On Saturday, June 14th, 2025, the Dutch pigeon sport witnessed yet another masterclass performance. In a challenging mid-distance race from Brienne La Vieille (358.857 km), released at 06:45 under warm and mildly overcast skies, it was Team vd Pasch that once again rose above the competition.
Against a strong field of 6671 pigeons from 446 fanciers, their top bird delivered a flawless race—bringing home the 1st Provincial Prize in Afdeling 4.
Lightning Fast: 1st Place with 1491.507 m/min
Clocking in at 10:45:06 AM, the winning pigeon (NL23-9442506V) flew with an average speed of 1491.507 m/min, finishing well ahead of the competition. But this was no isolated performance.
From just 28 pigeons entered, Team vd Pasch won 13 prizes—a stellar 46% prize ratio.
🏆 Top Positions:
1st, 19th, 106th, 247th, 290th, 420th, 563rd, 603rd, 796th, 1103rd, 1135th, 1600th, 1944th
This blend of early top positions and deep consistency is a testament to world-class breeding, training, and care.
👤 Remembering Jan van de Pasch: A Man, a Vision, a Legacy
Who in the European pigeon sport didn’t know Jan van de Pasch? Warm, always in for a laugh, and never too busy for a chat, Jan was not only a top fancier but also a beloved personality in both the Netherlands and abroad.
Sadly, Jan passed away in 2022. But his life's work—the pigeon colony he built over decades—lives on stronger than ever, thanks to his daughter Leanne and her partner Ricardo Bolhoeve.
And let’s be honest: if they had to pass an exam after 18 months of leadership, we can already say with confidence—they passed with flying colors.
🧬 The Formula: National Ace Pigeons & Winners' Mentality
What makes the vd Pasch loft so special? It’s not just results—it’s the winning mindset that’s been embedded in their pigeons through decades of unforgiving selection and smart breeding.
Jan’s philosophy was clear: always improve. He actively sought out partnerships with fanciers who were better than him—especially Willem de Bruijn, with whom he shared a deep mutual respect and several key breeding exchanges.
👉 This led to the creation of a super blend: The raw speed and intelligence of De Bruijn’s pigeons mixed with the robustness and character of the vd Pasch base line (descended from “Lowieke” of Janssen Bros Arendonk) created nothing less than a racing phenomenon.
💎 Bloodlines That Speak: “No Limit” and “Murphy’s Law”
Their most famous modern-day breeder is “No Limit” (NL21-1341212), a stunning blue hen who earned:
🥇 1st National Ace Pigeon Speed NPO 2022
🥇 1st Provincial Ace Pigeon Speed 2022
She is the daughter of “Jupiter” (a super breeder and sire to multiple national aces) and a direct daughter of Willem De Bruijn’s Olympic Hurricane.
Today, her descendants, along with offspring from Murphy’s Law, are dominating the loft and races—Brienne La Vieille being just the latest proof.
🏅 National Titles & Unmatched Achievements
If you ever visited Jan’s home, you probably saw his legendary trophy room. He was proud—rightfully so—of the ribbons, medals, and awards he had collected. That room could fill an entire house!
Here’s a small selection of what the vd Pasch family has achieved:
🏅 National Highlights – NPO / WHZB
2024
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2nd National Champion Speed Unassigned
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3rd, 6th, and 14th National Ace Pigeons Speed
2023
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3rd National Ace All-Round Yearlings
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5th, 7th, 8th, 10th, and 12th National Ace Pigeons in various categories
2022
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1st National Champion Sprint (Assigned & Unassigned)
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1st National Ace Pigeon Speed
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18x Olympic Pigeons bred on their own loft
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8x National Champion of the Netherlands
This isn’t just a résumé—it’s a living dynasty.
📊 Race Summary – Brienne La Vieille
- Distance: 358.857 km
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Release Time: 06:45 AM
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Weather: 25°C, light clouds, moderate SW wind
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Participants: 446 fanciers
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Total Pigeons: 6671
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Winning Speed: 1491.507 m/min
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Team vd Pasch: 13 prizes from 28 birds (46% prize ratio)
The Pigeon Bos Speaks: Insight + Passion = Results
The strength of Team vd Pasch lies not just in their pigeons, but in their philosophy. It's a legacy of humility, hard work, and smart breeding, something that Jan instilled, and Leanne and Ricardo now carry forward with conviction.
They don’t just race pigeons—they raise champions.
Until the next blog,
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss
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