There is a moment every fancier knows. The first pigeon drops, the clock starts, and suddenly the sky above the loft comes alive.
That was the scene in Den Bosch when van Oss Pigeons returned from Lorris. One pigeon became five, five became eleven, and the final result showed 30 prizes from 65 entries.
Lorris did not produce a first prize for van Oss Pigeons. There is no need to pretend otherwise. What it produced was something every serious competitor values: proof that quality runs through the entire racing team.
A Fast Race from Lorris
On Saturday, Aug 29, 2026, 2,714 pigeons from 182 fanciers were released from Lorris at 07:50.
The official result recorded light clouds, a temperature of 17 degrees and a very weak southwest wind at force 1. The van Oss Pigeons had to cover 468.234 kilometres to reach their loft in Den Bosch.
Their first arrival was clocked at 12:24:01. With a velocity of 1,708.789 metres per minute, this pigeon secured 32nd prize.
A strong opening, but the real spectacle was still coming.
The next four van Oss Pigeons arrived between 12:25:33 and 12:25:37. They claimed 42nd, 43rd, 44th and 45th prize.
– Four consecutive positions.
– Five pigeons among the first 45.
– All five home within 96 seconds.
That is the kind of arrival that changes the atmosphere around a loft in an instant.
The Statistics Behind the Performance
The early series from Lorris deserves a closer look because the numbers reveal more than the first position alone.
Van Oss Pigeons occupied five of the first 45 places. In other words, more than 11% of all positions inside the first 45 belonged to one loft.
Seven pigeons were clocked within 4 minutes and 16 seconds of the first arrival. Eleven were home within exactly ten minutes.
The complete prize series was recorded within 47 minutes and 20 seconds.
From 65 basketed pigeons, 30 won a prize. That produced a prize percentage of 46.15%.
These were the 30 official positions:
32nd, 42nd, 43rd, 44th, 45th, 74th, 75th, 123rd, 126th, 156th, 160th, 246th, 252nd, 269th, 275th, 277th, 312th, 331st, 386th, 460th, 464th, 480th, 483rd, 589th, 613th, 614th, 646th, 743rd, 746th and 825th.
The first van Oss pigeon finished inside the best 1.18% of the entire field. More importantly, it received immediate support from four loftmates.
One early pigeon wins attention. A compact team performance earns respect.
Three Highlights from a Magnificent 2026 Season
The Lorris result fits naturally into an impressive campaign for van Oss Pigeons. Irving and Erik have already produced several performances that belong at championship level.
1st NPO Saint Soupplets Against 18,841 Pigeons
Winning an NPO race against 18,841 pigeons is elite performance in its purest form.
The winning hen was entered as the first nominated pigeon. That detail matters. It shows that the team recognised her condition, trusted her quality and had the confidence to place her at the front of the list.
1st and 10th Provincial Sens Against 7,816 Pigeons
The provincial race from Sens delivered one of the most beautiful stories of the season.
Van Oss Pigeons won 1st and 10th Provincial against 7,816 pigeons with two full sisters. Two daughters from the same breeding pair reached the provincial top ten on the same day.
That is not simply a racing result. It is a powerful endorsement of the breeding loft.
1st and 2nd Provincial Chateauroux Against 4,353 Pigeons
Chateauroux demanded a completely different type of athlete, yet the answer from Den Bosch was just as impressive.
Van Oss Pigeons won 1st and 2nd Provincial against 4,353 pigeons. On the national result, the same two racers claimed 11th and 13th against 36,386 pigeons.
The team basketed 58 pigeons and won 43 prizes, producing a prize percentage of approximately 74%.
Speed, middle distance and demanding one day long distance racing. The van Oss Pigeons have shown their class across the complete programme.
The System Behind van Oss Pigeons
Irving and Erik concentrate on middle distance, one day long distance and young bird racing. Their system is built around strict selection, careful preparation and a breeding loft filled with proven performance pigeons.
This approach has been developed over many seasons. In 2019, Team van Oss was crowned 1st National Champion One Day Long Distance Nominated NPO.
The names behind the modern colony carry real sporting weight. Olympic Yoni, Gebroken Poot, Blue Rum and Dream Artus are not present merely to decorate pedigrees. Their descendants are expected to perform.
Olympic Yoni became 1st National Ace Pigeon Allround WHZB and TBOTB in 2021. She was also twice crowned 1st Provincial Ace Pigeon Allround.
Blue Rum became the sire of the NPO Saint Soupplets winner against 18,841 pigeons. That is how breeding value should be measured: through results in the next generation.
Proven References Before the Auction Season
With the next auction season approaching, international fanciers will be watching van Oss Pigeons with serious interest.
A direct son of Dream Artus performed at the front of the Afrika Pro competition in 2025. He won 4th in the 508 kilometre semifinal against 1,775 pigeons after previously claiming 5th against 2,091 pigeons and 11th against 2,550 pigeons.
Another outstanding reference is New Kyann, bred through the collaboration between Comb. Mevr. Snellen en Zoon and Team van Oss. New Kyann won 1st National Sector 1 Issoudun against 9,464 pigeons and finished 4th National against 32,812 pigeons.
These are the references that matter when evaluating pigeons for racing or breeding. Performance at the home loft is essential. Successful descendants and collaborations provide the next layer of proof.
van Oss Pigeons Keep Moving Forward
Lorris was not about one superstar arriving far ahead of the team. It was about pigeons returning in waves and filling the result sheet with unmistakable quality.
Five among the first 45. Four consecutive prizes. Eleven pigeons inside ten minutes. Thirty prizes from 65 entries.
That is a loft in form.
Van Oss Pigeons continue to combine national victories, provincial dominance, international references and a racing team with serious depth. The next auction season will bring these bloodlines into focus, but the strongest promotion is already happening in the sky.
Den Bosch can be proud. The competition has been warned. And the pigeon sport has another powerful performance to celebrate.
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss
