There are fanciers who dream of a moment like this, and there are fanciers who make it happen. Albert Poulisse of Kerkdriel certainly belongs to the latter. In the brutally tough marathon season of 2025, he once again made headlines by winning 1st Sector 3 on St. Vincent Tyrosse – a performance that proves what insiders already knew: Albert Poulisse Pigeons are built for the real work.
The victory that carries his signature
On June 14th 2025, more than 2,700 pigeons in Sector 3 faced the long and demanding race from St. Vincent Tyrosse. It turned into a true endurance test under extreme heat, but in Kerkdriel, Albert clocked his hen NL23-9413142 at 09:53:23 a.m. after 1,029.864 km, reaching an average speed of 1,101 m/min. Only one name topped the results sheet: Albert Poulisse – Kerkdriel – 1st Sector 3. Anyone who knows him understands this is no coincidence – it’s the result of decades of experience and pure mastery.
The winner: “Rietje,” a pigeon with a story
The heroine of this race is “Rietje”, a hen with character, instinct, and a touch of stubbornness. She was raced while sitting on a three-day-old youngster – a classic situation that brings out the strongest motherly drive. As a young bird, she already showed her potential: four times first to the loft on the late-season races. A year later she went missing during training, and Albert feared the worst. But in October, she suddenly returned.
“She earned her place,” Albert said – and how right he was. Because on her very first major international marathon race as a two-year-old, she flew straight to 1st National (Sector 3) St. Vincent 2025. A comeback story that could only happen in pigeon racing.
The bloodline of a champion
The pedigree of Rietje is a masterpiece of proven marathon genetics:
Her father is a son of “De St. Vincenter” paired with “Inbred Smaragd” from Wim van Leeuwen, the fancier who twice won National Barcelona with Smaragd 1 and Smaragd 2. “De St. Vincenter”, bred and raced by Albert himself, scored three times 6th National St. Vincent (Sector) and descends from a son of “Ad × Greet” crossed with a pigeon from Eric Aldus.
Rietje’s mother is a daughter of “Carien” × “Son Silvy.” “Carien” produced among others the 2nd and 12th National St. Vincent and the 2nd National Barcelona, from the old Poulisse × Aldus family. “Son Silvy” traces back to “Silvia” – 15th and 34th National Barcelona – from the Van Houten family.
A pedigree full of resilience, intelligence, and depth – all combined in one extraordinary hen. Rietje proved on St. Vincent 2025 that this bloodline still dominates the toughest races in Europe.
The man behind the pigeons
Albert Poulisse’s name carries weight in the world of extreme distance. Born into a true pigeon family, active in the sport since his youth, and still running the family’s 200-year-old painting business, Albert is both craftsman and perfectionist – with brushes and with pigeons. His approach is old-school – patience, observation, and relentless consistency – but his results are timeless.
The iron-blooded strain
The foundation of Albert Poulisse Pigeons was built back in 1994 with fourteen pigeons from Ad de Volder, including the legendary breeding pair “Ad × Greet.” These were reinforced with top long-distance bloodlines: Wim van Leeuwen’s Smaragd family, Van der Wegen/Wennekes (brothers W136/W487/W488), and Gebr. Kuypers (1st International Ace Pigeon Pau).
From these origins arose a strain made to fly through the night, the wind, and the years.
From Barcelona to St. Vincent
Albert’s track record is nothing short of elite. In 2022, his legendary “Barca 216” claimed 2nd National Barcelona against 4,842 pigeons. He followed that up with top positions such as 3rd, 5th and 10th National Ruffec, 27th and 40th National Perpignan, and many titles in Fondunie 2000. He was crowned 2× Keizer Fondunie 2000 ZLU, 4× General Champion (appointed), 4× Grandmaster General ZLU, and 6× General Champion unappointed ZLU. Consistency, season after season – that’s the Poulisse signature.
Eyes on Barcelona 2026
Albert is already preparing for the next challenge. His favorite for Barcelona 2026 is said to carry the same fire as Barca 216, and expectations are sky-high. The lines of Barca 216, St. Vincentje 434, and Ad × Greet come together in a foundation designed to endure, fight, and win.
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss