If you’re one of the loyal readers of my newsletter, you already knew: I sat this one out last week. No racing pigeons entered, no stress at the loft, no staring at the clock. Just... a break.
The reason? A little health scare. A minor TIA and some heart issues reminded me – quite abruptly – how fragile we humans really are.
And yes, that hits home.
Because no matter how tough we act, how loud we talk, or how deeply we love pigeon racing – sometimes life pulls the emergency brake. My mind wasn’t with the birds, and that says a lot.
Looking back... maybe I was lucky after all.
Saturday’s race turned out to be tough. Only 210 kilometers, but with an unpredictable eastern wind that kept shifting, it became a real challenge for the pigeons.
Although the losses weren’t too bad, many birds were clearly struggling. Searching for hours, recalculating their route – it’s no easy task.
Now, I know some long-distance fans consider such races as “perfect training.” But I respectfully disagree. Our pigeons are living athletes, not machines. These kinds of flights can take a mental toll, and in the build-up to the real marathon races, I believe it’s far better to avoid unnecessary stress.
So yes – I’m glad my pigeons stayed home.
As for the results without my birds in the mix:
🥇 1st place – Marcel van der Helm
🥈 2nd place – Ton Combrink
🥉 3rd place – Koster & Sommeling
With four fanciers and 183 pigeons in the race, the honors were nicely divided. Congrats to these top flyers! Though… they might’ve had a bit of luck with Pigeon Boss watching from the sidelines this week 😄
All jokes aside – each week brings us closer to the race that really matters to me this season. The tension is building. And if my health keeps steady, I’ll be back in the game next week, stronger than ever.
Until then, take care. Appreciate life, cherish the small joys, and always look after yourself – and your pigeons!
With gratitude and passion for the sport,
Jan de Wijs
Pigeon Boss
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