There are mornings in the loft that feel like any other. The rustling of wings, the quiet cooing, the light shifting through the air like a soft whisper. And then there are mornings that change everything.
This was one of those: I leaned over the nest bowl, just like I’ve done a thousand times before. But the moment I saw him — still warm from hatching, nestled against the straw like he already belonged to something bigger — I knew.
This one was different: I called him Astro. Ring number NL.24-8362458, if you’re keeping track. But to me, he became known by another name: the eighth brother. The eighth in a very deliberate line. One pair. One goal. One race: Barcelona.
The Dream That Burns Brighter Than Ever
You can’t really explain Barcelona to someone outside the sport. You have to feel it. It’s more than a city on a map — it’s a finish line that lives in our hearts. It’s the toughest race in the world. Nearly 1,200 kilometers from the scorching Spanish coast to our quiet little corner in Delft.
It’s not a race you win by accident. You don’t bluff your way into the Barcelona results. You earn your spot.
And I’ve got just one dream in this sport. Not ten, not three. Just one. To win the race of all races. To win Barcelona.
That’s why Astro matters so much.
From Loss to Legacy
Earlier this year, I lost NOVA, my first pigeon in this journey. It hit hard. She wasn’t just a bird — she was the beginning. But when you’re chasing something like Barcelona, there’s no room to give up.
So I kept going. Now, with Astro, the team is whole again. Eight siblings. All bred from the same pair: Genesis x Vanguard.
Not because it’s easy. But because I believe.
A Pair with Purpose
These aren’t just good pigeons. They’re built for Barcelona.
NL.20-1417022 "Genesis", the cock, is the son of Lady Barca — and if you know long-distance racing, you know that name: 42nd, 60th, and 743rd National Barcelona. Two years. Two races. Two top results and a nice one! No flukes. Just facts
NL.16-1833870 "Vanguard", now 9 years old, is a battle-tested hen with a resume many dream of:
- 3rd National St. Vincent
- 105th National Pau
She still lays like she’s five. Still sharp. Still strong. And her mother? “Bo”, who won 1st National Bergerac. Real performance. Proven grit.
When I paired Genesis and Vanguard, I wasn’t experimenting. I was starting a mission.
Ten to Fifteen Brothers and Sisters — One Goal
With Astro, the project grows stronger. He’s number eight in a team that will one day be ten. Ten full siblings, all trained, tested, and prepared for one thing only: Barcelona 2027 or 2028.
No distractions. No dilution.
Just laser-sharp focus on one of the hardest things you can do in this sport:
Send a team of your own making to Barcelona… and bring them home.
A Quiet Fire That Won’t Go Out
People sometimes smile when I tell them I use old rings, or that I’m only breeding from one pair. But what they don’t see is the plan behind every move. The patience. The fire that never quite dies out.
NL.24-8362458 “Astro” isn’t just a pigeon.
He’s a part of something I’ve been building with my heart, year after year. He’s the quiet continuation of a dream I won’t let go. And maybe, just maybe, he’ll be the one to carry it across the finish line in Barcelona.
For the Love of the Sport
This isn’t just about winning. It’s about showing what’s possible when you dare to believe in your own vision. The One Pair Barcelona Challenge is more than a project. It’s a tribute — to planning, patience, and passion. And Astro? He’s the heartbeat of that tribute.
So here we are. Eight brothers andsisters in the loft. A dream that’s still alive. And the race of all races waiting just over the horizon.
Will you meet me there? Will you try to take the crown?
I hope so. Because when we do battle over Barcelona, it won’t just be about birds. It’ll be about legacy. About belief. And about who dared to chase the impossible.
I will keep you all posted!
Jan de Wijs
The Real Pigeon Boss
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