The Master of Made Delivers Under Grueling Skies
When conditions on the long-distance classic races turn brutal, the tension at the loft in Made spikes to absolute high voltage. Last weekend, the national classic from Castres took center stage. With a relentless northeast wind and scorching temperatures rising above 30 degrees Celsius along the flight line, the race transformed into a raw test of true stamina. These athletes of the sky had to punch through heat and headwinds for hours on end.
This exact territory is where De Leeuw Pigeons truly come alive. Rex basketed 11 birds for this severe ordeal and proved once again what his marathon strain is made of. Competing at the national level against 3,911 pigeons, the Made colony dropped their entries straight onto the board with surgical precision:
29th National with hen 4-2413706V over a distance of 925 km
141st National with hen 5-2505718V
477th National with cock 4-2413742M
931st National with hen 5-2505793V
1062nd National with cock 5-2505773M
Clocking 5 national prizes out of 11 basketed birds yields an impressive prize rate of over 45% on one of the hardest races of the summer. Leading the charge was his lead bird grabbing 29th National overall, proving that De Leeuw Pigeons possess world-class endurance.
A Season Packed With Unstoppable Victories
Castres is no one-off stroke of good fortune. The 2026 racing calendar for De Leeuw Pigeons reads like a nonstop masterclass. Anyone following the results knows that Rex is operating on a level few can touch.
Take a look at three monster performances from this year alone that highlight this dominance:
100% Clean Sweep on St. Vincent: Rex basketed 4 marathon birds and clocked every single one deep in the national prizes, taking home a perfect 100% score.
100% Clean Sweep on Marseille: Three pigeons sent to the grueling French spectacle, and all 3 touched down to claim national glory—another flawless 100% record!
10th National Barcelona: On the ultimate queen classic, wonder cock Furious Barca thundered through heat and headwinds to conquer 10th National against 5,057 pigeons and 11th International against 16,278 birds.
The Bedrock of the Loft: Super Breeder Bertus
Behind every major success story stands a powerhouse breeding foundation. Rex de Leeuw does not rely on random luck; he breeds with a clear vision, locking in top-tier performance genes.
The absolute crown jewel in the breeding lofts of De Leeuw Pigeons is super breeder Bertus (NL18-3804281). Long before he entered the breeding box, Bertus dominated the skies himself. He captured 1st Dutch Pigeon in the International Ranking from Narbonne, won 9th National Narbonne against 6,732 birds, and claimed early national prizes from Agen.
In the breeding loft, Bertus turned out to be pure gold. He sired stars like Fayenne, who claimed 1st NIC and 1st Provincial Marseille (36th National). The bloodline of Bertus passes down pure toughness, making extreme long-distance racing look effortless.
Worldwide Impact: How De Leeuw Pigeons Perform on Other Lofts
The ironclad quality of De Leeuw Pigeons shines far beyond Made. Fanciers across the sport are reaping massive rewards by introducing these genetics into their own colonies:
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Jan van Gijzel: Achieved a sensational 2nd National Sector 1 against 7,109 pigeons using a direct grandson of Bertus.
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Proven Breeding Lines: Top fanciers continually hit early national prizes and championships by crossing in the foundation stock cock Ad, the Cor de Heijde lines, and direct descendants of national icons like Amazing Louise and Georgina.
Rex works strictly with nest pigeons played as full pairs, combining peak natural motivation with precise medical checks from veterinary experts like Jan van Wanrooy and clinic De Weerd. That disciplined strategy keeps his birds healthy, sharp, and hungry for victory season after season.
Marathon pigeon racing is elite sport at the highest level. Rex de Leeuw proves that when passion, grit, and pure class come together, incredible things happen in the skies!
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss
