BODEGRAVEN – In pigeon racing, there are wins… and then there are statements. St. Vincent 2025 at Fondclub De Glazen Stad will be remembered as one of those rare races where a single fancier didn’t just win — he owned the day. A brutal 1,000+ kilometer marathon, unpredictable conditions, and a finish line that tested the limits of endurance. In the eye of the storm stood one man: Mario de Vogel, Bodegraven.
Result?
🥇 1st and 2nd in the club
🥈 2nd and 13th National against 10,263 pigeons
This wasn’t luck. This was domination.
The Race – Pure Marathon, Pure Selection
Originally set for Friday, liberation was delayed due to heavy conditions. On Saturday, June 14 at 12:00 PM, the baskets opened in St. Vincent-de-Tyrosse, France.
The first pigeon in the Netherlands made a flashy 1,300 m/min, but that was a mirage. Speeds quickly collapsed, the tell-tale sign of a tough, erratic race with weather interference all along the route. Then came 08:48:24 AM in Bodegraven. A streak across the sky, a perfect dive, “Lola” (NL23-9314401) slammed the pad after 1,039.938 km at 1,194.760 m/min (71.7 km/h).
First in the Fondclub. Second National.
Two hours later, 10:56:35 AM, her loftmate NL22-8458524 followed — second in the club, 13th National. In a National top group of just 13 pigeons over 3.5 hours, Mario owned 15% of them. That’s how you write history.
That’s how you write history. Mario’s St. Vincent 2025 Kill List
- 🏆 1st – “Lola” – 1,194.760 m/min – 2nd Nat – 1,000 pts
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🥈 2nd – NL22-8458524 – 13th Nat – 995.3 pts
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31st – NL23-9314402 – 857.8 pts
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37th – NL22-8458580 – 829.4 pts
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60th – NL23-9405821 – 720.4 pts
Stats: 12 pigeons entered, 5 prizes (41.7%) — but a brutal 1–2 finish in the absolute top.
The Winner: NL 23-9314401 V – A Blue Diamond from Proven Marathon Blood!
This blue hen NL 23-9314401 V, raced by Mario de Vogel (Bodegraven), is already a name to remember in the marathon scene. In the 2025 season she impressed with a string of top prizes, including:
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2nd National St. Vincent – 10,263 pigeons
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4th Tarbes (L) – 1,050 pigeons
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10th Le Mans – 7,716 pigeons
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3063rd Melun Andrezel – 21,409 pigeons
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4813th Bergerac – 28,447 pigeons
Such a record in one season proves she’s not a one-day wonder, but a true consistent performer at the highest level of national competition.
Father’s side – Marcel van de Helm Power
Her sire, NL 16-1477298 M, originates directly from Marcel van de Helm and himself scored the prestigious 2nd National St. Vincent against 10,263 pigeons. This side of the pedigree is packed with consistency and early prizes from the classic marathon races: St. Vincent, Bergerac, Bordeaux, Narbonne and more. Generation after generation, Marcel’s pigeons have shown their stamina and ability to shine on the toughest days.
Mother’s side – The Legendary Comb. Niks
From the dam’s side, the golden foundation of the Comb. Niks is stamped all over this hen. The mother, NL 16-1185507 V, descends directly from their top performers and proved her own worth with strong results from Bordeaux and Bergerac. Grandfather NL 13-1780966 M and grandmother NL 13-1780928 V belong to the absolute breeding base of the Niks family, with a pedigree overflowing with early prizes from Cahors, Perigueux, Limoges and other tough races.
Put together, it created NL 23-9314401 V – a hen that immediately confirmed her class with a 2nd National St. Vincent and multiple top results in 2025.
👉 In short: NL 23-9314401 V is not just another pigeon – she’s a blue diamond, a crown jewel, and a dream foundation hen for any serious marathon loft.
The Perfect Cross
This is where the true magic lies:
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The relentless fighters of Marcel van de Helm, proven to score at national level.
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The iron marathon foundation of Comb. Niks, producing champions generation after generation.
Who is Mario de Vogel?
He may be a fresh name to some in the Fondclub rankings, but at 40 years old, Mario is no rookie.
Past highlights:
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12th Nat Dax 2018
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5th Nat St. Vincent 2020
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3rd & 6th Nat Bergerac 2020
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Winner Int. Heavy Distance “Gouden Duif”
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5th Nat Bordeaux 2023
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2024: 1st Nat Bordeaux, Car winner Bergerac SMN, 6th Nat Bergerac, 9th Nat Narbonne
All achieved from a compact setup:
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8m corner loft for old birds
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Small Dumo loft for breeders/youngsters
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Self-built race section
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One daily feeding (breeding/racing corn mix from Versele Laga)
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No magic powders, just simplicity + ruthless selection
The Heroes of St. Vincent
“Lola” – Named after Mario’s daughter (who also helps in the loft). Hen from (M) Marcel van der Helm × (F) Comb. Niks, raced on ~10 days sitting eggs.
NL22-8458524 – Cock from (M) Comb. Niks × (F) own Marcel van der Helm line.
Before this race? Quiet records. On the big day? Sky-kings.
Top 10 Highlights – St. Vincent 2025
- Mario de Vogel – Bodegraven – 1st Fondclub, 2nd Nat
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Mario de Vogel – Bodegraven – 2nd Fondclub, 13th Nat
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Annelies de Koning – Rockanje – consistent top
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Toon van Vliet – Aarlanderveen – pure marathon quality
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Jan & Twan Nobels – Achthuizen – early & deep in prizes
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Gerard Griffioen – Zevenhoven – built on endurance
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A.H.M. Pot – Rotterdam – solid in championships
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Aad Zwinkels – Kwintsheul – reliable top-50 player
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Cor & Yvonne Kleijn – Middelharnis – strong loft
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A.J.A. ten Tije – Voorburg – marathon veteran
Why This Win Matters
This is the essence of marathon pigeon racing A fancier working 50–60 hours a week, with a modest loft, taking on the nation’s best and winning. Proof that you don’t need a mega-empire to rule the skies.
Picture it: sunrise over Bodegraven, silence, tension. Then — Lola tears the horizon. One wing clap, one strike on the pad. In that instant, Mario knows: this is the day.
💬 The Pigeon Boss verdict:
Mario de Vogel just put down a result that will echo for years. Pure class, proven bloodlines, simplicity done right — and the courage to let the pigeons decide on the big day.
Until the next blof,
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss
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