...classified 3 times in the national championships… and in the distant past was even ‘Car winner’ in the ‘national Bourges’ of 1989. The 2009 sport season was a new triumph at that level because ‘hot from the press’ we see that Willy now stands as
5° National Champion yearlings KBDB 2009
You couldn’t have better proof of a very strong 2009 season! We haven’t even said a word about the immense title wins that have been achieved at local level over the years, as well as in 2009. A chain of successes that didn’t go unnoticed in the outside world, because Willy was often approached for pigeons. It is no wonder that practically everywhere in the land more new names turned up that were very successful after introducing the Vanhoutte pigeons into their colony! According to Willy, championships are a great measuring tool for a colony because they reflect the performances over the entire sport season.
As a retired postman, Willy can now fully indulge in his sport. He began with the pigeons in 1965… Initially with a preference for the game with the youngsters in the Sprint. After a few years there were also top performances with the old birds, and there was a changeover made to the Middle Distance. The old racers are raced according to the classic widowhood. Willy has 28 boxes available for his old racing pigeons, but these don’t necessarily have to be filled… only quality is important, not quantity says Willy! The racing pigeons eat separately in their living boxes because in this way Willy can closely follow the eating habits of each pigeon… which pigeon doesn’t have enough, which one has too much… and so respond to the situation every day, which can sometimes vary a great deal per pigeon, depending on the performance that has been delivered or has to be delivered. It is obvious that a pigeon that has just returned from a race and has made an effort … will have a larger ‘appetite’ than a pigeon that has been given a week’s rest… that a smaller pigeon will probably be full sooner than a larger pigeon. There is also always fresh grit available.
Both before the start of the breeding season as the racing season there is a visit made to the veterinary surgeon, and his advice is followed. During the season the veterinary surgeon is only consulted when the performances are not up to scratch. Around the 25th of November both the breeders and the racers are coupled. The racing pigeons normally raise 1 youngster. In this way 80 youngsters are ringed every year, from which 10 or 14 cocks are selected after the season and they have to prove themselves as yearlings a year later. 
Willy is not a supporter of coupling ‘too closely’ (no closer than ‘nephew’ x ‘niece’)… although he attaches a lot of importance to pigeons with a soft plumage, well muscled, colourful eye with a lot of pigment and a good model. Before they are given a place in the breeding loft the self bred pigeons have to produce serious honours lists… in other words, the knife that is used in Wevelgem is ‘very sharp’! Yet, Willy is also aware that standing still is synonym for going backwards… and from that point of view Willy tries to buy 3 pigeons every year from fanciers who have raced well . These pigeons are then coupled straight away with his own best pigeons… and if the results are disappointing then the breeding pigeon in question is directly removed from the loft, along with all its descendants! If you are successful every three years, then you can carry on a while longer says Willy! An approach in the pigeon sport that has delivered results, and brought Willy to the highest rung of the ladder at provincial level in no time, has allowed him to take root between the fine top in the ‘small middle distance’ of our country! But before one gets this far, the necessary performances have to be achieved, there have to be excellent breeding and racing pigeons available… not only to get this far, but also to remain here for a considerable time. All conditions that were perfected and filled by Willy Vanhoutte. Let us illustrate by means of 4 of the current toppers who are making everything rosy in Wevelgem… something proved in their honours lists 2009:
3107045/06 " Groten "
11.4 Arras 396 p. 17
25.4 Roye 604 p. 2
02.5 Ablis 639 p. 2
09.5 Ablis 625 p. 33
23.5 Ablis 316 p. 9
30.5 Ablis 184 p. 6
13.6 Ablis 152 p. 6
20.6 Ablis 130 p. 20
-3109061/08 " Primus "
11.4 Arras 396 p. 39
329 YL 21
25.4 Roye 604 p. 59
424 YL 37
02.5 Ablis 639 p. 39 
366 YL 20
09.5 Ablis 625 p. 31
555 YL 19
23.5 Ablis 316 p. 1
229 YL 1
30.5 Ablis 184 p. 9
155 YL 5
07.6 Ablis 161 p. 28
170 p. 24
20.6 Ablis 130 p. 1
125 YL 1
The ‘Groten’ and the ‘Primus' are 2 full brothers from a super couple obtained via joint breeding with pigeons from Marcel Demeester from Ingelmunster:
Father: 3074206/02 ‘Den Bourges’ from Marcel Demeester from Ingelmunster.
Mother: 3056111/02 daughter of 3145096/98 "Concorde" x 3167720/00 Corteel Bernard, Koksyde.
-3109103/08 " Tarzan "
This is then again a son of the ‘Tobias’ ring 3104129/04 (self son of the ‘Young Zorro’ 3145079/98 line Stier, Playboy and Piot) x Hen ‘Van Der Schans’ ring 5195771/04 (Association Van der Schans Hamont Achel). He won:
25.4 Roye 546 p. 28
380 YL 13
13.5 Ablis 288 p. 4
300 yl 14
23.5 Orleans 226 p. 8
300 YL 3
30.5 Orleans 353 YL 1
Prov 1331 YL 6
262 p. 2
Prov 939 p. 5
13.6 Blois 188 p. 8
248 YL 7
27.6 Orleans 157 YL 1
Prov 489 YL 9
151 p. 1
Prov 411 p. 10
With this, the ‘Tarzan’ was 7° Prov Ace pigeon Middle Distance Yearlings KBDB 2009!
