Châteaudun 2025 will go down in the books! The fanciers Derksen & van de Keuken from Almelo once again proved why they are considered among the finest one-day long distance specialists in the Netherlands. In a tough mid-distance race from Châteaudun (607.5 km), with 3,586 pigeons competing from 394 fanciers, they achieved a sensational result: 1st, 2nd, 4th and 9th positions, plus 23 prizes from 39 entries, resulting in an outstanding 58.97% prize ratio.
NL22-8124532: The Queen of Châteaudun Strikes Again
The race was won by the blue hen NL22-8124532, clocked at 14:41:57 with an average speed of 1511.504 m/min. “The Champion One Day Long Distance FUT 2024” This top hen proved herself to be a true star on the one-day long distance races in 2024.
A pigeon with stamina, determination, and—above all—outstanding results!
✨ Top results:
1st NPO Châteaudun against 3,553 pigeons
6th Bierges against 824 pigeons
7th Marche against 1,143 pigeons
19th Issoudun against 2,851 pigeons
22nd Issoudun against 3,076 pigeons
She descends from a proven golden pair:
Sire: NL20-1135459 – sire of several NPO winners
Dam: NL20-1135323 – mother 1st & 4th NPO Châteaudun and dam of day-long distance ace “532”
Head-Turning Result List
Aside from the 1st prize, they secured:
- 🥈 2nd – 4-8115162
- 🎯 4th – 4-8115147
- 🏅 9th – 4-8115154
- and more: 17th, 26th, 28th, 50th, 64th, 67th, 120th, 141st, up to 1066th!
23 prizes from 39 birds = 58.97% prize percentage
Top-end performance combined with remarkable loft depth.
System, Care & Loft Setup: Built for Results
Anthony Derksen & Edwin van de Keuken are not only top fanciers but also brothers-in-law. Their joint passion? One-day long distance racing — their favorite discipline, where they’ve excelled for years.
- 🕊️ Racing with about 48 pairs on total widowhood (both cocks and hens)
- ☀️ Morning: hens train at 6:00, cocks follow at 7:00
- 🌆 Evening: cocks train at 17:00, hens afterwards
- 🕶️ Birds are darkened 12 hours per day until 4 weeks before the first one-day race
- 🧬 Around 30 breeding pairs are housed at Anthony’s loft
- 🐣 Each year, approx. 150 youngsters are bred for their own team
- 📈 Toward the end of the season, more emphasis is placed on racing hens only
This disciplined and structured approach is the foundation of their ongoing success.
2024: A Season of Crowns, Trophies, and Marya
National titles:
- 🏆 1st National Champion One-Day Long Distance NPO/WHZB/TBOTB 2023
- 🥉 23rd National Champion Day Fond Unnominated NPO 2024
- 🏅 13th National Champion Day Fond Nominated NPO 2024
- 🔟 10th Best Fancier Nominated NPO 2024
- 🥈 13th National Ace Pigeon Allround NPO 2024
- 🏅 11th National Ace Pigeon One-Day Fond NPO 2022
Olympiad achievements:
- 🥈 2nd Dutch Olympiad Pigeon Maastricht 2023 – Cat. I Long Distance
- 🥇 1st Dutch Olympiad Pigeon Oradea 2020-2021 – Cat. B Middle Distance
- 🥇 1st Dutch Olympiad Pigeon Oradea 2020-2021 – Cat. H Old Birds
- 🥈 2nd Dutch Olympiad Pigeon Oradea 2020-2021 – Cat. D All Round
- 🥇 1st Dutch Olympiad Pigeon Oradea 2019-2020 – Cat. H Old Birds
- 🥈 2nd Dutch Olympiad Pigeon Oradea 2019-2020 – Cat. I Long Distance
The results speak for themselves — a loft that shines at both national and international levels.
Race Summary – Châteaudun, 9 June 2025
- 📍 Liberation site: Châteaudun
- 📅 Date: 9 June 2025
- 🕗 Release time: 08:00
- 🌤️ Conditions: Clear skies, 15°C, light SW wind
- 🕊️ Birds in competition: 3,586
- 👥 Fanciers participating: 394
- 🛫 Distance: 607.5 km
- 🚀 Winning speed: 1511.504 m/min
- 🏅 Derksen & van de Keuken's result: 23/39 prizes – 58.97%
The Pigeon Boss Says:
Derksen & van de Keuken don’t just race — they dominate. With a structured system, razor-sharp care, and a deep focus on breeding from performance, they’ve built one of the most respected racing teams in Europe. From 8124532 to Marya, from Châteaudun to Oradea — this loft is pure class, pure consistency, and pure love for the sport.
Until the next blog,
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss
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