Heat, Haste, and High-Flyers:
What a fantastic weekend to look back on. With our eyes fully focused on the upcoming marathon classics, this was truly the weekend of truth at our lofts in Delft. The weather gods put us to the test with those tropical temperatures, but the birds proved that their form is peaking at exactly the right moment. With a healthy dose of Pigeon Boss bravado and a passion for the sport, I can safely say: the compasses are set, and our racing pigeons are ready to conquer.
Here is the full story and tactical breakdown behind last weekend’s strategic races.
Sancoins Becomes Chateaudun: Astro’s Ultimate Litmus Test
The original plan was to release the birds in Sancoins. However, the extreme heat gripping the Netherlands over the last few days forced a change of plans. The organization made the wise call to shorten the route, meaning the baskets finally opened in Chateaudun instead. It still turned out to be a serious challenge, covering a solid 500 kilometers back to our home lofts in Delft.
For this tough assignment, I only entered a single bird: my absolute favorite for the future, the two-year-old cock “Astro” (NL24-8362458). This racer has everything a modern top-tier pigeon needs, but he still had to prove himself at this distance. This weekend’s race was a calculated test balloon, a vital trial to check if his health and conditioning are one hundred percent ready for next week’s major appointments.
My criteria beforehand were razor-sharp: if an inexperienced marathon pigeon like Astro didn’t lose more than 10 minutes per 100 kilometers against the true distance specialists in the club, the test would be a resounding success.
At exactly 14:33:52, Astro clocked in on the electronic system. This meant he arrived just over 50 minutes after the first bird in the club. Do the math, and that means the test was a massive success! This gives us a huge confidence boost. I can now say with pride that our birds are fully prepared for the heavy lifting at the Barcelona Pigeon Race and Cahors.
Arras Becomes Quievrain: Fine-Tuning the Compasses from the Nest
The long-distance birds weren’t the only ones facing route adjustments; the shorter speed race was also impacted by the warm weather. Instead of Arras, the release point was shortened by about 50 kilometers to Quievrain. For the 5 warriors I sent out, that wasn’t an issue at all. In fact, it served as the perfect training flight to get their compasses pointing in the exact right direction and to get those final kilometers into their wings ahead of the big July 4th weekend.
The team line-up had a very clear mission. The 3 top racers bound for the Barcelona Pigeon Race were in the mix, alongside 2 hens who stayed home the previous week to lay their eggs for Cahors. It turned out to be a rapid-fire sequence of arrivals, proving the birds knew the absolute shortest path home:
NL24-8362455 – The fastest of the day, hitting the electronic scanning antenna first at 09:29:57.
NL24-8362453 – Followed the leader closely, clocking in at 09:36:26.
NL21-1135850V – This experienced hen showed she is right back in the groove, recording at 09:39:55.
NL20-1436402 – Came through strong, registering at 09:45:05.
NL22-8388408V – Successfully closed out the timing line at 09:49:51.
Barely fifteen minutes after the first bird was registered, the entire squad was back on the nest, calm and motivated. This is exactly the kind of behavior you want to see as a fancier in the final weeks leading up to the classics: focus, calm, and an absolute drive to get back to the home loft.
Eyes on the Horizon: The Legendary Barcelona Pigeon Race Calls!
All things considered, we can look back on a flawless weekend of pigeon racing. The birds are in excellent health, their motivation is sky-high, and our pre-planned strategy worked out perfectly. Marathon pigeon racing is elite sport, and every single detail has to be flawless. Right now, everything is clicking into place beautifully. Confidence at the lofts is high, and our anticipation for a spectacular result is even higher.
From today on, our focus shifts entirely to Monday, June 29. That is the big day when we basket our team for the legendary Barcelona Pigeon Race. The queen of all races, the event everything revolves around for me year after year, and the ultimate passion that makes this hobby so incredible.
Make sure to keep following our updates, because we are embarking on an amazing journey together over the coming weeks. Who else is backing us to pull off something special at Barcelona? Let us know in the comments!
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss
