Bram ten Klei (Zuidoostbeemster, Netherlands) continues his relentless rise.
24 Dec 2025
At the beginning of this year, we already gave Bram ten Klei extensive coverage here on the website, following his impressive performances in the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Now that we can take stock at the end of 2025, one conclusion is inevitable: Bram has not only continued his rise to the national top, but has also reinforced it.
Despite a very busy job and a down-to-earth, simple approach to the care and training of his pigeons, Bram managed to strike again at the provincial level in 2025. He won the title of best loft several times in the sprint, middle distance, and young bird disciplines.
Bram also made his mark at the national level. With the title of 2nd Unassigned Champion Sprint NPO/WHZB, he confirmed his position as the 2nd best sprint loft in the Netherlands. An exceptional achievement, especially given the breadth and level of national competition.
The championships and places of honor in 2025 speak for themselves.
Provincial championships 2025
- 1st Unassigned Middle Distance
- 1st Unassigned Young Long Distance 250-550km
- 1st Pigeon Champion Young Long Distance 250-550km (25-451)
- 1st Best Loft Sprint
- 1st Best Loft Young Long 250-550km
- 1st Best Loft Young Total 100-550km
- 2nd Best Loft Middle Distance
- 2nd Nominated Young Total 100-550km
- 3rd Pigeon Champion Young Total 100-550km (25-401)
- 3rd Designated Super Sprint
- 4th Unassigned Young Bird Total 100-550km
- 4th Assigned Young Bird Short 100-250km
- 4th Pigeon Champion Young Bird Short 100-250km (25-402)
- 4th Pigeon Champion Young Long 250-550km (25-415)
- 4th Pigeon Champion Young Total 100-550km (25-449)
- 6th Young Bird Champion Long Distance 250-550km (25-401)
- 7th Nominated Sprint
- 7th Nominated Young Bird Long Distance 250-550km
- 10th Young Bird Champion Total 100-550km (25-497)
National results 2025 (NPO/WHZB)
- 2nd Unassigned Champion Sprint
- 4th Assigned Champion Young Birds
- 8th Pigeon Champion Young Birds (25-401)
- 8th PIPA ranking Best Young Bird Sprint (25-402)
- 14th Undesignated Champion Middle Distance
- 22nd Best Fancier Undesignated
- 27th Undesignated Champion Young Birds
- 29th Young Bird Champion (25-449)
A brief explanation of how Bram managed to achieve these impressive results.
Hens on widowhood: simple, pleasant, and effective
In my system, I work exclusively with hens on widowhood, a system that suits me particularly well. The hens are kept on wire mesh, which keeps maintenance to a minimum during the week. Cleaning takes hardly any time, which fits in perfectly with my busy schedule. Bram only races his cocks as young birds.
As far as training is concerned, when the hens are in good health, they often take the initiative themselves. They then train exuberantly and with visible pleasure, something I greatly enjoy as a fancier.
Due to my work, I sometimes come home late. In that case, my wife or one of the children helps out. They just feed them and skip training that day. Interestingly, I have noticed that this has hardly any effect on their performance. For me, this confirms how crucial a strong basic health and sufficient rest in the loft are.
This system suits me and my lifestyle perfectly. As long as the results continue, I see no reason to change anything.
My hens are often motivated to basket by showing them the cocks. This method gives the pigeons that extra bit of spirit. However, I have noticed that even hens that are not shown a cock are capable of flying very hard.
When showing them, I leave the cocks and hens together in their breeding box, including the nest plate, for half an hour. During that time, I observe how they calm down. As soon as they are relaxed, I quietly take the hens out of the loft to basket them.
My young birds are not separated during the season. They train once a day, in the morning, and as soon as I leave for work, they come back in on their own. In the past, I experimented with separating the youngsters, but to be honest, I noticed little difference in their performance. For me, this natural approach works fine.
In the run-up to the racing season, I start training as soon as the weather permits. When the weather is good, I take them to Amsterdam in the morning and after releasing them, they return to the loft on their own. I start with short distances of about 2 kilometers and gradually build this up to about 25 kilometers.
I only darken the young birds. From the beginning of March to the beginning of July, the loft is darkened from 6:30 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. After that, I switch to supplementary lighting from 6:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. until the last young bird race in September. In my system, the old birds are neither darkened nor given supplementary lighting.
