Reeuwijk, June 28, 2025 – What unfolded this past Saturday in Section 5 was nothing short of extraordinary. With a massive 9,138 pigeons released under ideal conditions, one fancier dominated like never before: Comb. van Leeuwen & Son from Reeuwijk. A full-throttle demonstration of precision, preparation, and raw pigeon power.
This wasn’t luck. This was the result of a loft firing on all cylinders – a family fully devoted to the art and science of pigeon racing.
🥇 One Bird, One Statement: “The 014” Strikes Like a Missile
Their winning hen, NL23-9316014, affectionately nicknamed “The 014”, tore across the 340.351 km course at 1,595.274 m/min and smashed the clock at 11:03:21. The result? 1st place vs. 9,138 pigeons – and notably, the only pigeon to clock above 1,595 m/min in the entire race!
No coincidence. No fluke. Just a performance that screamed: “I was born to win.”
🧬 “Miss May” – Interprovincial Winner from a Dynasty of Champions
The remarkable hen NL23-9316014, now officially named “Miss May”, is far more than just a 1st prize winner – she is the living embodiment of elite pigeon genetics. She not only claimed 1st Pont St. Maxence vs. 1,153 pigeons in her own section but also triumphed 1st Interprovincial vs. 4,506 pigeons (combining Section 5 and 6). Her pedigree is a masterclass in modern racing excellence. On her sire’s side, she descends from “Grdson Floris Junior”, a direct son of W.A. de Bruijn’s legendary “Anthony” x “Miss Long/Miss May” – a pair responsible for numerous NPO top prizes. Her dam, “Queen B” from G. & S. Verkerk, is an Olympiad hen and the dam of top breeders like “Anthony”. Queen B herself was a racing powerhouse, excelling in major events such as Pontoise, Niergnies, Morlincourt, and Châteauroux. Packed with national ace pigeons, Olympiad performers, and proven DNA-certified bloodlines, “Miss May” was born to win – and she's doing exactly that.
💣 Devastation Across the Rankings: 27 of 30 in the Prizes!
One 1st prize is fantastic. But Comb. van Leeuwen & Son didn’t stop there. They launched a full-scale assault on the race sheet:
- 27 prizes out of 30 entries
- 90% prize rate
- Multiple birds deep in the result:
- 1st, 50th, 83rd, 122nd, 193rd, 245th, 318th, 381st, 396th...
This wasn’t just a win. This was a message.
🧬 A Lifelong Winner – From Youth Champion to National Force
Playing in Reeuwijk – the Monaco of pigeon racing – means facing legends like Willem de Bruijn and Gerard & Bas Verkerk every week. And guess what? Evert van Leeuwen regularly beats them.
At just 44 years old, Evert races with his wife Johanna and son Evert Jr., forming a close-knit and high-performing family team. Despite a full-time career as an independent painter, Evert maintains a race team in peak form. Pigeons aren’t his hobby – they are his way of life.
🧬 Powered by Legends: Verkerk, de Bruijn & the Late Dirk Van Dijck
The foundation of Comb. van Leeuwen & Son is built on the very best bloodlines the sport has to offer. Their colony is powered by direct pigeons from none other than G. & S. Verkerk, W.A. de Bruijn, and the late Dirk Van Dijck – names that have shaped the global pigeon racing landscape for decades. These legendary lofts are known for their explosive speed, exceptional consistency, and championship DNA. By blending these top genetics with their own sharp selection, the van Leeuwen family has created a colony that can not only compete with but often outperform the very champions they descend from. Their results are proof: when elite bloodlines meet elite care, magic happens.
👑 Evert van Leeuwen: The Silent Giant of Reeuwijk
Evert’s journey began early. In 1994, he became the Dutch Youth Champion. In 1995, he owned the Top 3 Young Birds in the Netherlands. When living in Section 7, he won 2nd, 4th, and 28th NPO Bergerac – and clocked the fastest 3 birds in the region.
After moving to Reeuwijk, he only got stronger. His name now frequently appears in PIPA Rankings, the Golden Pigeon, and TBOTB. This is a fancier whose success comes from deep knowledge, intense passion, and laser-sharp execution.
🐦 "The 014” – A Hen with Winning DNA
While her full pedigree hasn't been made public (yet), word is already spreading: “The 014” is bred from performance royalty. The kind of bloodlines that consistently deliver NPO wins and national aces. What’s clear is this: she’s not a one-hit wonder. She’s a future star.
📊 Race Recap: Key Figures from Pont Saint Maxence
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Race: Pont Saint Maxence (M26)
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Date: June 28, 2025
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Release Time: 07:30 CET
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Distance for Winner: 340.351 km
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Speed: 1,595.274 m/min
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Weather: Partly cloudy, moderate southwest wind, 20°C
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Pigeons in Competition: 9,138
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Fanciers Participating: 672
🚀 Final Word: This Is Champions League-Level Pigeon Racing
What Comb. van Leeuwen & Son delivered here isn’t just a top result. It’s a blueprint for modern pigeon racing success. Top genetics, world-class care, sharp race management, and the nerve to perform under pressure.
Pigeon racing is alive and well – and in Reeuwijk, the heart of the sport is beating louder than ever.
Until the next blog,
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss
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