1st National Pau – 3,281 old birds | A story of excellence, pedigree and ambition
The first international marathon of 2025 delivered fireworks. And no one shone brighter than Jan Grootoonk from Bant, who claimed 1st National Pau with his brilliant hen FLEUR — a petite powerhouse with pedigree, performance and purpose.
Meet “FLEUR” – Tiny in size, massive in heart
Winning hen NL22-8100806 now proudly carries the name FLEUR, in honor of the daughter of Jan’s close friend Henderikus Ruiter and his partner Corina Prins.
Her sire, NL20-1093781, is a direct son of two Koopman pigeons, intensely inbred on the legendary Aristos and Noël, both national ace pigeons and sons of Red Bullens. This side of the pedigree is loaded with national performances including 2x 26th NPO Cahors, 41st NPO Ruffec and 89th NPO Bergerac.
Her dam, NL15-1321167 “Nicole”, is a direct daughter of Jelle Jellema’s most iconic lines, including Romee, Julia, Kiara, and the Bergerac cock. Nicole herself produced multiple NPO winners, including:
3rd NPO Limoges
17th NPO Perigueux
23rd NPO Orange
64th NPO Ruffec
81st NPO Ruffec
89th NPO Bergerac
FLEUR combines the best of Koopman power and Jellema endurance, wrapped in a small, elegant hen with silky feathers and an unusually long wing — a physical trait Jan highly values in marathon pigeons.
Already as a yearling she impressed:
26th NPO Cahors
89th NPO Bergerac
814th Nat. Pau 2024
And now in 2025, she rose to the absolute top:
1st National Pau – 1,144.56 km – 871.87 m/min
A season of unstoppable form
Jan Grootoonk is not just having a great race — he’s having a dream season. Weeks earlier, he captured 1st Ruffec (859 km) in Afdeling 11 against 2,183 birds, again with multiple early prizes.
On Pau:
26 pigeons entered
8 national prizes
Also clocked 68th, 328th, 645th, 953rd, 959th, 996th and 1018th National Pau
This is not a one-bird wonder. This is an elite team performing under pressure — and Jan’s system, selection, and care are clearly paying off.
National Top 10 – a star-studded leaderboard
Behind Jan’s brilliant win, the top 10 featured many of the biggest names in Dutch long-distance racing:
A.J. Maljaars (Zoutelande) – 2nd
D. van Dam, Comb. Seelen, and Jan Polder — who clocked three top-100 positions
Batenburg-v.d.-Merwe showcasing depth and consistency
Pau 2025 was a classic marathon — tough, honest, and selective — and the best clearly rose to the top.
Pau 2025 Snapshot
Liberation: Friday, June 20, 07:00 – Pau, France
Old birds entered (Netherlands): 3,503
Distance: 1,144.56 km
Winning time: Saturday, June 21, 10:52:46 CEST
Speed: 871.87 m/min
Weather: Warm, clear skies, variable wind
Final thoughts: FLEUR is more than a winner
“FLEUR” is not just a racing pigeon. She’s a symbol of partnership, pedigree, and preparation. She’s proof that when passion meets precision, greatness follows.
Untill the next blog,
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss