When the true titans of marathon pigeon racing rise, the entire pigeon world shakes. Last weekend, it finally happened. The absolute Queen’s Cup race from St. Vincent was on the program, the magical classic that gives every serious long distance flyer sleepless nights all year round. And who seized absolute, undisputed power? Jan van Keulen from Asten, Brabant. With pure bravado, an unmatched passion, and a pigeon that flew faster than the shadow of the night, he snatched the 1st National right from under the noses of the entire Netherlands. This is not just a victory; this is a pure masterclass that puts the spotlight firmly on the legendary performance of the van Keulen Pigeons.
Nighttime Obsession at 1,010 Kilometers
Friday morning at exactly 11:00 AM, the birds were released in St. Vincent. What followed was a grueling journey of over a thousand kilometers across a punishing flight line. The weather conditions along the way forced these elite athletes to their absolute limits. While the rest of the Netherlands was fast asleep, Jan van Keulen was waiting. And how! In the dead of night, at exactly 00:49 AM, a streak of lightning flashed over the rooftops of Asten. Clocked at an astronomical distance of 1,010 kilometers.
The figures that this blue widower cock put on the charts are out of this world. With a calculated speed of no less than 1,889 meters per minute, he left the entire national elite staring at his tail feathers. The runner-up in the rankings, George Looijen from Dodewaard, fell short by a whopping 3 minutes and 40 seconds to dethrone Jan. Ton Willems from Balgoy claimed the bronze but quickly had to concede 7 minutes to the powerhouse from Asten.
Just look at the incredible efficiency of Jan van Keulen on this race. He basketed only 4 pigeons and casually walked away with 3 fat prizes in the national rankings. That is a 75% success rate on one of the toughest races of the year! With this, he proves that the sport is alive and kicking, and that the sheer quality of the van Keulen Pigeons always beats out the masses.
International Pau, liberated at 08:45, Good luck to all!
The Gold of Someren and Unstoppable Passion
Behind this historic victory lies a beautiful story of passion and camaraderie. Jan van Keulen has had racing pigeons in his blood since his early youth. After a brief hiatus to find his own human hen, he has been an unstoppable force on the charts since 1971. Jan has delivered legendary performances in the past. Just think of his iconic ‘Chebet’, who was crowned 1st National Ace Pigeon Barcelona over 4 years and secured the 5th National Barcelona.
After a tough period dealing with serious illness, during which the sport was forced onto the back burner, Jan fought his way back in an inspiring way starting in 2020. The rebuild of his colony reached its absolute peak last weekend, ensuring that van Keulen Pigeons are once again the talk of the town worldwide.
The winning cock is a story of its own. This blue crack was bred by the well-known Van Doorn Brothers from neighboring Someren. Jan was invited to pick him out himself back then among the young talents, and that sharp eye for top quality has paid off big time. The gene pool of this winner is soaked in the noble Van der Wegen blood with a touch of Jan Theelen through the sire, who himself won 98th National Barcelona. The dam is a beautiful blue hen out of a cock from John Vullers and Son, paired with a rock-solid Van der Wegen hen. This is marathon blood of the absolute purest kind.
The Success Formula of the Mastermind from Asten
Anyone who thinks you need complicated hocus-pocus for a national victory like this is dead wrong. Jan van Keulen swears by pure, traditional widowhood with 26 cocks. The birds are paired up in April, intentionally do not raise any youngsters, but go straight onto widowhood after a short brooding period. Five sprint and middle distance races served as the perfect warm-ups for the heavy lifting.
The management is tight and focused on natural power. The athletes receive high-quality feed from the premium brand Van Robaeys, with the energy-rich Revolution line forming the base during the season. This is topped with Perform-oil for those essential extra fat reserves and a brilliant shine on the feathers. Medical guidance is kept to a minimum with a quick vet check before the season starts, and from there on out, Jan relies blindly on natural products.
The result? A winning pigeon that was so incredibly alert and fiery in the loft in the days leading up to basketing that Jan already knew something spectacular was in the air. A trademark trait that makes the van Keulen Pigeons so uniquely gifted.
Enjoyment with a Capital E
The racing season means getting up early for Jan. At exactly 7:15 AM, his widowers cut legendary lines into the morning sky above his 18-meter-long lofts. By around ten o’clock, all the chores are done. Then it is time for rest, a cup of coffee, and the newspaper. Jan van Keulen enjoys the sport intensely, and with this fabulous victory, he proves that an absolute love for the bird and belief in your own skills leads to the highest sporting peaks. Jan, the entire editorial team at PigeonBoss.com tips their hat to you. This was a masterclass in marathon flying with the unbeatable van Keulen Pigeons!
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss
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