-old, he was already 12th national ace pigeon in the heavy long distance KBDB with, among others:
- 13th nat Perpignan 7537d
- 83rd nat Dax 5026d
- 87th nat Castres 4101d.
The current foundation pigeons of the loft are undoubtedly 'Monsere' and 'Ludo.'
'Monsere' (3158706/2013)
- won as a yearling 186th national Poitiers against 14094d.
- As an 18-month-old, he was 3rd national ace pigeon in heavy long distance KBDB
- 19th national Agen 3524d
- 186th national St Vincent 3037d
- 38th national Perpignan 5254d.
As for lineage, this top bird is on the father's side 100% Carteus with inbreeding to the 'Bonte Barcelona' (4th nat Perpignan and 69th nat Barcelona).
His mother was a granddaughter of the previously mentioned 'Bettini' 1st national Dax and comes from the line of the world-famous 'Didi' of Etienne Devos, 1st national ace pigeon long distance KBDB.
'Ludo' (6302965/2014)
was born in September 2014 and won as an 18-month-old
- 19th Fontenay 1264d
- 843rd nat Limoges 13493d
- 36th nat Cahors 6174d
- 547th nat Libourne 5195d
and as the cherry on top 1st national Jarnac against 4167 pigeons and the fastest of 8071 pigeons!
His father won 17th and 21st national Montelimar and was an inbreeding product from 'Didi' of Etienne Devos, 1st national ace pigeon long distance KBDB.
“Wout” 3008651/2015
Probably one of the best Belgian all-round pigeons of recent years, son of "Monsere"
His results:
- Pau 1/291, nat. 56/3600
- Limoges 4/342, zone 10/1060, nat. 84/13569
- Limoges 4/362, zone 9/1410, nat. 166/15789
- Angouleme 7/117, nat. 56/4525
- Libourne 9/146, zone 18/445, nat. 260/4605
- Cahors 6/139, zone 20/492, nat. 283/6903
- Narbonne 3/58, nat. 91/4454
- Bourges 39/752, nat. 2469/34311
- Fontenay 9/121
- Blois 21/263
- Vierzon 17/229
- Limoges nat. 312/9661
- Limoges zone 68/811, nat. 1273/10319
- Tulle nat. 429/6206
- St Vincent nat. 204/3080
- Libourne nat. 248/3927
- Pau 288/3734
Some top pigeons from the loft
3032345/2021
- 5th world best pigeon marathon 2023
- 2nd euro diamond pigeon Agen 2023
- Father: Same father as Remco 1st national Agen who is a son of Monsere paired to daughter New Laureaat 1st international Barcelona
- Mother: granddaughter of Mr. Fantastic 1st national ace pigeon long distance KBDB
As a yearling
- Tulle nat. 1197-6842
- Libourne nat. 520-2992
In 2023 as a 2-year-old
- Valence club 1-236
- Zone 2-291
- Provincial 8-634
- National 15-6089
- Agen club 4-432
- Provincial 5-1337
- Zone 6-2404
- National 17-5851
- International 33-15317
- St.-Vincent club 22-124
- Provincial 113/757
- National 415-2853
- International 1212-9516
Crack '66' - 3028366/2019: father of sale 1
- 5th Olympiad marathon 2024
- 22nd National ace pigeon KBDB heavy long distance 2024
2nd Euro diamond pigeon Sint-Vincent 2024
- Father: the good “66” son of Ludo 1st national Jarnac
- Mother: daughter 1st national Cahors
In 2021
- Fontenay provincial 479-11051
- Limoges national 1059-15547
- Brive national 79-8807
- Cahors national 59-3651
- Souillac zone 19-221
- National 1009-4144
In 2022
- Limoges national 2760-17356
- Cahors national 67-3018
- Libourne national 36-3317
In 2023
- 13th ace pigeon Cahors Pipa 22-23
- 18th ace pigeon Libourne Pipa 22-23
- Limoges national 678-10381
- Cahors national 191-4155
- Bergerac national 80-3838
- Libourne national 344-3880
In 2024
was only just entered for the first time this year into the heavy long distance (previously only flew the long distance!) and became:
- 1st ace pigeon club heavy long distance with Pau 12-300 and St.-Vincent 1-123
- 22nd national ace pigeon heavy long distance KBDB
- Limoges national 917-10653
- Pau national 75-3368
- International 321-13199
- St.-Vincent club 1-123 and 1-219 competing Gistel-Steenbrugge.
- National 5-2575
- International 11-8610
3032387/2021: 9th Olympiad marathon 2023
- Father: same father as Remco 1st national Agen who is a son of Monsere paired to daughter New Laureaat 1st international Barcelona
- Mother: daughter 1st national Cahors
In 2022
- Clermont club 35-465
- Fontenay club 13-456
- Orleans club 3-704
- Zone 26-6884
- Argenton I national 1845-18763
- Argenton II club 2-288
- National 66-12938
- Agen club 3-535
- Provincial 6-1820
- National 9-7371
- International 21-16932
In 2023
- Limoges national 760-10381
- Cahors national 107-4155
- Bergerac national 394-3838
- Libourne zone 7-392
- National 170-3880
- Tulle national 808-4982
In 2024
- Souillac zone 9-370
- National 337-4673
- Bergerac national 292-3157
Main Championships 2023-2024
- 1st 2-year class euro diamond pigeon
- 1st champion old heavy long distance inter-West Flanders
- 1st international championship heavy long distance combined Gistel-Steenbrugge
- 1st international champion heavy long distance Gistel
- 2nd euro diamond pigeon Agen
- 2nd euro diamond pigeon St.-Vincent
- 3rd national champion long distance plus 600 km. Gistel
- 5th world best pigeon marathon 2023
- 5th Olympiad marathon 2024
- 9th Olympiad marathon 2024
- 9th national champion KBDB old long distance
Highlights
- 1st Olympiad pigeon Long Distance Gran Canaria 1993
- 1st international Dax old 1996
- 1st national Dax old 2004
- 1st national Jarnac old 2016
- 1st national Agen old 2019
- 3rd national champion Heavy Long Distance old 1997
- 3rd national Ace Pigeon Heavy Long Distance old 2015
- 4th national champion Long Distance old 2019
- 5th national Ace Pigeon Heavy Long Distance old 2010
- 6th national Ace Pigeon Heavy Long Distance old 2006
- 8th national champion Long Distance old 2011
- 8th national champion Heavy Long Distance old 2013
- 9th national champion Long Distance old 2023
- 9th national Ace Pigeon Heavy Long Distance old 2004
- 11th national champion Heavy Long Distance old 2014
- 12th national Ace Pigeon Heavy Long Distance old 2003