What a weekend it was at Pigeon Boss Loft! Pigeon racing remains a magnificent chess match against nature, and last week called for the necessary flexibility. Due to the predicted heat, the planned race from Pontoise (359 km) was wisely shortened to Pont-Sainte-Maxence (322 km). An excellent decision by the organization, because the conditions were tough: a variable wind, high temperatures, and some atmospheric disturbances in the air. Exactly the kind of day that brings out the true class and character of our winged athletes.
In total, I sent 5 hens: two future stars for Barcelona (3 years and older), one rock-solid hen for Cahors (2 years old), and two yearling hens who had only been sent out twice this year, with Oudenaarde (126 km) being their furthest race. A serious test, especially for those inexperienced yearlings.
The routine of the experienced ladies
The old guard immediately showed why they are being primed for the marathon distances. Of course, they couldn’t keep up with the pure speed specialists in the club, but marathon pigeons don’t need to. They came home beautifully.
The biggest boost of the day? My absolute favorite for Barcelona, the “408”, showed her class and arrived first on the trap. Within thirty minutes, all three experienced hens were back in the loft, looking super fit. That gives a fancier tremendous confidence!
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Character and experience for the yearlings
For the two young yearlings, it was a completely different story. They were given a challenging baptism of fire. It wasn’t until the evening, just 20 minutes apart, that they reached the home base. But they arrived in fantastic shape: not a feather out of place and a massive amount of experience richer. These are the races that make them big and strong. This is why our sport is so beautiful; building up a pigeon that learns to fight and win against the elements.
Eyes on the ultimate dream: July 3rd
Meanwhile, the focus in the loft has completely shifted. Over the past few days, the nests of the Barcelona and Cahors pigeons have been broken up. We are now gradually and precisely working towards the day that everything revolves around for me this year: Friday, July 3rd.
On that day, the two-year-olds will face the challenge from Cahors, and the experienced birds will fly the classic race from Barcelona. The ultimate goal, the dream of every marathon flyer. I am incredibly excited. The feeling is right, the birds are healthy, and everything is going exactly according to plan.
Next week, we will quietly see if we can give some birds a bit more experience. But we will tread carefully. With Barcelona on the horizon, I am not taking any unnecessary risks that could jeopardize the nest positions. The big work is coming!
Have a great week, enjoy the pigeons, and until the next update!
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss
