Schilde: The reigning national champion of the KBDB Yearling Long Distance category can once again look back on a brilliant 2025 season. Defending a national title is a motivation in itself, but chasing that first national victory remains at the top of the “bucket list.” On the final national long-distance race from Tulle, it almost happened again, but unfortunately, it ended with a 2nd place nationally against 4,277 yearlings. However, the provincial and zonal victory certainly made up for it!

It was the hen “The Last One” (B24-6186358) who secured the provincial win. Her name tells a story—and rightly so. She is the last daughter of “Bamiske,” which means we’re dealing with the mother of the 3rd national ace pigeon KBDB Great Middle Distance 2017. A true winning family… and “The Last One” can certainly be proud of her record as well. Take a moment to enjoy it:

1st Provincial Tulle – 571 birds
1st National Zone (z) Tulle – 1,161 birds
2nd National Tulle – 4,277 yearlings
13th National Zone (z) Châteauroux – 3,482 birds
88th National Châteauroux – 15,060 birds
412th National Argenton – 6,523 birds
575th National Bourges – 11,056 birds
1,039th National Bourges – 17,163 birds
1,179th National Bourges – 17,189 birds
1,111th National Argenton – 14,745 birds
— and all of this within just two seasons!

Just like all her loftmates, “The Last One” was raced on total widowhood.
Serge: “It might not be the absolute best system, but it allows you to keep far fewer pigeons that otherwise wouldn’t be doing much besides ‘providing motivation’. That’s why we choose this method. The pigeons are transferred very late to their new loft—the future yearlings stay in the young bird loft for a long time and are only paired on March 20. They’re let outside for the first time starting March 1, due to ongoing problems with birds of prey. When the first pair is incubating for 16 to 17 days, everything is removed and widowhood officially begins. Sometimes they fly their first race while still on eggs, or just after removal. When they return home, everything is cleared anyway.”

In June 2025, we published a detailed article about this champion colony on our website. 

Click here to read it.

With the provincial Tulle race, the 61st Provincial/Semi-National/Interprovincial victory and the 7th National Zone win was added to the record. These numbers clearly highlight the exceptional quality of the Van Elsacker-Jepsen pigeons.

We wish them continued success for the rest of the season.

Stefan Mertens