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On April 26, 1885, Florimond Duchateau invited a few of his racing pigeon friends to a dinner at his home in Quevaucamps and during the course of the evening suggested the idea of creating a national flying club limited to the top fanciers. Membership was limited to twenty members in order to provide these members an opportunity to discuss everything releated to the pigoeon sport, to foster freindships between members and to establish long distance races in which only members could participate.
At this dinner the following fanciers were present and did agree to establish the club:
Duchateau F. Quevaucamps président Carpentier E. Anderlecht vice-president Jurion A. Braine-le-Comte treasurer Tordo P. Schaerbeek secretary Barker N. Anderlecht member Omnos F. Anderlecht member Cherron Péruwelz member Delmotte N. Brussels member Saquin J. Brussels member Meeus Brussels member Plisnier Braine-le-Comte member Vander Haegen P. Ghent member Van Celst St Giles member
To this list, were added the following fanciers to fill out the twenty member roster:
Bourgeois Anderlecht member Claes J. Antwerp member Clarembaux E. Laeken member Duchateau G. Grand'Glise member Hauwaert Brussels member Rey H. Anderlecht member Willems J. Brussels member
The annual subscription was fixed at 60 francs (on 04/25/2010 this would amount to approximately $275 USD in inflation adjusted dollars).
The club meetings were held every Wednesday from 4:00 to 5:00 PM at Café Happel, Boulevard Anspach, in Brussels
The first organized race was held from Saint-Nazaire, 21 June 1885. The distance to Brussels would have been about 350 miles. The entry fee (used for shipping expenses and to purchase trophies for the first four positions) was 20 francs per entry with a two birds limit. The trophies were awarded as follows:
1. Duchateau F. Quevaucamps 2. Omnos F. Anderlecht 3. Delmotte N. Brussels 4. Jurion A. Braine-le-Comte
In 1886, the number of members was increased fom 20 to 25, consisting of 13 for the Brussels region and 12 from the rest of the country. At the same time Mr. Cherron from Péruwelz, retired and was replaced, allowing for additional fanciers to be added to the membership roles:
Flebus R. Lierre Backgammon Sint-Joost-ten-Node Matthys J. Vilvoorde Oedenkoven A. Antwerp Pittevils H. & son Antwerp Thirionnet F. Jambes