The feeding schedule for old birds
On Sunday morning, they are fed generously with 45% Versele Laga Gerry plus/45% purification and 10% P40. The feed is moistened with a little Curol and Winmix from Comed is added, as well as Carbo from pigeonHP from time to time. They also have access to a pot of minerals from Dr. Marien every day and are regularly given the well-known multimix from Patagoon. Each feeding, they get about 1 tomato can (70 grams) of food per 4 pigeons, and I adjust the amount based on how I feel. After two nights in the basket, the pigeons receive a combination treatment from Stefan Göbel or a BS treatment from De Weerd in their water for disinfection on Sunday. On Monday and often on Tuesday, the pigeons also receive 45% Versle Laga Gerry plus / 45% purification and 10% P40. A handful of fresh peanuts is also fed at every feeding. Winmix from Comed is then added to the food. On Wednesday and Thursday mornings, the mixture consists of 70% Gerry Plus / 20% NPO mix / 10% P40 and a handful of peanuts per feeding. If the flights are a bit heavier, they also get more sport instead of Gerry Plus. On Thursday evening, they get 50% Gerry Plus / sport, 30% NPO mix, and 20% P40. Depending on the flight, they get 1.5x to 2x the normal amount. On a flight with two days in the basket, they get a little extra food on Thursday morning.On Fridays, the pigeons receive their normal amount of Gerry Plus in the morning and evening. On short speed flights, they only receive a little Zoontjes feed in the evening. Before basketing for the heavier flights, I want to replace the Gerry Plus with a little NPO mix. A littleༀalways mixed into the feed so that the pigeons are offered fresh grit every day. In addition, feeding is also done based on intuition; depending on the weather forecast and the distance, more/heavier or less/lighter feed is given. On Saturday, when they return home, a generous mixture of Zoontjes/Embregts NPO mix/Gerry Plus is ready on the ground. About 1-2 hours after their return, the cocks are removed and the perches are replaced in front of the nesting boxes. They are also fed generously. Belgasol is added to the water, and for heavier flights, Recup Fast from pigeonHP is added to the water. The hens are then given rest to recover from the flight.
The feeding schedule for young pigeons
After weaning, the young pigeons are given sufficient Versele Laga breeding feed until about a month before the races. I put the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd rounds together in one loft. This means that there must always be sufficient food available. In the run-up to the racing season, they are fed Versele Laga's young pigeon mix, supplemented with grit and P40. They are given approximately one tomato can per four pigeons. Depending on the weather, they sometimes get a little more. I stick to this schedule during the first flights, and when the flights get a bit longer, I switch to a mix of sport, P40, and NPOmix. From the moment they are weaned, the youngsters get Röhnfried Avidress plus in their drinking water every day. I have been doing this for three years now, and I haven't had any real problems with coli since I started using this product. The youngsters are vaccinated twice against paramyxovirus, once immediately after weaning and once after the last youngsters have been weaned. In principle, I race the entire young bird program because I want them to gain as much experience as possible.
Breeding
I put the pairs together based on their pedigree, physique, and to a large extent, my gut feeling. Furthermore, I only breed youngsters from the breeding pairs and the best racing pigeons. I usually pair the breeding pigeons at the end of December and the racing pigeons at the end of January. I can then get three rounds of youngsters from the breeding pigeons. For myself, I breed around 60 youngsters to race with.
Pedigree pair makes its mark
World-class bloodlines
The combination brings together the best genes of M.F.J. Krijger and the world-famous BLITZ line of A.J. Roording, thereby combining the very best of Dirk van den Bulck, Kittel, Goede Rode, and Leo Heremans.
Paternal side “De Krijger” (NL13-1089578)
This stock cock has already produced several sprint and middle distance aces. His line goes back to Leo Heremans (Jan line) with breeders such as B10-6146399 and
NL12-1198898, both pure Heremans pigeons.
Maternal side “Lady BLITZ” (NL21-1676507)
Daughter of the legendary BLITZ pair Roording. This line has produced generations of winners with countless 1st prizes and NPO victories. Grandfather is BE17-6168058 “Kannibaal Kittel”, grandson of the world-famous Kittel (Dirk van den Bulck). Grandmother is 15-6119677 “Hen BLITZ”, herself the mother of several NPO winners.
Exclusively for the Herbots family, Bram will offer a son from his stock couple in December. This summer youngster (sale 1) is a full brother to several top performers. Judge for yourself:
22-8352452 Jutta
2nd Ace Pigeon Sprint PV BEP 2023
3rd Ace Pigeon Sprint Dept. 6 Circle 2 2023
6th Ace Pigeon Sprint Dept. 6 Provincial 2023
27th Ace Pigeon Sprint National NPO 2023
1st Ace Pigeon Middle Distance PV BEP 2024
2nd Ace Pigeon Middle Distance Circle 2 CC2B 2024
5th Ace Pigeon Middle Distance Circle 2 2024
20th Pigeon Champion Middle Distance Dept. 6 Provincial 2024
- Morlincourt 354km 2/3291 p.
