The Race: Thrilling Until the Very Last Meter
On Sunday, August 17th, 2025, a total of 4,799 pigeons were released from Marche. At 10:30 AM the baskets opened, and the battle began over more than 333 kilometers towards Friesland. Conditions created a fair but extremely tense race: the leading pigeons followed each other in razor-thin margins, the difference between 1st and 2nd place being just 1.5 meters per minute.
And exactly there, in that nail-biting finale, true quality came forward: the victory went to Harkema – to the loft of the unstoppable Comb. Fokkinga. Their winning pigeon clocked at 15:05:32 with 1209.771 m/min, leaving the competition just behind.
Comb. Fokkinga: Winning in Style
The name Fokkinga and winning in big competition – it’s a pairing that has defined pigeon racing for years. With this victory, the combination once again proves why they belong among the absolute elite.
- Winners: Comb. Ronald & Sietse Fokkinga (Harkema)
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Winning speed: 1209.771 m/min over 333 km
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Sector 4 ranking: 6th against 12,035 pigeons, despite a tough 60 km overflight and a strong north headwind.
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Early arrivals: besides the 1st prize, also early positions at 45th, 82nd, 109th, 110th, 127th, 130th and many more down the sheet.
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Team performance: 45 prizes from 55 entries – a strike rate that underlines the depth of the loft.
It’s that combination of a winning ace and a team rolling deep into the result that sets them apart. This is not luck – this is craftsmanship, management, and above all: class in the basket.
Background: Father & Son, a Golden Tandem
The Comb. Ronald & Sietse Fokkinga is built on the synergy between two generations. From their lofts in Harkema, they have built a reputation that echoes across the Netherlands. Their pigeons are founded on proven national top bloodlines, descendants of NPO and Teletext champions – and it shows in their consistent results.
Their strength? Depth and width. Year after year, they manage to place multiple pigeons in the top of the results. Not only today, but structurally – from sprint to one-day long distance. Earlier this year they already proved their dominance by winning Hirson (389 km) with a blistering series of 1-2-5-6-8 etc., scoring 39 prizes out of 49 against 17,548 pigeons.
It’s this constant quality that has earned them respect as one of the finest combinations in the country.
Top 10 of Marche
- Comb. Fokkinga – Harkema – 1209.771 m/min
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Bruning de Bruin – Feanwâlden – 1208.236 m/min
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R. Janicki – Luttelgeest – 1197.417 m/min
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Hoekstra/Mendes da – Ternaard – 1188.449 m/min
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A. Bosma – Zwaagwesteinde – 1172.358 m/min
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Combinatie Hofstede – Ee – 1171.682 m/min
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T. van Olphen – Appelscha – 1171.088 m/min
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B. de Roos – Zwagerbosch – 1169.440 m/min
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F. van der West – Oudega – 1169.098 m/min
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Dirk Huizinga – Bant – 1168.515 m/min
A fine mix of established names and broad regional spread – but the real strength radiated from Harkema.
Analysis: Why This Victory Stands Out
What makes this victory so special is not just the single winning pigeon. It’s the massive depth with which Fokkinga pushed their team into the result. Pigeons arriving compact, classifications piling up – this is the mark of a loft in top form.
The lesson for the sport? Invest in team depth. One pigeon can win a race, but a loft full of class makes history. That’s exactly what Fokkinga shows here: a message to all of pigeon racing Netherlands that they master the game – from start to finish.
Need to know more? Contact Ronald Fokkinga
Win With The Pigeon Boss
🔥 The Pigeon Boss verdict:
With this victory, Comb. Ronald & Sietse Fokkinga prove that top-level pigeon racing is not just about winning, but about dominating. A loft that takes both the 1st prize and backs it up with a strike rate of 45/55 and a string of early arrivals – plus earlier this year’s crushing win from Hirson – deserves nothing less than a deep bow.
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss
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