The Pride of Made: How Rex de Leeuw Conquered the European Marathon Elite
When evening shadows lengthen across the Dutch countryside and hundreds of miles still lie ahead through testing skies, only the exceptional birds break away to make history. In the village of Made, nestled in North Brabant, Rex de Leeuw has quietly engineered one of the most devastatingly consistent long distance colonies in modern pigeon racing.
Over the past four campaigns, de Leeuw turned the brutal international and national marathon circuits into his personal proving ground. From winning the prestigious PIPA IATP Ranking across all international races to lifting the coveted Europa Beker with his first nominated birds in 2024, Rex de Leeuw demonstrated what happens when patience meets an unbreakable genetic foundation.
The Iron Legacy of "Ad"
Every monumental dynasty traces its roots back to a singular, charismatic progenitor. In Made, that icon is “Ad”. A cross bred from Eijerkamp Muller and proven local performers, “Ad” was a fierce racer himself, securing 8th National Barcelona among multiple early arrivals. Yet it was in the breeding loft where his true genius revealed itself.
“Ad” sired the 1st National Bordeaux 2010 winner and the 1st National Perpignan hens champion, who scored 2nd overall in 2013. His descendants carry this endurance forward without dilution. Generation after generation, his direct children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren have stepped onto national and international podiums. Crossed with the revered marathon strain of neighboring master Cor de Heijde, directly and through Louis de Heijde and Louis van de Kieboom, including a daughter of the famed “Violet Barcelona”, this bloodline unlocked new speeds at the 1,000 kilometer mark.
When combined with selected class from Arjan Beens and Jos Martens, the “Ad” foundation delivered stars such as “Daphne”, “Els”, “Frits”, “Georgina”, and the unstoppable “Furious Barcelona”.
A Four-Year Golden Campaign
The timeline from 2023 through 2026 reads like a masterclass in conditioning and nest play. In 2023, the loft set the continental stage ablaze, flying to 3rd National Barcelona and 22nd National Pau. “Daphne” became an international sensation, capturing 5th European Hen across all international races with 3 prizes, 15th Ace Pigeon ZLU, and leading the loft to 9th overall in the PIPA IATP rankings.
Then came 2024, a season that will echo in the books for decades. Rex de Leeuw stormed to 1st National Dax with his hen “Georgina”, clocking through the falling dusk at 990 kilometers to beat the nation. The team claimed 1st in the PIPA IATP overall international ranking, 1st Europa Beker with first nominated pigeons, 2nd ZLU Marathon 8 nominated, and 6th West European Super Marathon. Meanwhile, “Els” swept 1st Ace Pigeon honors, confirming the sheer depth of talent perched in Made.
Rather than taking a step back, the loft carried that momentum right through 2025 and 2026. In 2025, provincial victories came swiftly, with “Daphne” topping Pau and “Fayenne” taking 1st Provincial Marseille. On the national afternoon liberations, “Frits” charged to 7th National Bergerac, leading the loft to 1st Nominated Marathon Afternoon Releases in Afdeling 2 Brabant 2000.
By 2026, Rex de Leeuw proved that his birds hold their brilliance in both morning and afternoon tests. “Furious Barcelona” authored an unforgettable performance, taking 10th National Barcelona and 11th International Barcelona against thousands of birds across Europe, earning 2nd in the International Bony Barcelona Cup. With “Helena” taking 29th National Narbonne, “Frits” claiming 13th National Bressols, and “Harry” earning 6th National Sector 1 Bergerac/Libourne, Rex clinched 1st Nominated and 1st Not Nominated in Vlieggebied Geel, alongside 1st Ace Pigeon Morning Releases.
The Joy of Pure Marathon Racing
What makes Rex de Leeuw’s success so refreshing is the ethos behind the performances. In an era of intense commercial pressure, Rex treats marathon racing with deep passion and authentic camaraderie. Together with his wife Toos, the thrill of the sport remains rooted in the magic of seeing a bird arrive out of the dusk when no other pigeon in the region has been reported.
Rex proves that world class excellence does not require hundreds of complex tricks. It demands honest care, complete faith in a deeply rooted family of pigeons, and the courage to send birds when condition and nest position align. The loft in Made stands tall as an inspiring beacon for everything that makes the international marathon the pinnacle of the pigeon racing world.
Pigeon Boss
