Last Saturday, the East Flemish champions were honored at Salons Mantovani in Oudenaarde. The greatest honor went to Tom & Marnik Van Gaver from Moortsele, who were crowned as General Provincial Champion 2023. Undoubtedly a well-deserved victory for father and son, who had a truly exceptional year in 2023 and sent the competition from pillar to post week after week… In addition to Tom, many other young powerhouses received flowers and trophies, a signal that the pigeon sport is still desired and often directed by the younger generation! A statement that we must all regard as a bright point in the darkness, despite the declining number of members and the ‘downward spiral’ that newly elected president Bart Piens mentioned in his opening speech.
Indeed, you read that correctly, East Flanders has recently acquired a new leader. Somewhat surprising but at least said to be innovative! A man of substance with his heart on his sleeve, that much is certain. Clearly someone who does not shy away from taking the bull by the horns and expressing his unfiltered opinion.
It didn’t take long before stones were thrown:
“Although the Saturday releases proceeded fairly normally, the Sunday releases were characterized by bad weather and postponed releases.”
With this, Piens already threw a substantial wink at what he later criticized with more words:
“In the project to put all East Flanders participants on equal footing with the surrounding PE’s, we are not always supported. Take for example the interprovincial agreements, a burden. The current generation demands more leisure time and especially family time on Sundays. Managing does not work or is hindered by absurd agreements from the past that apparently cannot be avoided. East Flanders is 59km wide and 54km high, but due to all the interprovincial additions, our province has become 70km wide… Within this context, there are 3 flight lines and 3 interprovincial agreements that have put East Flanders in a chokehold.”
Piens regrets the increase in the number of complaints, messages, and emails over the past months directed at the provincial administration and wants to surround himself with a committee that will wholeheartedly go for more innovation, a modern approach, and more simplicity and control in all its facets. He assures that 2024 “will be a pivotal year towards planning, perseverance, simplicity, transparency, and more controls, with the goal of ensuring sporting fairness among enthusiasts, associations, and provinces.” He guarantees that measures will be taken to promote or cancel any unfounded and/or unlawful decisions of individuals, associations, collaborations, and sectors.
To be continued...
Provincial Champions East Flanders 2023