On Saturday, May 31st, 2025, the mid-distance race from Chalons en Champagne (345 km) turned into a true display of power by the father-son duo W. Geurtz & Son from Haalderen, a small Dutch village nestled between Arnhem and Nijmegen.
In a field of 9,606 pigeons, it was their incredible hen NL20-1262915 “Beauty Esmee” who soared home first with a dazzling velocity of 1,446.709 m/min, winning 1st in Afdeling 8, and even 1st against 18,145 pigeons in the combined Afd. 8+9 result. This wasn’t just a victory. It was a statement.
👨👦 A Story of Two Generations – Built on Passion and Precision
The combination W. Geurtz & Son is made up of Willy (76) and his son William (37). Their story began decades ago, when Willy started racing pigeons back in 1966. In 1993, he achieved national fame by winning 1st National Bourges, marking the birth of the current combination.
William didn’t fall far from the tree. In his final year as a junior fancier (2005), he independently achieved 1st Unassigned and 2nd Assigned Champion among over 200 youth members in Afdeling 8. From 2007, father and son joined forces and made the bold decision to fully focus on the program races (100–700 km), leaving the overnight races behind.
A decision that paid off.
🧬 The Veenstra Foundation – “Special 364” & The #1 Couple
In 2008, a game-changing investment was made: “Special Veenstra 364”, a direct Pieter Veenstra cock (from brother “Da Vinci” x daughter “Mr. Blue”) was purchased online as a yearling.
It turned out to be the foundation of the entire colony.
Today, “Special 364” is the father or grandfather of over 50 1st prize winners, responsible for:
- 8x 1st Provincial
- 20x Top 10 Prov./NPO
- 6 National Acebird Rankings (1st, 6th, 14th, 15th, 36th, 43rd)
- Major OLR successes in Portugal, Taiwan, and China
In fact, over 75% of all racing and breeding pigeons at their loft descend directly from him.
His best son, “Veenstra 413”, is now the key breeder – a 4x 1st prize winner with 28x top 10 positions and 2nd NPO Chateauroux vs. 5,623 pigeons. But what truly defines him is his pairing with “Daughter Lady Guusje” from Will & Falco Ebben. Together, they’ve produced:
💥 Over 10 different 1st prize winners
At the loft in Haalderen, this duo is simply known as “The #1 Couple.”
🔥 Strength Through Synergy: Will & Falco Ebben + Proven Investments
W. Geurtz & Son are proud to be an official satellite loft of Will & Falco Ebben, one of the most respected small lofts in the Netherlands. Their best pigeons were crossed into the Veenstra line – and the results are clear: Grand Prix victories, multiple provincial wins, and consistent top-tier performances in Afdeling 8.
But the ambition didn’t stop there…
🔍 Always striving to improve, they invested in elite breeding stock such as:
- “Judith” (Peter Janßen):
3rd Nat. Ace Old Pigeons (2022),
10th Nat. Mid-Distance,
1st Prov. Burdinne vs. 26,388 d.,
3rd Prov. Chalons & Champagne vs. 10,871 d.,
19x Top 1% - “Alicia” and “Armindo” (Comb. Lokhorst):
Top National Acepigeons (PIPA), both 2x Top 10 NPO/Prov. - Direct descendants of “National Harry” (J. & F. Hendriks):
World Champion FCI Long Distance 2019,
1st Nat. Chateauroux, 2nd Nat. Argenton, etc.
All of these were strategically crossed into the Veenstra-Ebben foundation, raising the bar even higher.
💎 “Beauty Esmee” – Pure Power, Perfectly Bred
The winning hen “Beauty Esmee” is the embodiment of the Haalderen breeding vision.
✅ 22x Top 10 Club
✅ 40x Top 10%
✅ Multiple 1st prizes
✅ 4x linebred to founding dam “Beauty Esmee”
She’s the daughter of “Son Supercouple” (from the J.H. Hak loft) and “Esmee’s 760” – both rooted in multiple national champions. Her pedigree includes bloodlines from:
- Braad-de Joode
- Tj. & J. Elzinga
- G. & S. Verkerk
- Pieter Veenstra
- G. Koopman
- Will & Falco Ebben
No surprise that “Beauty Esmee” stormed home to win against over 18,000 pigeons. She wasn’t lucky. She was born for it.
📊 Race Summary – Chalons en Champagne
- Liberation Site: Chalons en Champagne (France)
- Liberation Time: 08:00 AM
- Distance to Haalderen: 345.5 km
- Weather: Calm and clear – ideal for racing
- Total Entries (Afdeling 8): 9,606
- Combined Afd. 8+9: 18,145 pigeons
- Winning Speed: 1,446.709 m/min
- Pigeons Entered by Geurtz: 18
- Prizes Won: 14 (Prize Ratio: 77.8%)
💬 Final Thoughts From The Boss: This Is No Coincidence
Behind every top result is a deeper truth.
The victory of “Beauty Esmee” is not a flash in the pan – it is the product of decades of hard work, selective breeding, and uncompromising standards. It is the reflection of two generations who live and breathe the sport.
From National Bourges 1993 to Chalons en Champagne 2025... this is what it looks like when history, strategy, and talent align.
🔥 The name is W. Geurtz & Son. And they’re only getting started.
Until the next blog,
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss
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