When the true marathon flyers sharpen their knives for the ultimate classics, the barometer in Made is standardly set to high voltage. Rex de Leeuw, racing under the banner of Lions Pigeons, is not a man of one off lucky breaks. This is top level sport in its purest form, driven by a rock solid system, an unshakeable strain, and a healthy dose of pure bravado. Together with his girlfriend Toos, Rex experiences the sport with an immense amount of joy, but behind that broad smile hides the winning mentality of an absolute grandmaster.
Last weekend, it was that time again. The grueling double header from Agen and Bergerac was on the agenda. While the competition licks its wounds, we look at the statistics with open mouths. With the weather conditions acting as the ultimate separator, it was a weekend where the gold of the Rex de Leeuw Pigeons colony surfaced once again.
The Battle on the Flight Line: Heat and Headwinds
The liberations on Monday, June 29, 2026, went down in the books as fair but bone crushing. In Agen, the athletes were released at eight fifty AM into a scorching 25 degrees Celsius and a moderate northwest wind. Headwinds and heat, the ultimate ingredients for a fair race of attrition where fatigued or weaker pigeons inevitably lose their place.
In Bergerac, the curtains went up at eight AM under a lightly clouded sky and nineteen degrees, likewise with that characterful northwest wind. These are the races where the clock only truly starts running late and where the iron discipline of the Made colony makes all the difference. Pigeons that have to fight the elements non stop for thirteen hours or longer, that is the territory where the Rex de Leeuw Pigeons reign supreme.
Barcelona Liberated 07:45, Good Luck To All....
The Numbers Under the Microscope: Unprecedented Dominance
Rex basketed eighteen pigeons for Agen and sent a compact selection of six warriors to Bergerac. What dropped onto the landing board in Made afterward is truly phenomenal.
The Spectacle on National Agen against 8,016 pigeons
The absolute clock bird, NL24 2413788V, showed the true meaning of character. As the seventh nominated bird on the list, this champion thundered through the heat at a speed of 903 meters per minute to claim the 73rd National against over eight thousand pigeons! Just look at the incredible depth of the result:
The 4 2413788 captures the 73rd National.
The 5 2505735 follows fiercely in the 359th position.
The 4 2413754 claims the 667th spot.
The first nominated bird, the 4 2413752, takes the 773rd place.
In total, no less than ten out of the eighteen Agen pigeons flew themselves deep into the national prizes. That is a beautiful result on a national race that was completely exhausting due to the headwind!
The Brilliance in Zuid West Region Bergerac against 1,190 pigeons
On Bergerac, Rex repeated the trick with his six basketed pigeons. The absolute eye catcher here was the blue cock NL24 2413722M. Rocketing home as the third nominated bird, this class act flew a fabulous 1,007 meters per minute over a distance of 855 kilometers, good for the 6th prize in the entire region!
The series that followed proves just how sharp the form is: the 6th, 71st, 141st, and 388th prizes were won. Four out of six pigeons in the prizes, resulting in a beautiful prize percentage of 66 percent!
Pedigree Analysis: Royal Bloodlines Unveiled
A meticulously close inspection of the pedigrees of the two loft toppers reveals that Rex has woven an unparalleled tapestry of elite marathon performance.
NL24 2413788V: The Hen From the Line of Cathy and Christiane
The winner of the 73rd National Agen is a direct daughter of a son of Cathy (NL22 8676027M), a direct son of the world famous Cathy (NL19 3913143V). Cathy was named the 1st National Ace Pigeon ZLU in 2021 and the 2nd Best European Pigeon overall. On the maternal side, the 788 hen is a rechtstreekse dochter of none other than Christiane herself (NL19 3913146V)!
Christiane flew the 1st Provincial Perpignan (5th National) and the 1st Provincial St. Vincent (11th National), making her the 9th Ace Pigeon ZLU. Her mother was Inteelt 355, highly inbred to the legendary 1st National Bordeaux 2010 winner De 355. De 355 was a daughter of the ultimate founding cock Ad. This pedigree represents an absolute concentration of Rex his most iconic ZLU ace hens.
NL24 2413722M: The Ultimate Cor de Heijde Cross
The winner of the 6th Regional Bergerac is a beautiful example of cross breeding gold. His sire is NL19 3933565M, a direct Cor de Heijde cock who is a grandson of the phenomenal Blue Dream (1st National Barcelona hens) and Naomi (1st Barcelona and 6th International Barcelona).
The mother of the 722 doffer is Grijze 515 (NL21 2133515V), also a pure Cor de Heijde product bred out of the lines of Kleine Blauwe (1st National St. Vincent 2015). Crucially, her mother is Handsome Grey (NL19 3913522V), the direct Cor de Heijde hen famous worldwide as the mother of Georgina. Georgina is the superb hen that won 1st National Dax ZLU for Rex in 2024! Good blood never lies, this cock was born for the heavy work.
The System of an Independent Grandmaster
Rex did not grow up in a golden pigeon cradle. As a former agricultural feed salesman, he caught the pigeon bug between the farmyards and warehouses, learning through trial and error, and built everything with his own two hands. His system is simple, logical, and tight. He races exclusively on the nest system with complete pairs. Rex lives for motivation in the loft, whether it is a bunch of straw on the floor or a nest box opened at exactly the right moment.
Medically, he keeps a cool head. No standard cures or a cabinet full of random products without reason. Regularly he visits the specialists at the De Weerd clinic or Jan van Wanrooy. He only treats when there is a diagnosed problem. It is precisely because of this that his pigeons maintain the ironclad natural resistance needed to make the difference in the final hours of a grueling marathon race.
Enjoyment with a Capital E
Beyond the hardcore performances in the lofts, Rex de Leeuw is a true credit to the sport. As chairman of the Madese Bond and the Fondclub Zuid Nederland, he puts countless hours into organizing. His message to the pigeon world is clear: stay positive, promote our beautiful hobby with pride, and treat volunteers with the respect they deserve.
The weekend of Agen and Bergerac has proven that passion, pleasure, and absolute top level sport can go hand in hand perfectly. The Lions of Made are warmed up, and the competition has been warned: the absolute peak form is officially on its way!
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss
