A national marathon victory from Lewedorp that combines proven bloodlines, clever preparation and a genuine passion for long distance pigeon racing
There are victories you celebrate, and then there are victories that become part of your loft forever.
For Patrick Hermes of Lewedorp, National Narbonne 2026 belongs firmly in the second category.
His yearling cock Cor, NL25 2520424, arrived at 22:01:16 after a demanding day on the wing. With a recorded velocity of 1,042 metres per minute, the young marathon pigeon delivered the result every long distance fancier dreams about: 1st National Narbonne.
And for Patrick Hermes, this was not simply a lucky strike. It was another major chapter in a pigeon career that already includes national success.
Patrick Hermes Knows What Winning National Feels Like
Patrick’s involvement in pigeons started modestly.
His father in law helped spark his interest, after which Patrick built a tiny first loft measuring roughly one metre by one metre. He later became involved with the De Koning brothers and raced in partnership with Sjaak de Koning.
A major turning point came in 2005 when Patrick joined forces with his late father Cor under the name C. Hermes & Zn.
Only one year later they achieved something extraordinary.
In 2006, the combination won 1st National Blois against approximately 75,000 pigeons.
Twenty years later, another national victory has arrived.
This time on one of the races that really tests a pigeon.
Narbonne.
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Cor Delivers When It Matters
The National Narbonne winner is a yearling cock carrying the name Cor, a name with obvious emotional significance within the Hermes loft.
Earlier in the season Cor had already been tested from Agen, his first marathon assignment, where he recorded a respectable prize. Patrick subsequently worked toward Narbonne as the main objective.
Instead of leaving the cock permanently on widowhood, he planned the season so Cor could eventually be entered for Narbonne while sitting eggs.
The strategy came together beautifully.
- Cor went to Narbonne sitting approximately ten days on eggs.
- On Friday 24 July, the pigeons were liberated at 07:45 from Castres Payrin Augmontel. Many hours later Patrick was still waiting at the loft in Lewedorp.
- At 22:01:16, Cor came home.
- Not casually.
- He arrived with the conviction of a pigeon that still had business to finish.
- That arrival ultimately produced the national victory.
Racing Blood Behind the Narbonne Winner
The pedigree behind Cor makes the performance even more interesting.
His father was purchased by Patrick from Sander Dijkema. Through this side appears Red Night Lady, winner of 1st International Tarbes hens, 2nd National Tarbes and 10th International Tarbes.
The maternal side adds another serious layer of marathon quality.
Cor’s mother came from a breeding collaboration involving Patrick and Combination Van den Bosse. The family includes descendants of Goudklompje 497 from Verhagen Buyl, a pigeon connected with performances including 3rd National Narbonne and 21st National Agen.
Lady Red from Ad Pegels also appears in the background, bringing further established long distance blood into the pedigree.
Put those pieces together and this national win starts looking considerably less accidental.
Good pigeons still have to prove themselves on race day, but Cor certainly had the genetic ammunition.
More Than One Man Behind the Loft
Another part of the Patrick Hermes story deserves attention.
His wife Debbie has been involved with the pigeons for many years and is becoming increasingly active alongside Patrick. That matters.
Top level pigeon racing demands enormous commitment. Feeding, observing, training, cleaning, pairing, preparing and waiting for pigeons rarely fits neatly into a schedule.
When that passion can genuinely be shared, the entire loft benefits.
The Hermes loft is therefore developing into something that is perhaps even stronger than an individual racing operation.
It is becoming a real partnership.
Barcelona Is Already on the Horizon
Patrick Hermes is certainly not finished.
Since 2025, his loft has also housed pigeons originating from the best material of Hub Smeets of Mechelen. The intention is clear: combine those pigeons with Patrick’s strongest existing families and develop a team capable of competing seriously from Barcelona in the future.
That is an exciting prospect.
Because the loft now has something every ambitious marathon fancier wants.
Proven national winning ability, established long distance bloodlines and a man who is still hungry for the next challenge.
The Pigeon Boss Says
What I like about the story of Patrick Hermes is that there is nothing complicated about the foundation of his success.
It is about good pigeons, patience, observation and believing in a plan.
Patrick gave Cor experience from Agen. He prepared him toward Narbonne. He got the nesting position where he wanted it. Then the pigeon had to do the rest.
- And Cor delivered.
- That is marathon racing at its best.
- A yearling cock flying home late in the evening and writing his name, and the name Patrick Hermes, into the national results.
- Lewedorp can be proud.
- Patrick and Debbie can be proud.
And pigeon racing should be proud too, because performances like this show exactly why our sport can still produce moments that are impossible to forget.
Congratulations to Patrick Hermes and Cor on winning 1st National Narbonne 2026.
This is one loft I will be watching very closely,
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss
