Pure class in long distance racing: Gero & Evelien Dijk continue to impress
15 Oct 2025
Gero Dijk and Evelien Dijk live and race in Alblasserdam, in the province of South Holland, a combination that has firmly established their name in Dutch pigeon racing. They are best known for their exceptional performances in long distance and international races, including multiple victories in the Agen ZLU.
Gero's love for pigeon racing was instilled in him at an early age by his father Theo, who was an avid fancier himself. Together with Evelien, he expanded the hobby into a professionally run loft. Evelien is a fixture in the daily care of the pigeons, while Gero is mainly responsible for the racing and selection. The basis of their colony consists of proven marathon lines, including pigeons from Kees Bosua, Gerard & Bas Verkerk, Arie Dijkstra, Wim Muller & Znn, Louis (Team) Vollebregt, Jeroen & Stijn Rans, and Eric Herbots, among others.
Gero & Evelien's racing system focuses on long distance races, with particular emphasis on the ZLU races. At the start of the season, the racing team is raced in widowhood. As soon as the important races approach, they are raced in pairs. The pigeons train daily, usually early in the morning and then again later in the day. The young birds receive a lot of attention: they are built up slowly and carefully trained, with a clear goal in mind. The breeding stock consists of about fourteen pairs, whose offspring form the foundation of their racing team.
Nothing is left to chance when it comes to care and nutrition either. The pigeons are fed high-quality mixes from Matador and Mariman, supplemented with brewer's yeast, minerals and conditioning products. They are fed “from the full bin” and refilled as soon as the feed is finished. The water is always fresh, and extra attention is paid to energy and condition around basketing times. The lofts are modern and functional: a loft of about eight metres long with a walkway in front, divided into sections for young birds, cocks, hens and keepers. Everything exudes structure and simplicity.
Medical supervision is tightly organised. The pigeons are checked regularly and only basketed when they are truly in top form. Short courses of medication are used and, if necessary, something for the respiratory tract. Their regular vets include Stefan Göbel and Fernand Mariën. Gero and Evelien do not believe in overmedication, but in prevention and keen observation.
Their list of achievements is certainly impressive. In 2017, they won 1st international Agen with their old bird “Theo”. In 2022, they repeated this feat with their top bird “Liz”, who won 1st National Agen Old Birds. The yearlings also flew phenomenally well: they won 2nd National and no fewer than seven yearlings finished in the top 46 nationally. They also won top prizes in other tough competitions, such as 18th Nat. Barcelona.
For Gero & Evelien, it's not just about winning, but also about the feeling that goes with it: waiting for the first pigeon, the excitement of the arrival, and the pride when their system works like clockwork again. Evelien plays a key role in this: without her daily dedication, this success would not have been possible.
Legacy of a phenomenon
NL14-1049775 “Theo”
1st International Agen 2017 – 25,196 pigeons (with a 30-minute lead!)
Many top pigeons are either great racers or valuable breeders. Only the real exceptions combine both qualities. “Theo” undoubtedly belongs to that select group.
Year after year, his descendants deliver absolute world-class performances. A selection of the achievements of his children and grandchildren:
- 1st National Ace Pigeon KBDB Longer Middle Distance Young Birds 2022
- 1st National Ace Pigeon Agen 2022/2023
- 1st National Ace Pigeon Young Birds Allround Romania 2024
- 1st National Ace Pigeon Young Birds Middle Distance Romania 2024
- 1st Prize against 29,000 pigeons in Romania
- 2nd National Agen ZLU 12,913 pigeons
- 3rd International Ace Pigeon Agen 2022/2023
- 4th Extra Final Pattaya International Pigeon Race 2025 4,878 pigeons
- 4th National St. Vincent ZLU 2,532 pigeons
- 8th National Argenton KBDB 16,496 pigeons
- 8th National Argenton KBDB 13,393 pigeons
- 10th National Agen ZLU 6,174 pigeons
- 12th National Agen ZLU 6,174 pigeons
“Charlotte”, the crown princess
One of Theo's most impressive daughters is NL21-1184224 ‘Charlotte’. She emerged as the crown jewel from the Theo x Liz pairing.
- 2nd National Agen Yearlings ZLU 2022 6,174 pigeons
- 2nd fastest nationally against 12,913 pigeons
And her mother ‘Liz’.
This wonder hen won 1st National Agen Old Birds 2022 against 6,146 pigeons, after a gruelling flight of more than 11.5 hours. That year, history was made: father ‘Theo’, mother “Liz” and daughter ‘Charlotte’ shone at the highest level.
Gero Dijk Achievements 2025
Pau 1022 km 3503 pigeons:
56th Nat
Agen 972 km 10835 pigeons:
10th Nat, 24th Nat, 72nd Nat, 77th Nat, 106th Nat, 108th Nat, 147th Nat, 415th Nat
Barcelona 1160 km 4515 pigeons
143th Nat, 389th Nat
Dax 1005 km 2230 pigeons
23rd Nat, 105th Nat
Marseille 956 km 2347 pigeons
87th Nat, 11th Nat
Narbonne 967 km 4020 pigeons
124th Nat
One Loft Races 2025 Achievements:
• 2nd Final 517 km Milan Best Pigeons Italy
• 2nd Ace Pigeon Milan Best Pigeons Italy
Championships 2025
• 17th Nat Champion Unassigned Marathon Morning Release
• 16th Nat Champion Designated Marathon Morning Release
• 24th Nat Ace Pigeon Marathon Morning Release
• 3rd Emperor Champion Morning Release Marathon Flyers Hendrik ido Ambacht
• 8th Emperor Champion SNZH Morning Release
References 2025 Gero Dijk Pigeons:
Janssen-Weijers:
• 10th NPO Agen 479 pigeons
• 22nd NPO Marseille 139 pigeons
• 28th NPO Périgueux 1,007 pigeons
• 39th NPO Périgueux 1,503 pigeons
Jeroen and Stijn Rans:
• 5th Nat Perpignan 3522 pigeons
• 245th Nat Perpignan 4850 pigeons
• 25th Nat Marseille
Marian Tampau
• 1st Nat Sterdyn 595 km 29,000 pigeons
Jelle Roziers Itegem
• 2nd Provincial Vierzon 804 pigeons
• 134th National Bourges 21,502 pigeons
Brent Lemmens Herenthout
• 1st Montargis 1617 pigeons
• 1st Montargis 1397 pigeons
• 1st Quievrain 557 pigeons
• 2nd Montargis 4938 pigeons
• 48th Quievrain 1154 pigeons
OffSpring Gero Dijk pigeons
• 2nd Nat Melun
• 9th Nat Issoudun
• 9th Nat Vierzon
• 32nd Nat Argenton 525 km 15322 pigeons
• 87th Nat Bourges 11952 pigeons
• 91st NPO Fontenay 7000 pigeons
• 118th Nat Agen
• 193rd Nat Marseille
• 518th Nat Agen
• 10th FCI Final Pattaya Int OLR 430 km
• 26th Final Race Alshaheed OLR 525 km
Especially for the Barcelona auction, Gero & Evelien selected three beautiful children from their 18th National Barcelona.
