Whoever claims you need hundreds of racing pigeons and palace sized lofts to conquer long distance racing has never witnessed the magic of Martin Wijtman Pigeons in Bodegraven. Here in a busy residential neighborhood, a pure hobbyist proves that true craftsmanship, keen intuition, and a handful of feather weight warriors are all it takes to dominate the marathon skies.
The National St. Vincent race delivered a performance that borders on the mythical. While most fanciers were still sound asleep, Martin Wijtman staged a nighttime arrival that will be discussed in pigeon clubhouses for generations.
St. Vincent Victory Highlights
Winning Pigeon: NL.23-9337703, a 3 year old cock raced on 10 days of brood
Distance: 1,038.691 Kilometers
Clocking Time: 04:36:36 AM, registered within the neutralization period
Winning Velocity: 1,524.428 meters per minute, exceeding 91.4 km/h
Club Standing: 1st Prize Fondclub De Glazen Stad against 514 birds
Championship Score: 1,000.0 Maximum Points in both Not Nominated and Nominated leaderboards
Basket Success Rate: 75% Prize Rate with 3 out of 4 birds in the prizes
Loft Return: 100% home before the clocks were verified
The Race Course: Uncompromising Speed into the Dark
On Friday at 11:00 AM, the baskets opened at the foot of the Pyrenees. Released under gentle northern breezes, the flight line opened up as the winds shifted south west over the French plains. With clear conditions across the entire route, the stage was set for fearless night flyers to push the envelope.
Back in Bodegraven, nobody expected birds at dawn. Friday night discussions in the club suggested arrivals around eight or nine in the morning, so Martin went to bed expecting a calm start. That changed abruptly at 1:00 AM when his son Rick phoned with startling news: birds were already dropping across the country under the cover of darkness.
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Sleep was out of the question. Martin kept watch, camera in hand. At 4:30 AM, stepping out into the twilight, he spotted a crouched silhouette resting on the neighbor’s roof. One single whistle cut through the morning silence. Without hesitation, the bird dove straight to the loft and crossed the electronic antenna at 04:36:36 AM.
Record Velocity and Total Dominance
At a calculated velocity of 1,524.428 meters per minute across 1,038 kilometers, Martin Wijtman captured first place in NIC Bodegraven and swept Fondclub De Glazen Stad:
1st Prize Fondclub De Glazen Stad against 514 pigeons
1,000.0 Maximum Championship Points across both Not Nominated and Nominated leaderboards
1st Place Series 2 Competition with his designated birds
75% Prize Rate: 3 prizes from 4 basketed birds, placing 1st, 62nd, and 67th in the Fondclub
100% Home Record: all four birds safely perched in the loft long before clock verification
The Winner: NL.23-9337703
The hero of this race is a three year old cock, NL23-9337703, raced from a ten day old clutch of eggs.
The background of this bird represents the true soul of pigeon racing. Martin acquired the pigeon as a youngster via a voucher purchased at the annual club winter auction. The donor was none other than national champion Gerard Griffioen from Zevenhoven. In an ironic twist of sport, Griffioen himself took 3rd and 5th in the club, finishing right behind the crack pigeon that came directly from his own breeding loft.
Proven Marathon Heritage
For seasoned followers of Dutch marathon racing, the name Martin Wijtman is synonymous with high impact strikes. Martin approaches the hobby purely on his own terms. He enters when time permits, sits out when life demands, and whenever he baskets, his birds battle at the front:
2nd National Bordeaux ZLU
3rd National St. Vincent ZLU
8th and 16th National Cahors against 3,132 pigeons
1st Grandmaster Sector 2 Cahors
11th National Tarbes against 1,414 pigeons
29th National Bordeaux Sector 2 against 3,254 pigeons
High Impact References on Other Champion Lofts
The breeding strength of Martin Wijtman Pigeons radiates well beyond his own backyard.
Town mate and national icon Mario de Vogel, winner of the International Heavy Long Distance Golden Duif and 1st National Bordeaux, has achieved major triumphs built heavily upon Wijtman bloodlines. In particular, the Wijtman cock NL13-1239881 Afrikaatje became an anchor breeder for De Vogel, producing top national performers like the 72nd National Bordeaux against 4,954 pigeons.
Small Backyard Loft, World Class Impact
Martin Wijtman showcases what makes the marathon sport so compelling. You do not need massive lofts or unlimited budgets to defeat the strongest competitors in the country. With supreme health, raw grit, and uncompromising selection, a backyard loft can reign supreme on the international stage.
Congratulations to Martin Wijtman and his family on an unforgettable St. Vincent performance!
Jan de Wij
The Pigeon Boss
