Some pigeons win a race. Others prove their quality year after year. Gert Koese from Sommelsdijk has a cock that is doing exactly that.Â
His remarkable ‘366’ delivered a magnificent performance from Marseille, claiming first place in Afdeling Zuidwest and finishing sixth nationally. And there is something even more impressive about this victory. This pigeon was already among the best from Marseille the previous year.
When Gert Koese clocked his pigeon at 9:03 on Monday morning, July 20, 2026, a demanding marathon contest had produced another memorable chapter. His cock, NL22-8431366, had covered 948.129 kilometres from Marseille, recording an official velocity of 822.352 metres per minute in the FBZ result.
The victory placed Koese at the top of the 350 pigeons entered in Afdeling Zuidwest. He also won the separate FBZ competition against 254 pigeons. On the national stage, his outstanding cock claimed sixth place.
For any serious marathon enthusiast, those are results worth celebrating.
Marseille Demanded Everything From the Pigeons
Marseille has never been a race for pigeons that lack determination. The 2026 edition certainly lived up to that reputation.
Following postponements caused by unfavourable conditions, the pigeons were finally liberated on Sunday, July 19, at 7:15 in the morning. High temperatures and northerly winds contributed to a particularly demanding contest.
The relatively low velocities told their own story. This was a race where endurance, condition and the ability to maintain progress over an enormous distance were decisive.
While fanciers across the Netherlands waited for their pigeons to return, Koese had every reason to believe that something special might happen. His confidence was firmly placed in one particular cock.
And that confidence was rewarded.
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The ‘366’ Is No One Season Wonder
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of this Marseille victory is the pigeon responsible for it.
The cock NL22-8431366, affectionately identified by the final digits of his ring number as the ‘366’, was Koese’s first nominated pigeon. He occupied the top position on the entry sheet, reflecting the confidence his owner had in him.
There was good reason for that confidence.
In 2025, the same cock had already demonstrated his exceptional marathon qualities by winning 49th National Marseille. Returning to this classic race in 2026, he raised the bar considerably with an outstanding 6th National Marseille.
And there is more to this remarkable story. According to Gert Koese, the exceptional qualities of the ‘366’ are firmly rooted in his bloodline. His mother achieved an impressive 21st National Narbonne, while another daughter of this same hen, racing for Ronald Traas, claimed an outstanding 2nd National Narbonne in 2026. When a mother and two of her offspring deliver performances of this calibre at the highest level of marathon pigeon racing, it is certainly no coincidence. This is the kind of proven racing pedigree that every long distance enthusiast dreams of. Now that is what we call a serious bloodline!
That is the kind of consistency that gets the attention of experienced marathon fanciers.
A single excellent result can make a pigeon famous for a season. Repeating a top national performance on a demanding international classic is something altogether different.
It says a great deal about the racing qualities of this cock.
Whether he eventually receives the name De Marseille, as suggested by Afdeling Zuidwest, remains to be seen. But one thing is certain. He has already earned recognition through his performances.
A Strong Result From the Entire Koese Loft
Although the ‘366’ deservedly claimed the spotlight, Koese had more reasons to be satisfied with the Marseille result.
He entered eleven pigeons in the FBZ competition and recorded seven prize winners. Alongside the victory, his pigeons also occupied 11th, 18th and 23rd positions, followed by further prizes later in the result.
That gives this achievement an additional dimension.
Winning with a top pigeon is fantastic, but bringing home multiple prize winners from a particularly demanding marathon demonstrates that the performance was not limited to a single exceptional bird.
The results show that the Koese loft had several pigeons capable of meeting the challenges of Marseille.
For fanciers who appreciate the finer qualities of long distance pigeon racing, that is something to admire.
Flowers for a Victory Worth Remembering
Afdeling Zuidwest marked the occasion by presenting flowers to Gert Koese.
The photograph of Gert standing on the steps of his impressive pigeon loft, holding a colourful bouquet, captures a wonderful moment in the sport.
Behind every such result lies the commitment required to prepare pigeons for some of the toughest assignments on the racing calendar. Marseille is one of those races where success carries a particular sense of achievement.
And for Gert Koese, this victory has an additional attraction. His champion cock has now demonstrated his abilities in two consecutive editions of the same prestigious race.
At Pigeon Boss, we love seeing achievements like this receive the recognition they deserve. They are exactly the performances that make marathon pigeon racing so fascinating and inspire enthusiasts to keep striving for something special.
Congratulations to Gert Koese from Sommelsdijk on a magnificent Marseille victory. And a special salute to the remarkable ‘366’. A pigeon that lets his performances do the talking!
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss
