Pigeon racing is pure adrenaline, passion, and intense enjoyment. As The Pigeon Boss, I do everything in this fantastic sport with a massive smile, tons of fun, and a healthy dose of bravado. Promoting our incredible sport is what drives me every single day. Today, I am taking over the microphone to share a fantastic update directly from the source at OLR Lasterie Zwiep!
The men from Abanilla recently experienced quite an adventure during their first transport, and the way they handled it shows exactly what they are made of. This is how true champions act!
Crisis on the French Highway? No Problem for True Professionals!
Peter and Hendri recently set off with about 300 young pigeons on board. Everything went completely according to plan through Belgium up to the French border. But then disaster struck in the middle of the night near Troyes in France: the vehicle broke down right on the highway. It was a life threatening situation and absolutely no fun at all!
But what do you do when you are responsible for the future champions of the international elite? You certainly do not sit around feeling sorry for yourself. Within an hour, the car was towed to a garage in Troyes. The absolute priority was immediately focused on the welfare of the pigeons. Because serious heat was on the way, the men immediately arranged alternative transport for the birds. While Peter and Hendri had to wait for days in the garage for parts to arrive, the pigeons in Spain were already enjoying a well deserved bath! That is what true passion and top tier management look like. The vehicle has since been perfectly repaired and is completely ready for the next trip.
Why OLR Lasterie Zwiep Is 100 Percent Pigeon Boss Approved
My followers know that I am incredibly critical. I never hand out my coveted quality stamp to just anyone who nails a few boards together in their backyard. But Peter Lasterie and Hendri Zwiep breathe transparency. They built an absolute state of the art facility in Abanilla where openness and professionalism always come first. When a race gets tough or when a problem arises, they stand tall, show everything, and never hide. That honesty is worth its weight in gold, and that is exactly why they have my full backing!
The Spanish Purgatory: Where Legends Are Born
Pigeon racing flourishes worldwide thanks to fair, sportsmanship filled, and grueling competitions where the true cracks rise to the top. The Murcia region acts as a beautiful, honest, and natural filter. The elements there select strictly on pure character and stamina.
Just look at the epic 2026 edition. The season kicked off with an impressive field of 1,531 pigeons. After a grueling preparation of ten training sessions and four hotspots, only 349 ultimate warriors made it to the grand final of 460 kilometers from Pinzon, Sevilla. When the crates opened on Friday morning, March 27, 2026, at exactly 09:00:00 AM, nature decided to test their souls. A steady north easterly wind of about 15.5 km per h created an invisible wall across the entire race path.
It turned into a legendary battle of pure character. More than 31 hours after release, only 66 of the 349 finalists managed to touch down at the loft in Abanilla. That is a survival rate of roughly 19 percent! The absolute king of the skies was Steffen Sommer from Germany. His phenomenal bird, DV 04465 25 3805, won the spectacular first prize of 30,000 Euros with a speed of 1,113.28 meters per minute. With a total prize pool of 135,000 Euros, this is where the global elite comes to play!
Grab Your Chance: New Collection Dates in July!
The hunt for next season’s glory has already started. Do you want your toppers to shine under the Spanish sun and lift our beautiful sport to the next level? Make sure your young pigeon team is in perfect order for the next transport round. These are the official dates for the upcoming collection trips:
July 22: Collection at the Lasterie Shop.
July 23: Collection at our official agents in the Netherlands and Belgium.
The Golden Team of Agents and Contact Persons
To make the shipping process easier and more accessible than ever, a powerhouse international network is completely ready for you. Contact the agent in your region directly to register your birds:
The Netherlands (Esther Noorderwijk): Reachable via the website duivendirect.nl, via a WhatsApp message at 0031 6 12 14 11 84, or by email at esther@duivendirect.nl.
The Netherlands (Beestenboel Wezep): Connect with Wilko Moeken at +31613422122 or Jan Souman at +31618333239 (email: Info@snelwerk.com).
The Netherlands (Tom van der Kamp): Located in Wijk bij Duurstede, reachable via rijnstroom.nl or by phone at +31 6 53684329.
Belgium (Guy Pletinckx): Our go to man for our Belgian sports friends, directly reachable at +32 477280357.
England (Wade Davies): The exclusive agent for England for all your entries, questions, or sign ups via 07794430038 or Wadedavies35@yahoo.com.
Ireland (Alan Knowles): The main point of contact for our valued Irish fanciers at +353 87 273 3570.
Premium Transport UK and Ireland: Nigel from L&N Services manages this luxury transport perfectly and can be reached directly at +353 87 942 2134.
If you cannot make these specific dates in July but still want to participate, no worries at all! Simply get in touch with Hendri Zwiep at +31624597669 or send an email to hendrizwiep@hotmail.com to discuss the possibilities.
Let us work together to make this an unforgettable season filled with healthy tension, pure pleasure, and passion for our beautiful pigeon sport! Get your teams ready, fuel your passion, and let us see if your birds have what it takes to become true legends under the Spanish sun!
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss
