Friday February 7, 2020 the annual champions day of the Berlaarse Hafo Vriendenkring took place. Many volunteers were present again to provide the large turnout with tasty chicken with apple sauce and/or provincial sauce.
And it was a large turnout indeed. Many different tables had to be added to give everyone a place.
Chairman Johan De Belser welcomed all those present and around 7:00 pm the event started.
When everyone had finished their nice meal Willy Verberck gave a small state of affairs.
The middle distance flights will most likely be released this year from the town of Sermaisses (France). We also looked back on a great season, more than 8,600 pigeons were basketed in the middle distance.
Next year, Berlaarse Hafo Vriendenkring will still be playing in the Mechelen Region (RM) with an overarching with Hafo Turnhout. More than 19,000 pigeons were basketed in this umbrella last year.
After Willy, the national chairman, Pascal Bondengien, spoke about the issues surrounding the problems with the release places of the middle distance. He also said that they are working on the “bird of prey” problem that more and more pigeon fanciers have been struggling with lately. He even said that legal proceedings were being taken.
This was followed by the award ceremony, the winners of the previous year were called forward to receive their prize. The local champions were honored in an appropriate manner and the prizes were handed over together with the people from the city council.
Then it was Tor Daneels’ turn, the regular auctioneer, it was his job to auction the 90 offers at a brisk pace. Originally there were 89 offers, but Gaston Van De Wouwer decided to help out for the last time by giving an additional young pigeon. This pigeon was sold after lot 45.
The vouchers sold like hotcakes. A nice sum of € 24,700 was auctioned, so that the BHV enthusiasts can enjoy numerous great prizes again next season.
After awarding the tombola prizes, enthusiasts went home satisfied. Everybody can already look forward to the new season.