1st National Pau – 3,281 old birds | A story of excellence, pedigree and ambition
The first international marathon of 2025 delivered fireworks. And no one shone brighter than Jan Grootoonk from Bant, who claimed 1st National Pau with his brilliant hen FLEUR — a petite powerhouse with pedigree, performance and purpose.
Meet “FLEUR” – Tiny in size, massive in heart
Winning hen NL22-8100806 now proudly carries the name FLEUR, in honor of the daughter of Jan’s close friend Henderikus Ruiter and his partner Corina Prins.
Her sire, NL20-1093781, is a direct son of two Koopman pigeons, intensely inbred on the legendary Aristos and Noël, both national ace pigeons and sons of Red Bullens. This side of the pedigree is loaded with national performances including 2x 26th NPO Cahors, 41st NPO Ruffec and 89th NPO Bergerac.
Her dam, NL15-1321167 “Nicole”, is a direct daughter of Jelle Jellema’s most iconic lines, including Romee, Julia, Kiara, and the Bergerac cock. Nicole herself produced multiple NPO winners, including:
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3rd NPO Limoges
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17th NPO Perigueux
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23rd NPO Orange
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64th NPO Ruffec
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81st NPO Ruffec
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89th NPO Bergerac
FLEUR combines the best of Koopman power and Jellema endurance, wrapped in a small, elegant hen with silky feathers and an unusually long wing — a physical trait Jan highly values in marathon pigeons.
Already as a yearling she impressed:
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🥈 26th NPO Cahors
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🥉 89th NPO Bergerac
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🎯 814th Nat. Pau 2024
And now in 2025, she rose to the absolute top:
1st National Pau – 1,144.56 km – 871.87 m/min
A season of unstoppable form
Jan Grootoonk is not just having a great race — he’s having a dream season. Weeks earlier, he captured 1st Ruffec (859 km) in Afdeling 11 against 2,183 birds, again with multiple early prizes.
On Pau:
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🕊️ 26 pigeons entered
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🏅 8 national prizes
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🎯 Also clocked 68th, 328th, 645th, 953rd, 959th, 996th and 1018th National Pau
This is not a one-bird wonder. This is an elite team performing under pressure — and Jan’s system, selection, and care are clearly paying off.
National Top 10 – a star-studded leaderboard
Behind Jan’s brilliant win, the top 10 featured many of the biggest names in Dutch long-distance racing:
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A.J. Maljaars (Zoutelande) – 2nd
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D. van Dam, Comb. Seelen, and Jan Polder — who clocked three top-100 positions
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Batenburg-v.d.-Merwe showcasing depth and consistency
Pau 2025 was a classic marathon — tough, honest, and selective — and the best clearly rose to the top.
Pau 2025 Snapshot
- 📍 Liberation: Friday, June 20, 07:00 – Pau, France
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🐦 Old birds entered (Netherlands): 3,503
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🥇 Distance: 1,144.56 km
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⏱️ Winning time: Saturday, June 21, 10:52:46 CEST
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🏁 Speed: 871.87 m/min
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🌤️ Weather: Warm, clear skies, variable wind
✨ Final thoughts From The Pigeon Boss
“FLEUR” is not just a racing pigeon. She’s a symbol of partnership, pedigree, and preparation. She’s proof that when passion meets precision, greatness follows.
Untill the next blog,
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss
Jan Grootoonk Claims Victory in Ruffec 2025 – A Marathon Masterclass in Afdeling 11
On June 8th, 2025, 2,258 pigeons were released at 3:00 PM in Ruffec, France, for a challenging NPO long-distance race in Afdeling 11 (Friesland). Clear skies, warm conditions, and a light north wind set the stage for an overnight battle of stamina and orientation. And true to form, it was Jan Grootoonk from Bant who stole the spotlight again.
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