A Generous Gift of a Champion
In 2023, DuijvesteinHattem welcomed a remarkable addition to their loft: two late-bred female pigeons, gifted by none other than Coen van Haarlem. But these weren’t just any pigeons—they carried the bloodlines of greatness. One hailed from the 7th National Barcelona, a race synonymous with endurance and prestige, while the other traced back to the 6th National Agen, a testament to speed and resilience.

The generosity of Coen van Haarlem marked a pivotal moment for DuijvesteinHattem. With these two young hens, they gained access to an elite genetic pool, promising a future of thrilling races and potential champions.

As the pigeons settled into their new home, the team began planning how best to weave these stellar bloodlines into their breeding program. Could these two hens become the foundation of a new dynasty? Only time would tell, but hopes were high.

Coen’s gift wasn’t just a gesture of friendship—it was an investment in the shared dream of pushing the limits in pigeon racing. With these extraordinary hens now part of their loft, the future at DuijvesteinHattem gleamed with endless possibilities.

Preparation and the Winning Pigeon: In preparation for Barcelona, the pigeon with ring number 14-1710772 underwent several training flights covering over 4000 km. These included two flights from Chevrainvilliers (approximately 500 km each), two from Pt. St.Maxence (395 km each), all with one-night basketing. The pigeon had also participated in the first overnight race from Limoges on 7-8-9, where it secured the 7th NPO Limoges in Department 9. The following Saturday, it was already flying in a mid-distance race of 300 km. This rigorous training routine, including additional midweek releases from Geel via the Giesbeek club, ensured that the pigeons were in top condition. The pigeons were provided with ample energy and fat-rich supplements during the ZLU season, and a veterinarian had not been visited for years. Individual preventive medication using yellow and/or ornithosis pills was the norm.

Pedigree of 14-1710772: The father of ‘772’ is a son of Coen’s super breeder ‘son Yes 66.’ This breeder has consistently produced excellent racing pigeons for several generations. The ‘Super breeder’ is the father, grandfather, and great-grandfather of numerous top-performing pigeons, including 1st NPO Brive, 2nd best yearling in Europe, 5th, 21st, 32nd, 90th national Orange, 5th NPO Cahors, 12th national Narbonne, 7th Int. Narbonne (jr), fastest yearling Perpignan (62nd national ZLU), and more. The dam side shows that the super breeder was paired with a descendant of the Diplomaat from Noel Peiren. Coen’s friend, Theo Reuther from Arnsberg, acquired this pigeon from Noel Peiren, and Coen used it for joint breeding to produce the sire of the Barcelona winner.

Conclusion: Congratulations once again to Coen and Marc on their early pigeons and the fantastic victory. It is well-deserved considering the dedicated years you have invested in pigeon racing. You have consistently demonstrated that through strict selection and extensive training, your pigeons can handle the long distances, even under challenging conditions.