- Vitry-en-Artois 277km 3/8043 p. (Prov.)
- Quievrain 249km 4/1966 p.
- Quievrain 249km 4/3427 p.
- Quievrain 249km 5/1328 p.
- Duffel 160km 8/3184 p.
- Niergnies 288km 14/5734 p. (Prov.)
- Lennik 197km 12/1056 p.
- Pointoise 431 km 13/1823 p.
- Morlincourt 354km 21/3055 p.
- Roosendaal 115km 25/3663 p.
- Duffel 160km 30/5677 p.
- Pointoise 430km 30/1114 p.
- Niergnies 288km 36/1506 p.
- Pointoise 430km 41/1067 p.
- Quievrain 249km 46/1029 p.
- Lennik 197km 48/1787 p.
- Quievrain 249km 69/1825 p.
- Lennik 197km 86/3947 p.
- Duffel 160km 88/3614 p.
22-8352424 Femke
1st Pigeon Champion Sprint PV BEP 2024
1st Pigeon Champion Sprint Circle 2 CC2B 2024
1st Pigeon Champion Sprint Dept. 6 Circle 2 2024
2nd Pigeon Champion Sprint Dept. 6 North Holland 2024
7th Pigeon Champion Sprint National NPO 2024
Morlincourt/Noyon 354km 1/1550 p. en 5/6262 p. (Prov.)
Quievrain 249km 1/1966 p.
Vitry-en-Artois 277km 2/11049 p. (Prov.) after loftmate 2/3028 p.
Quievrain 249km 2/3427 p.
Quievrain 249km 3/1029 p.
Duffel 160km 4/3624 p.
Quiévrain 249km 4/1825 p.
Duffel 160km 11/10552 p. (Prov.)
Lennik 197km 44/2471 p.
Pont Saint Maxence 393km 47/1581 p.
Morlincourt/Noyon 354km 56/3055 p.
Roosendaal 115km 70/14655 p. (Prov.)
Niergnies 289km 71/5734 p. (Prov.)
Quiévrain 249km 84/4083 p.
24-8314257 Lieve
3rd Young Bird Champion Short Distance Dept. 6 Circle 2 CC2B 2024
5th Young Bird Champion Short Distance Dept. 6 Circle 2 2024
7th Young Bird Champion Short Distance Dept. 6 2024
Duffel 160km 2/3555 p.
Morlincourt/Noyon 354km 2/2655 p.
Pont Saint Maxence 393km 3/2525 p.
Niergnies 289km 31/8365 p. (Prov.)
Roosendaal 115km 15/3446 p.
Morlincourt/Noyon 354km 112/7410 p. (Prov.)
Oudenaarde 208km 47/2854 p.
Quievrain 249km 75/2635 p.
23-9214596 Letitia
4th Young Bird Champion Overall Circle 2 2023
Vitry-en-Artois 277km 1/11049 p. (Prov.)
Vitry-en-Artois 277km 5/8043 p. (Prov.)
Pont. St. Max. 393 Km 11/763 p.
Lennik 197 Km 26/526 p.
Lennik 197 Km 29/2206 p.
Lennik 197 Km 31/3947 p.
Morlincourt 354 Km 39/3055 p.
Duffel 160km 55/3624 p.
Morlincourt 354 Km 52/829 p.
Bierges 199 Km 69/1156 p.
24-8314202
Morlincourt/Noyon 354km 6/2655 p.
Pont Saint Maxence 393km 19/2525 p.
Morlincourt/Noyon 354km 89/7410 p. (Prov.)
Duffel 160km 119/12110 p. (Prov.)
Niergnies 289km 204/8365 p. (Prov.)
Roosendaal 115km 150/3446 p.
Duffel 160km 173/3555 p.
Oudenaarde 208km 162/2854 p.
Lennik 197 Km 206/3512 p.
Quievrain 249km 215/3394 p.
Duffel 160km 147/1975 p.
Quievrain 249km 282/2635 p.
24-8314293
Morlincourt/Noyon 354km 4/2655 p.
Oudenaarde 208km 61/10556 p. (Prov.)
Duffel 160km 31/3555 p.
Quievrain 249km 55/3394 p.
Lennik 197 Km 73/3512 p.
Quievrain 249km 25/2635 p.
Roosendaal 115km 146/3446 p.
Duffel 160km 292/3139 p.
25-1200401
1st Young Bird Champion PV BEP
1st Young Bird Champion total Circle 2
3rd Young Bird Champion total Department 6
4th Young Bird Champion Long Distance Circle 2
6th Young Bird Champion Long Distance Department 6
8th Young Bird Champion NPO/WHZB
Roosendaal 115 km 1/204 p.
Duffel 160 km 2/2500 p.
Saint Soupplets For 413 km 1/1139 en 2/2115 p. (Prov.)
Toury 527 km 3/489 p.
Duffel 161 km 27/1394 p.
Quievrain 249 km 162/7521 p. (Prov.)
Lennik 197 km 7/167 p.
Niergnies 289 km 146/1656 p.
25-1200402
3rd Young Bird Champion PV BEP
1st Young Bird Champion Short Distance Circle 2
10th Young Bird Champion Total Circle 2
4th Young Bird Champion Short Distance Department 6
8th PIPA ranking Best Young Bird Sprint
Niergnies 289 km 7 / 6018 p. (Prov.)
Quievrain 249 km 6 / 2227 p.
Quievrain 249 km 16 / 5858 p. (Prov.)
Roosendaal 115 km 52 / 9624 p. (Prov.)
Duffel 161 km 14 / 1394 p.
Roosendaal 115 km 9 / 204 p.
Duffel 161 km 126 / 2500 p.
Lennik 197 km 129 / 2401 p.
25-1200446
Niergnies 289 km 1/1656 p. en 2 / 6018 p. (Prov.)
Roosendaal 115 km 31 / 9624 p. (Prov.)
Mettet 247 km 28 / 930 p.
Quievrain 249 km 231 / 7521 p. (Prov.)
Duffel 161 km 121 / 2500 p.
Lennik 197 km 139 / 2401 p.
Roosendaal 115 km 13 / 204 p.
25-1200447
5th Pigeon Champion Young total District 2
Morlincourt-Noyon 354 km 2 / 864 p.
Roosendaal 115 km 30 / 9624 p. (Prov.)
Quievrain 249 km 10 / 2227 p.
Niergnies 289 km 44 / 1656 p.
Duffel 161 km 51 / 1394 p.
Lennik 197 km 140 / 2401 p.
25-1200502
2nd Young Bird Champion PV BEP
6th Young Bird Champion Short Distance Circle 2
Duffel 161 km 2 / 1394 p.
Roosendaal 115 km 33 / 9624 p. (Prov.)
Niergnies 289 km 38 / 6018 p. (Prov.)
Duffel 161 km 40 / 2500 p.
Lennik 197 km 3 / 167 p.
Quievrain 249 km 163 / 7521 p. (Prov.)
Purchase 1: NL 25-1200243 is the full brother of the above top performers.
Another highlight in this auction is lot 2: NL 23-9214555. Her father (directly from A.J. Roording) is, incidentally, the full brother of Bram's foundation hen. Kannibaal Kittel (Dirk van den Bulck) X Hen Blitz pair (Jo Claeskens).
Purchase 3 is the nest brother of purchase 2. This cock was only raced as a young bird, as Bram only races yearlings and old hens. Nevertheless, he still managed to crown himself 1st ace pigeon in the club as a young bird.
This beautiful gray hen (for sale 4) traces its lineage back to “Goed Grijs” bred by Leideman, ‘Kittel’ bred by Dirk van den Bulck, and “Valitas” bred by R.A. Bakker.
Purchase 5 is another promising young mealy cock. He has already won a victory in the club from Quievrain (249km) against 155 pigeons, as well as 5th comb. against 2,227 pigeons - 2nd Soupplets 563 pigeons (413km) and 13th Prov. Niergnies 6,018 birds (289km).
Bram is also proving successful at the OLR. The opportunity to purchase 6 to buy something from this. A full sister of: The Extra Finale Winner 600 km AviRings Derby '24 => NL24-8314264 Grizzle Billy
Final Race no. 1 (509 km) 4th place AviRings PRO '25 –
OLR Slovenia => NL25-1200484 Grizzle Billy 484
Purchase 7: winner of 2 Prov. Quievrain 10,210 p. 249 km (1 Club 212 p.)
6 Pontoise 1,417 p. 431 km (1 Club 87 p.)
Line “Leonardo” & “Tinkelbel” Arie Dijkstra (father's and mother's side)
The impressive results in 2025 definitively place Bram ten Klei among the established names in the Netherlands, and it seems that the last word is far from being said.
Christophe Mathues