-3109133/08 "Cupido "
Self son of the ‘Farouk’ ring 3107134/06 (coming out the ‘Young King’ 3145155/98 x ‘Hilde’ 3124098/00, who was then a full sister of the famous "Figo " by Antoon & Hilde Reynaert) x ‘Daughter Bourges’ 3105146/05 (Daughter of ‘Den Bourges’ 3074206/02 x 3056111/02). This ‘Cupido’ won in 2009:
25.4 Roye 546 p. 23
380 YL 12
09.5 Ablis 309 p. 1
216 YL 1
23.5 Ablis 316 p. 3
269 YL 2
30.5 Ablis 184 p. 1
155 YL 1
20.6 Ablis 130 p. 15
125 p. 7
Real toppers in the racing lofts of Willy Vanhoutte , who have once again kept the banner of the colony flying high in 2009! The success train remains on the right track there in Wevelgem year after year. With such a minimal occupation as in the lofts of Willy Vanhoutte, it is no easy feat… but proof of the ‘class’, ‘breeding worth’ and ‘performance capabilities’ of the modern Vanhoutte-pigeon. An extremely tough selection every year, only the real toppers are allowed to remain for the winter… and coupling these with each other… after all, the ‘good’ always come out the ‘good’… out the better family of pigeons! It is the only real way to remain successful in the pigeon sport… but of course, this is easier said than done! That’s why… we take our hat off for what sport friend Willy has managed to perform in the middle distance races for years. Performances which we feel are the result of an ideal harmony between ‘craftsmanship’ and ‘class pigeons’… say the art of achieving the ‘maximum’ from the available ‘top quality’! Willy Vanhoutte has proved this for years in his own loft, but… but just as much in the many lofts that have called on Willy for reinforcements! Congratulations Willy and keep up the good work!
Performances 2009:
02/5 Ablis 639 old 2-12-39-117-206 (9)
366 Yearlings 7-20-54 (5)
09/5 Ablis 625 old 31-32-38-89-96 (6)
555 yearlings 19-60 (3)
Ablis (Gul) 309 old 1-2-3-7-32 (8)
Ablis (Gul)216 yearlings 1-2-3-24 (6)
16/5 Ablis 288 old 4 (6)
300 yearlings 14 (3)
Ablis (Gul) 172 old 2 (2)
23/5 Ablis 316 old 1-3-4-9-11-12-30-70 (8)
269 yearlings 1-2-3-50 (4)
Ablis (Gul) 175 old 2-6-7-58 (5)
30/5 Orleans 262 old 2-19-30-75 (6)
353 yearlings 1-2-14-25 (4)
30/5 Ablis 184 old 1-4-6-7-9-11-12-20 (8)
155 yearlings 1-2-5-7 (4)
Ablis (Gul) 119 old 1-2 (4)
06/6 Ablis 161 old 28-30 (5)
170 yearlings 24-26 (3)
13/6 Blois 188 old 6-10-39-51-55 (8)
248 yearlings 7-8-32 (4)
13/6 Ablis 152 old 6-15-36 (7)
153 yearlings 37-47 (3)
20/6 Ablis 659 young 4-189
130 old 1-4-9-15-16-20-30 (9)
125 yearlings 1-2-7-11 (6)
Ablis (Gul) 398 young 1-2-3-6-10-30-49-52-72-84-105-110 (21)
27/6 Ablis 641 young 70-111-122-203
82 old 13-16 (6)
69 yearlings 8 (2)
04/7 Ablis 910 Young 6-51-104-195-292 (8)
Ablis (Gul) 601 young 8-18-20-21-31-55-60-82-138-146-148-177 (21)
11/7 Ablis (Gul) 454 young 2-3-34-37-38-40-46-64-89-96-97-108-109-135-141 (29)
18/7 Ablis (Gul) 394 young 12-47-51-52-61-71-74-114-131 (18)
01/8 Ablis 518 young 5-9-10-17-25-43-52-94-166 (13)
Ablis (Gul) 430 young 14-26-31-32-56-70-81-81-131 (9/9)
08/8 Ablis 370 young 17-41-60-63-68 (8)
Ablis (Gul) 294 young 4-5-7-18-26-40-52-56-66-76 (15)
15/8 Ablis 388 young 19-23-114-119-129 (6)
Ablis (Gul) 290 young 3-16-27-37-40-68-88-89 (20)
22/8 Ablis 336 young 13-14-64-85 (4)
Ablis (Gul) 239 young 3-6-8-29-32-39-50-66 (13)
29/8 Ablis 185 young 22-28-51 (4)
Ablis (Gul) 197 young 3-29-65 (9)
Note: Ablis (Gul) = club Gullegem, other races are the ‘L.A.R.-union’