If there is one proving ground in modern pigeon racing where bloodlines, true stamina, and natural orientation come to light, it is on that scenic hill overlooking Đakovo in eastern Croatia. No hiding spots, no soft conditions, and zero tailwind illusions. Race 4 over 311 km from Nove Zamky, Slovakia, pushed these young athletes to the limit under genuine racing conditions, and what a spectacle it turned out to be!
Liberated under crystal-clear blue skies at 07:00 sharp with a mild 15°C morning that climbed straight toward 24°C at arrival and 30°C later in the day, the birds caught a light east-southeast side-and-tail breeze at just 4 km/h. It required razor-sharp intelligence to break away and hit the landing boards.
Official Flight Summary
Liberation point: Nove Zamky, Slovakia (23 August 2026, 07:00:00 GMT+2)
Distance: 311 km
Weather: Sunny, clear, 15°C at release, 24°C at arrival, daily peak 30°C
Wind: East-southeast (4 km/h)
Returns: Over 84% clocked back safely (757 out of 905 birds, at 07:00 August 24)
Dreger Claims Gold with Thunderous Pace
When the leading bird folded its wings and dropped out of the sky at an average speed of 1332.09 m/min, the clock stopped at 10:53:28.060. German fancier Dreger claimed the crown with young ace DV-2026-06846-216!
The depth of this loft’s performance did not stop there: Dreger backed up the gold with 71st place (DV-2026-06846-229) and 72nd place (DV-2026-06846-249) in rapid succession. That is top-tier conditioning at its absolute finest.
Top 10 Battle: Fractions of a Second Decide the Podium
Ten birds clocked within just twelve seconds of the winner, turning the finish into a high-stakes dogfight:
2nd Place: Team Theobald (Germany) takes silver with DV-2026-06252-3024 (1331.44 m/min) just six seconds behind the leader, also placing their second bird on spot 40.
3rd Place: Team Jacover Trieste NDT (Italy) grabs bronze with ITALIA-2026-159132 (1331.23 m/min).
4th Place: GOLDENTAL (Croatia) keeps the home flag flying high with CRO2026-9670 (1331.13 m/min).
5th & 9th Place: Dutch maestro Michiel Averesch (#SASDK) pulls off an incredible double top-ten finish, clocking NL-2026-7049247 for 5th (1331.01 m/min) and NL-2026-7049246 for 9th (1330.86 m/min), along with 87th place!
6th Place: SG Schmidt-Sommer (Germany) secures 6th with DV-2026-04465-552, followed by their 24th place bird.
7th Place: Maziarz Racing Team C (Poland) hits 7th with PL-2026-0231-10490 and backs it up with 11th position.
8th Place: Team Riciozo x Klajne (North Macedonia) flies straight into 8th with MK-2026-261064.
10th Place: Svoren JLBE Team (Slovakia) rounds out the top ten with SK-2026-0999-3707.
Top 10 Arrivals (Race 4, 311 km)
The Masterclass of Goran Gusak
A special mention goes out to Croatian icon Goran Gusak, who put on a masterclass in squad consistency. Gusak filled the top ranks by clocking positions 21, 25, 33, 50, 63, 89, 106, 124, 167, 169, 171, 211, 216, 218, and beyond! When an entire loft hits form simultaneously across 311 kilometers, you are looking at world-class conditioning.
Petar Brlošić and the Derby AS Arena
Behind this soaring international platform stands Petar Brlošić. Rather than sitting behind an administrative desk, Petar is on the loft floor every single day, managing every participant’s youngster with the same passion and precision he applies to his own champions.
The custom-built loft installation outside Đakovo features an unobstructed flight line free of overhead powerlines, spacious airy perches for 1,700 athletes, and climate-controlled transport vehicles that guarantee rested arrivals at every liberation point.
With the 311 km hurdle behind them, the birds now gear up for the grueling stages:
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Semi-Final: 450 km test of stamina
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Grand Final: 550 km showdown with a total prize fund of €60,000 and €12,000 for the 1st prize winner
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Super Final: 620 km extreme long-distance marathon
Why Derby AS Croatia Is Pigeon Boss Approved
We stand firmly behind events that combine fairness, total transparency, and unwavering animal welfare. Derby AS Croatia hits the highest benchmarks:
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Premium Nutrition: Vanrobaeys feeds tailored for endurance.
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Specialist Vet Care: Expert preventive oversight by Vet-Schroeder-Tollisan.
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Live Precision Timing: Fully transparent BENZING Live electronic systems.
Big News: New Website, Live Streams, and In-House Auction Platform!
Derby AS Croatia has officially unveiled its brand-new website:
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Multilingual Interface: Now live in Croatian and English, with German and Dutch launching tomorrow. Switch instantly via the menu by clicking HR / EN.
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Deep Performance Data: Detailed metrics and flight histories are now visible for every competitor.
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Live Video Streams: Click the Live button in the bottom right corner of the website to watch live video feeds of every flight and loft arrival in real time.
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Integrated Auction Platform: The official post-race AUCTION now runs directly on the new website, delivering better security, faster bidding, and automated alerts for registered members.
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Mobile Web App: Add the website straight to your smartphone home screen as an app to monitor flights on the go.
Because being good is simply not enough. Only the best will do.
Congratulations to Dreger and all top finishers on an electric Race 4!
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss
