At Wontergemstraat 72 in Dentergem lives Gaby Vandenabeele. Dentergem is a little town between East and West Flanders and became famous accross the borders because of pigeonman Vandenabeele. Since 1988 Gaby won 5 firsts National and more than 62 firsts Provincial. Impressing!

Pigeonmen who visited Gaby Vandenabeele for the first time were always surprised not to find there huge lofts as is so often the case with champions like him. Also in his most succesful years Gaby did not behave like a star but stayed who he was: Modest! He and his wife Christine take care of about 50 widowhoodcocks, 30 breedincouples and 120 babies and a handful of so-called pumpers.

Gaby Vandenabeele has always been succesful on all levels and in all categories.Yearlings, 2-years-old, Old birds, Youngsters, 100 kilometers or 800? For this champion it makes no difference! His stars just win one first after another and one championship after another. Though it must be said that Vandenabeele has a preference for Middle Distance and One Day races.

In Belgium people still race for money, very often for much money, and those people who know Gaby know he likes pooling. He puts in much money and often wins very much money. And this can only be achieved with birds that win topprizes. That's why Gaby is always searching birds that win, preferably with headwinds and a speed of 1.200 meters per minute. They must be birds that win in real tough weather and once Gaby has laid hands on such birds they are put in the stockloft immediately. That's what happened years ago to "Wittenbuik". Apart from 4 firsts it also won many more topprizes.

All kinds of everything.
The widowhoodcocks in Dentergem are mated end of November or begin December 1. The first eggs of the stockbirds are going to the widowhoodcocks and their hens. The 50 widowhoodcocks are divided into 2 teams. Every team is prepared different and raced every 2 weeks. The great advantage of this system is that in a smash only half of the birds are in the race. A German saying is: "One should not put all the eggs in the same basket.

The "Kleinen"

For many years "Kleinen" (B-81-3238253) was the absolute wonderbreeder in the Vandenabeele loft. "Kleinen" was never basketed, which is in fact against the principles of Gaby who prefers to select his birds by their results. The parents of "Kleienen" are "Zitterke" (B-80-4055428) a bird from Josef Delodder from Zulte and "Ameyke" (B-77-3064419) from Gilbert van Parijs from Aarsele. Within a very short time "Kleinen" proved to be an exceptional breeder with different hens. The descendants of this sensational breeder made Vandenabeele famous both in Belgium and abroad.

The ''Wittenbuik'' B'88-3206112

The ''Kleinen'' B'81-3238253

The "Wittenbuik"

"Kleinen" was a perfect bird in everything but unfortunately he died in the spring of 1995. His son "Wittenbuik" (B-88-3206112) has taken his place and the results of his offspring give the impression that he maybe even a better breeder than his famous father. What "Wittenbuik" makes such a valuable breeder is the fact that he gave champions with many different hens. On this moment he is 15 year old and the question is who will take his place on the breeding loft.

"Wittenbuik" Gaby Vandenabeele - Dentergem

The legendary Wittenbuik from Gaby Vandenabeele died on the 20th of January
This top pigeon had the ringnumber BE 88/3206112