Gentlemen, fanciers, marathon fanatics… set your clocks. The moment we have all been dreaming about all winter is finally here. The absolute king of the morning release, the international classic from Pau, is just around the corner. On Monday, June 15, the baskets will close, and on Friday, June 19, we will release the warriors for what is already shaping up to be an epic edition.
Anyone who knows me knows that I don’t care for dry, boring numbers. Anyone can read a result sheet. But the stories behind those results, the hidden gems, and the tactical masterclasses that the masses miss? That’s where the magic happens. So grab a good cup of coffee, sit back, because the Pigeon Boss is taking you deep behind the scenes of the Fondunie 2000.
The Legacy of 2025: A Legendary Performance
As we look ahead to 2026, we cannot ignore last year’s battlefield. Pau 2025 was an edition for the true connoisseurs, marked by scorching heat well above 30 degrees and a punishing drop in speed. We watched as Jan Grootoonk from Bant left the entire nation speechless by claiming the 1st National with his wonder hen ‘Fleur’.
That is a massive achievement in its own right, but look at the details the mainstream media overlooked:
The Law of the Overflight: ‘Fleur’ covered a distance of no less than 1,144 kilometers. She snatched the victory while having to fly 190 kilometers further than the runner-up, A.J. Maljaars in Zoutelande , and 90 kilometers further than the 3rd place winner, Dick van Dam in Zegveld. That isn’t luck; that is pure, unadulterated class, deeply embedded in her genes, as she stems directly from the top lines of Koopman’s ‘Red Bullens’ and Jellema’s ‘Nicole’.
The Numbers You Won’t Read Anywhere Else
Everyone claims that Pau is a fair race, but the statistics of the Fondunie 2000 prove just how dominant this platform really is. Last year, 581 fanciers basketed no fewer than 3,239 pigeons for the Fondunie competition. That was over 90% of the entire Dutch bird population on Pau! If you want to talk about the morning release in the Netherlands, you simply cannot ignore this collective game.
And what about efficiency? While the giant marathon lofts try to flood the results with dozens of birds, like Batenburg-van de Merwe, who basketed 37 pigeons last year to take 10th National and swept the heavy ‘Heeft wie Heeft’ pool for 1,980.00 euros, the real fireworks often come from the small basket fanciers.
Just look at these statistical anomalies from last year:
Frans Heijnen from Susteren: Basketed 2 pigeons and clocked them both, winning the 35th and 229th prize. That is 100% prize under the most tropical conditions.
Duo De Groot-Leijen: With only 3 pigeons sent, they took 7th and 62nd national. Efficiency in its purest form!
Myron Mestrini from Beek: Basketed 5 pigeons and put 4 of them in the prizes, locking in an impressive 80% prize rate.
The Revolution of 2026: Digital Convenience from Your Easy Chair
And now we stand on the eve of Pau 2026. The board of the Fondunie has definitely not been sitting still this winter. This year, we are about to experience a digital revolution. No more fumbling with illegible betting sheets at the club, no more misunderstandings over handwritten numbers.
Thanks to our digital wizard Marten van Urk, we can now fill out the betting sheets entirely online starting this season. From the comfort of your own chair, you can select your pigeons, easily set up your S2 pairs, and with a single click, everything is sent directly and flawlessly into the system. For the men who still swear by the smell of paper: don’t panic, the paper forms are not going anywhere. But take it from the Pigeon Boss, this digital system is going to make the sport so much faster and more transparent.
What Can We Expect from Pau 2026?
The pigeons have plenty of kilometers in their wings by now. The top breeders paired up their racing teams early this year, the youngsters have been reared, and the motivation plans are locked and loaded. It promises to be an edition where the absolute elite of the Dutch marathon world will not give each other an inch.
Will it be another victory for the long distances in the Noordoostpolder, or will the breeding strategies of the Western and Southern lofts strike back with a vengeance this year? One thing is certain: the winner of Pau 2026 won’t just drive home with a prestigious trophy or a massive cash pot, but will enter the hall of fame of the all-time greats. And let’s not forget the traditions; who knows who will walk away this year with the seafood platters from Oromar , the famous cheese baskets , or the consolation prize of Leonidas chocolates for the very last clocking!
Keep Following the Strikers
Gents, the coming weeks on my website will be completely dedicated to the latest updates surrounding Pau 2026. I’ll be visiting the lofts, interviewing the favorites, and bringing you the sharpest analyses the moment the first birds drop. Make sure to bookmark this page, because you do not want to miss this live coverage.
Do you want your pigeons to be in the spotlight this year just like the champions of Jan Grootoonk or Verweij-de Haan? Do you want to bring the absolute top quality into your loft to push your colony to that coveted higher level? Keep an eye on the site. Behind the scenes, we are working on something very special that will give your performances the boost they deserve.
For now: sharpen your knives, take care of your warriors with true passion , and best of luck with the final preparations for basketing on June 15! We are going to make it an unforgettable spectacle.
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss
