Race facts
On August 17th, 2025, in Region 2, exactly 376 pigeons were released from Marche at 10:30 AM. Covering a distance of 353 km to Ternaard, the challenge was set. At 15:27:05, the first pigeon from Hoekstra / Mendes da Costa stormed onto the loft with a speed of 1188.449 m/min – securing a convincing win.
The race turned out to be fair and selective: lofts from both the coastal area and the inland managed to get their pigeons at the front. Eventually, the top 3 was formed by Hoekstra/Mendes da Costa (Ternaard), Tj. Kooistra (Veenwoudsterwal), and W. Wagteveld (Tjalleberd).
Hoekstra/Mendes da Costa: vision and power
What makes this victory stand out is not just the winning pigeon, but the whole performance.
- 18 sent, 11 prizes → 61.1% prize ratio
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Eight times in the top 50 – positions 1, 11, 14, 16, 28, 39, 41 and 45
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A consistent stream of arrivals all above 1000 m/min
This is no coincidence – it’s the result of a loft that has been rebuilt with vision and passion.
The Winner, NL 25-4261527 V – The Golden Blend of Olympic Marijke × Best Kittel × Olympic Shakira
This NL 25-4261527 V, bred by F. Hoekstra, is no ordinary blue hen – she carries the scent of victory in every feather. She is the heir to some of the most powerful bloodlines in modern pigeon racing.
👉 Father: NL 23-9195633 – “Br Olympic Marijke” (G & H Calis)
Full brother to the legendary Olympic Marijke, 2nd Olympic pigeon Speed and 1st National Ace PIPA Ranking. From this line also comes the famous hen “Iris” (NL 12-1431899), a super racer and breeder, winner of 1st Chateauroux 3587 pigeons, and the foundation of countless champions. This is pure Olympiad bloodline excellence.
👉 Mother: B 22-4040901 – “First Bl Best Kittel” (PIPA Breeding Loft)
Direct from the golden pair “Blue Best Kittel” (B 18-1045025) × “Olympic Shakira” (B 20-4186684). Blue Best Kittel was 1st National Ace KBDB 2021 and 4th National Ace KBDB 2019. Olympic Shakira became 1st Olympic bird Cat. A Sprint and has already produced a dynasty of top-performing descendants. Together, this pair has stamped their mark with head-turning results from Duffel, Marche, Pont, Boxtmeer, and beyond.
And the best part: this young hen doesn’t just shine on paper. She has already proven herself in the basket, with a 1st Marche against 1217 pigeons and a 3rd Tongeren against 1792 pigeons – showing that her genetic gold translates directly into performance.
🔥 In summary: NL 25-4261527 V is a genetic masterpiece – an explosive mix of Olympic Marijke (NL 23-9195633) × Best Kittel & Olympic Shakira (B 22-4040901). She represents the future of pigeon racing: bred for victories, destined for history.
The restart in 2019: building a new dynasty
After a restart in 2019, Foeke Hoekstra invested heavily to build a solid foundation. But not with Heremans pigeons, as some might think – instead, the core comes from the bloodlines of Maurice Hasendonckx.
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The base pair: produced the well-known 603, but it was his brother 883, better known as “Blue Dream”, who proved to be in a league of his own.
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Blue Dream’s line shines: he is the father of the exceptional 704 – crowned 1st Olympic Pigeon 2024 and 1st World Best Pigeon Speed.
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The 704 won among others: 1st vs 1,510 pigeons, 1st vs 3,715 pigeons, and 2nd vs 2,630 pigeons.
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Her nestmate also took a 1st against 4,000+ pigeons, although that cock unfortunately escaped while on loan.
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Another full brother, the 744, won 4× 1st prizes after being transferred to another fancier.
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A daughter of Blue Dream is currently pole position for the Olympiad, underlining the depth of this line.
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New blood additions: While the Schaerlaeckens pigeons have nearly disappeared from the loft, the spotlight now falls on a trio of brothers and a sister from Blue Best Kittel x Olympic Shakira. These birds are already making their mark and are expected to play a leading role in the future.
This is a loft built on quality, results, and forward thinking – and it is now paying off in style.
The Top 10 of Marche
- Hoekstra / Mendes da Costa – Ternaard – 1188.449 m/min
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Tj. Kooistra – Veenwoudsterwal – 1141.547 m/min
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W. Wagteveld – Tjalleberd – 1125.423 m/min
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J. Spruijt – Heerenveen – 1120.061 m/min
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Comb. Tjitte & Lesley – Tietjerk – 1118.644 m/min
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A. & C. Bijlstra – Garyp – 1110.010 m/min
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W. Wagteveld – Tjalleberd – 1108.620 m/min
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J. Spruijt – Heerenveen – 1107.696 m/min
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J. Spruijt – Heerenveen – 1107.429 m/min
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R. Visser – Holwerd – 1102.468 m/min
Need to know more about their pigeons? Feel Free to give Foeke a buzz...
Master Loft ranking & analysis
In the Master Loft competition, the combination only had to bow to one loft: A. & C. Bijlstra from Garyp. With 7/6 prizes and 475 points, they took the crown. But with 421 points and 2nd place, Hoekstra/Mendes da Costa showed that they not only had the winning pigeon, but also outstanding depth across the team.
The Pigeon Boss verdict:
This is a loft that plays the game the right way. Smart investments, world-class bloodlines, sharp breeding, hard racing. The victory in Marche F33 is not luck – it is the logical reward for vision, dedication, and expertise. These are the results that give the sport goosebumps.
Win With The Pigeon Boss
Pigeon Boss conclusion
Foeke Hoekstra and Mendes da Costa have written a new chapter in Ternaard. From a restart in 2019 to a convincing win in 2025 – this is a story of resilience, investment, and faith in quality.
This is how you climb back to the top. Hats off. 🎩
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss
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