Flight Facts
The Afdeling 1 Zeeland ’96 – F33 Melun-Andrezel turned into a true showcase of top pigeon racing on Sunday, August 17, 2025. At 07:30 the baskets opened in Melun-Andrezel, releasing 1,875 pigeons for a tough battle over 314.229 km back to Zeeland.
Conditions were fair but selective. In Breskens, the clock struck 11:56:05 when the first winner of the day hit the trap: ring 5-2524479 with a speed of 1180.942 m/min. Just one second later, the second arrival of the same loft followed—securing a rare and sensational 1–2 finish. ⚡
The Winners – H. Mookhoek & Son from Breskens
This was dominance in its purest form: 1st and 2nd Afdeling against 1,875 pigeons. The kind of result every fancier dreams of, but few ever achieve.
Loft statistics:
- Entered: 40 pigeons
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Prizes: 23 → 57.5% prize ratio
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Top positions: 1, 2, 34, 50, 64, 65, 66, 67, 91, 98, 138, 140, 193, 205
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Head speeds:
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1st – 1180.942 m/min (5-2524479, 11:56:05)
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2nd – 1180.868 m/min (5-2524451, 11:56:06)
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34th – 1146.961 m/min (5-2524487, 12:03:58)
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50th – 1139.819 m/min (5-2524466, 12:05:41)
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The gap between 1st and 2nd? Just one second. That says everything: the form is razor-sharp, the system is spot-on. 🎯
Behind the Men and Their Loft 👨👦
- Henk (77), a former fisherman, has been active in the sport since 1966.
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Henry (58), working at the Zeeuwse Fish Auction, joined in 1994 after a knee injury ended his football career.
Together, father and son form a partnership that unites experience with passion.
Their club: Eerste de Beste Schoondijke, racing in Afdeling Zeeland ’96.
The loft setup:
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9-meter loft for widowers
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10-meter loft for breeders, widow hens, and youngsters
Bloodlines of power:
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Breeder 579 (Melis-666 line)
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James Bond line (Vandenabeele via P. Derijcke)
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Kaasboer line (Gaston de Wouwer via Schieman–Derijcke)
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Rolf Huchthausen (DL) – favorite Guust Jansens line
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Di Caprio line (via Dirk van Dyck)
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Reinforcements from Cees Nagel, H. Calon, and Arie Bustraan
Achievements underline their level: in the Eendaagse Fondspiegel 2020, they ranked 2nd National Ace Pigeon over 4 years and 3rd over 5 years. Even top fancier Falco Ebben brought in their pigeons—with immediate success.
The Winning Hen – NL25-2524479 🏅
The 1st Afdeling winner NL25-2524479 (V) is a hen bred straight out of the best lines that have shaped the Mookhoek loft.
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Father (NL19-3905645): a proven blue cock from the Derkjcke–Schieman base, directly carrying the influence of the famous James Bond (Gaby Vandenabeele) bloodlines. This side of the pedigree is loaded with speed and consistency, with ancestors that have made their mark both locally and nationally.
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Mother (NL24-2406351): a blue hen from the Mookhoek core breeding, with the unbeatable Superkweker 663 (H. Melis) in the background through Superkweekster NL18-3825150. This hen is a direct daughter of the famous super racer 663 via Cees Nagel, combined with strength from Dirk van Dyck’s Di Caprio line and the golden Kaasboer (Gaston de Wouwer via Schieman–Derijcke).
This winning hen is therefore no accident: she is the product of a carefully built 5-generation foundation, combining legendary names like James Bond, Kannibaal, Kaasboer, Superkweker 663, and Di Caprio. Her victory at 1180.94 m/min is living proof that top-class genetics, paired with the sharp management of H. Mookhoek & Son, delivers results at the very highest level.
Rule the Sport with the Boss – Your Throne, Your Kingdom, Your Legacy.
The Top 10 – Big Names, but Mookhoek Dominates 🌟
- H. Mookhoek & Son – Breskens – 1180.942 m/min
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H. Mookhoek & Son – Breskens – 1180.868 m/min
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Danny de Voogd – Yerseke – 1177.770 m/min
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Jac. van den Bosch – Hengstdijk – 1175.898 m/min
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P. Geijs – Vlissingen – 1172.931 m/min
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Lucien Borm – Hengstdijk – 1164.664 m/min
With strong competitors like Gebr. Scheele, G. Baan, and Danny de Voogd in the top 10, the level was sky-high—but Breskens took the crown.
Analysis – Depth, Class, Consistency
A 57.5% prize ratio, a 1–2 knockout, and waves of early pigeons—H. Mookhoek & Son proved once again that their loft is built on more than just one star pigeon. It’s depth, structure, and consistency.
This is modern pigeon racing: bloodlines that deliver, sharp loft management, and decades of experience.
Conclusion From The Pigeon Boss – A Day to Remember 🔥
H. Mookhoek & Son delivered a day for the history books: father and son, combining vision, passion, and breeding power, taking 1st and 2nd Afdeling against 1,875 pigeons.
This is the beauty of pigeon racing. This is why we play, why we watch, and why we keep dreaming. ✨
Until the next blog,
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss
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