Falckenborgh-Nijhof (Beltrum-NL) Dominate in the Young Bird Race

On Saturday, July 26, 2025, the race from Tongeren took place for Section 9 South. The birds were released at 9:20 a.m. under partly cloudy skies with a moderate southwest wind and a temperature of 18°C. A total of 164 fanciers participated, entering 3,715 pigeons in the race.

The undisputed standout of the race was the combination Falckenborgh-Nijhof from Beltrum, who astonishingly took the first eight positions. The winning pigeon, ring number NL25-1121105, covered the 158.777 km distance at an impressive speed of 1509.288 m/min.

The winner

The father

Mother winner

and achieved herself:

• 4rd Ace Pigeon Mid-Distance – 2021 (NL20-1283650)
• 2nd Ace Pigeon Mid-Distance – 2022 (NL20-1283650)

A fusion of talent and dedication

In modern pigeon racing, one principle remains true: top results are the product of a powerful combination of quality and hard work. And if one partnership has mastered that formula to perfection, it’s the team of Falckenborgh-Nijhof. What started as a practical cooperation has grown, in just a few seasons, into a championship powerhouse with a national reputation.

Marco works in the management of Rouwmaat Group in Groenlo, while Fons is a nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at the hospital in Winterswijk. Marco handles the care of the pigeons in the mornings and evenings, while Fons takes over between 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. This schedule provides continuous care and training, a luxury many hobbyists do not have.

Their very first year together in 2020 brought immediate success with the young birds: five national results in the Teletekst, one NPO victory, and the second-best young bird in the “De Allerbeste” competition. In 2021, they earned 4th Ace Pigeon Mid-Distance NPO, 3rd Mid-Distance Loft (Marked) NPO, and 7th Best Loft NPO. Marco had already proven himself earlier at a high level with the Eijerkamp lofts in Brummen, where his talent was recognized early on. He still maintains a strong bond with the Brummen team.

In 2022, they reached the pinnacle: 1st National Champion Mid-Distance. A title many fanciers dream of achieving in a lifetime. But instead of slowing down, Marco Klein Falckenborg and Fons Nijhof raised the bar even higher in 2023. Their birds excelled in sprint, mid-distance, and long mid-distance (day-long) races  the latter being particularly notable, as that discipline had not been their strength before.

A Selection of Top Performances in Recent Years:

• 9-6-25 Châteaudun (578 km), 1,486 birds: 1-2-12-33-79-134-135-142-409 (9/10)
• 17-5-25 Soissons (369 km), 2,259 birds: 4-17-18-22-28-31-34 etc. (36/48)
• 12-4-25 Heusden-Zolder (143 km), 3,592 birds: 4-6-7-8-9-24-25 etc. (48/69)
• 26-7-25 Tongeren (159 km), 3,715 birds: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-14-19-21-22-23-27 etc. (87/123)
• 14-9-24 Dizy le Gros (327 km), 1,415 birds: 1-4-5-6-11-19-26-27 etc. (50/64)
• 17-8-24 Quiévrain (272 km), 1,473 birds: 2-3-4-7-8-10-11-12 etc. (33/60)
• 2025: 1st Champion Day-Long Distance Loft Average NPO Section 9 (37/45 races), 82% prize ratio

Recent National Championships:

• 1st Mid-Distance Marked – 2022
• 7th Mid-Distance Unmarked – 2021
• 3rd Mid-Distance Marked – 2021
• 4th Best Fancier Marked – 2023
• 7th Best Fancier Marked – 2022
• 5th Best Fancier Unmarked – 2023
• 4rd Ace Pigeon Mid-Distance – 2021 (NL20-1283650)
• 2nd Ace Pigeon Mid-Distance – 2022 (NL20-1283650)
• 7th Ace Pigeon Mid-Distance – 2022 (NL20-1760960)

The Bloodline

Both fanciers had already proven themselves individually, but their breeding approaches differ. Marco has sold his pigeons several times over the years, while Fons has remained loyal to his own line, rarely selling anything. It is mainly pigeons from Nijhof’s original line, crossed with those from Gert Rotman, the Eijerkamp family, Gebr. Jager, Gebr. Leideman, and G&B Verkerk that are now producing the results. This year, Verkerk birds were introduced into their breeding program for the first time, a move that immediately paid off in the latest race.

System & Care

The breeding season starts on December 10. Breeding pairs raise 2 to 4 youngsters. The race team is only paired on January 15 and raises one round of youngsters. Around 120 young birds are entered each year for racing.

They use a full widowhood system. During the racing season, the day starts at 6:30 a.m. with a one-hour training session for the hens. While they fly, Marco takes care of the rest of the loft. After an hour, the hens are called back in. In the afternoon, once Marco is home, the cocks get their training. Later in the afternoon, Fons trains the young birds. Often, the hens are also let out for a second session in the evening. If it rains, all birds stay inside. 

Racing is done on full widowhood from a 7-meter garden loft with an attached aviary. They typically race 25 cocks and 35 hens. Upon return, the hens and cocks are allowed together briefly. Ten extra hens are paired with reserve cocks so each hen sees her own partner when she returns.

The cocks are housed in a 3.5-meter-wide section, while the hens have a 3-meter-wide section. During the day, the hens stay in the aviary. The young birds are kept in a 5-meter-wide garden loft with an attached aviary. The front of this loft is fully meshed, while the rest is enclosed. Initially, the youngsters are not motivated using the sliding door system. That is only introduced after four races, when the sexes are separated and motivation is increased by showing them to each other. The young birds live year-round on a bed of pea straw, which ensures a dry, hygienic, and comfortable environment.

Feed is a mix of several blends: Versele Laga Widowhood Mix, Gerry Plus, supplemented with the NPO mix from Embregts-Theunis, and some Super Diet from Garvo. In addition, they receive the necessary grit and minerals, and upon return from a race, Belgasol is added to the drinking water.

Medical Care

They follow the system recommended by Theo van Oranje and Nanne Wolf. The birds receive two paramyxo vaccinations, one against pox, and targeted treatment in case of coli outbreaks.

Conclusion

Their achievements prove that there is still room for true class in this sport. And the best part? According to Marco and Fons, the best is yet to come.

The bar is set high in Beltrum. But that’s exactly where champions feel at home.

Christophe Mathues