Saturday morning, 08:00 AM. 4,168 pigeons from district 5 "South Holland” are released from Orléans, France, for a race of just over 520 kilometers to the Dutch province of Zuid-Holland. Conditions are ideal: clear skies, a light headwind, and summer heat. On paper, it’s a fair mid-distance race. But what followed was not a battle.
It was a demonstration. A masterclass. A statement. They also win 1st NPO Sector 2 against 6.019 pigeons and 4th National against nothing less than 9.995 pigeons.
And it came from one loft only: Gerard & Bas Verkerk of Reeuwijk.
💥 Verkerk’s performance: a storm no one could stop
Early returns started coming in. Verkerk. Verkerk. Verkerk again. One after another. The first pigeon clocked a blazing speed of 1,475.997 m/min. But that was only the beginning.
A full wave of Verkerk birds followed — not a few, not a dozen, but a dominating fleet of early arrivals.
Out of 82 birds entered, they scored 71 prizes. A jaw-dropping 86.6% prize rate, with at least 17 pigeons in the top 20 and over 30 in the top 100.
- They didn’t just win the race.
- They owned it.
🧬 “George”: born from a dynasty of champions
The winning pigeon “George” (NL 24-8413553 V) is a textbook example of precision breeding. He is a son of “Marvin”, a direct son of the legendary Eye Catcher — herself a full sister to Olympic Solange. While Marvin did not race himself, his children have shown exceptional performance in tough provincial competition, underlining the strength of his genetic power.
On the dam’s side, George is out of Laetitia, one of the finest racing hens to ever grace the Verkerk loft: 1st National Ace pigeon Yearlings, 3rd National Ace Allround, and winner of multiple top prizes across the hardest races. Behind her, we see names like Katja, Milo, Olympic Survivor, Magic Amore — all birds that have earned their place in the Verkerk hall of fame.
George didn’t just win Orléans — he confirmed the promise of generations of champions behind him.
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This isn’t just a pigeon that won a race.
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This is a pigeon bred to win races — again and again.
And on 3 August 2025, George delivered exactly what his pedigree promised: domination.
🧠 What’s the secret? No secret – just relentless excellence
Gerard and Bas Verkerk have spent decades building a system of precision. From breeding to feeding, training to recovery — everything is based on structure, discipline, and a deep understanding of their pigeons.
This isn’t about hype. This is about results. No fads, no fluff — just a pure drive to be better. And on days like this, it all comes together. Perfectly.
🧬 A winning strain built for character, content, and consistency
The Verkerk family line didn’t happen overnight. It was built through generation after generation of hard selection. Influences from champions like Koopman and Heremans-Ceusters are woven into a powerful base of their own top performers.
They don't breed to impress. They breed to dominate.
These pigeons don’t fold under pressure. They fly through it — and win.
👑 The Top 10 – respect for all champions
- G. & B. Verkerk – Reeuwijk
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G. & B. Verkerk – Reeuwijk
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Comb. Matena & Zn. – Papendrecht
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Lorenzo van Russel – Dordrecht
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J.J. Eskes – Streefkerk
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J.J. Eskes – Streefkerk
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Gwen v/d Merwe – Dordrecht
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G. & B. Verkerk – Reeuwijk
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Comb. v. Leeuwen & Zn. – Reeuwijk
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Gwen v/d Merwe – Dordrecht
Big names. Strong lofts. Incredible pigeons | But on this day, everyone else was racing for bronze | The gold was long gone.
🗣️ The Boss tells it like it is
People talk. About big numbers, big lofts, advantages... But real fanciers? They look at the result. And when they do — they see Verkerk.
💬 “They’re the living proof that a small backyard loft can grow into a world-leading powerhouse. That doesn’t happen by chance. It doesn’t happen for free. Gerard and Bas have shown us that everything is possible — if you dare, work hard, and trust your own path.”
Less talk. More results. And these results? They echo around the pigeon world.
🏁 More than just a race – a message to the sport
August 3rd, 2025 wasn’t just another race.
It was a landmark moment.
A message to the sport:
Top-level pigeon racing is alive and thriving.
Vision, dedication and a rock-solid system still make the difference.
And if you truly want to compete — this is what it takes.
Verkerk raised the bar. Again.
And The Pigeon Boss? He watched, admired, and bowed deeply.
💬 “Verkerk didn’t just win today. They redefined what dominance looks like in modern pigeon racing.”
Until the next blog,
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss
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