Sirjansland's treasure trove in Barcelona, ​​Walter Van der Meulen from the Netherlands, shines year after year in his favorite extreme long-distance races, and especially in Barcelona. This season, he clocked two top early pigeons in Barcelona and one in Perpignan.

Of course, it doesn't all come easy, but Walter certainly has good pigeons, and as you could read yesterday in Jackie and Leen De Bruine's article, more and more references are coming thanks to the Van der Meulen pigeons.

Top references in other lofts in recent years: 2 x 1st + 1 x 2nd NATIONAL (2018-2022)

1st National Barcelona 4,842 old birds in 2022 (Pieter Goeree) 
1st National Barcelona 3,932 old birds in 2018 (JL De Bruine) 
2nd National Barcelona 4,132 old birds in 2019 (JL De Bruine) 
2nd National Bergerac 28,415 old birds in 2024 (Rik Ros)

Let's go back to Barcelona 2023. The top hen "Bont 760" was clocked at 5:21 a.m. from her home base. She won 1st National Barcelona for the Netherlands and even won by a considerable margin, 27 m/min faster than the next pigeon in tough conditions. The whole story got even better when the second pigeon turned out to be the sire of the first. Or how Walter isn't so quick to transfer a pigeon to the breeding loft. They first have to fly well, and by that we mean really fly early, before they get a place in the breeding loft. He's been using this strategy for years, and it's proving to be the only way to go.

The winner himself, "Bonte 760," also won 165th National Barcelona against 4,832 pigeons in 2022. Her sire is inbred to stock sire "Superkweker 823" and is a grandson of "Crack 61." The dam of "Bonte 760" is a daughter of "116," this super breeding hen is the dam and grandmother of four 1st National winners and was often the regular partner of stock sire "Superkweker 823."

In 2022, Pieter Goeree won 1st National Barcelona against 4,842 pigeons (4th International Nat. 16,897 pigeons), again in extremely tough weather. The dam of this top pigeon is a direct Walter hen and a daughter of "Crack 061," a true super breeder. She is also a granddaughter of "Friezin," who won 9th National Barcelona against 6,909 pigeons in another very tough race. The 58th National Barcelona is also a granddaughter of "Crack 061" and comes from the same pairing. This was another success at the highest level thanks to the Van der Meulen bloodline.

The top reference of 2024 came from Rik Ros, who has a top pigeon that won 1st Bergerac against 1,610 pigeons and 2nd National against 28,415 pigeons in 2024. This pigeon was clocked at 4:38 a.m. This pigeon is a grandson of Walter's own "Den Bergerac" and therefore performed almost as well as his sire. A unique achievement and further confirmation of this fantastic breeding line.

Top results marathon races 

1 National Barcelona 4,832 old pigeons in 2023 
1 National Ace Pigeon Barcelona Netherlands 2021-2022 
1 National Bergerac 23,728 pigeons in 2019 
2 International Ace Pigeon Barcelona 2021-2022 
2 National Bergerac 28,415 p 2024 
4 National Bordeaux 9,852 old pigeons in 2018 
5 National Barcelona 4,919 old pigeons in 2021 
5 National Perpignan 5,589 old pigeons in 2015 
7 National Bordeaux 13,348 pigeons in 2020 
7 National Perigeux 4,921 old pigeons in 2018 
8 National Perpignan 5,589 old pigeons in 2015 
8 National Perigeux 4,921 old pigeons in 2018 
9 National Barcelona 6,909 old pigeons in 2013 
10 National Barcelona 5,422 old in 2014 
17 National Barcelona 3,912 old in 2018 
18 National Perigeux 13,348 pigeons 
19 National Barcelona 4,919 old in 2021 
20 National Barcelona 4,132 old in 2019 
26 National Perpignan 5,589 old in 2015 
32 National Barcelona 4,504 old in 2017 
42 National Barcelona 4,842 old in 2022 
45 National Bordeaux 8,815 pigeons 
49 National Barcelona 4,832 old in 2023 
55 National Perpignan old in 2025 
58 Int.Nat Barcelona 15,602 old in 2025 
66 National Barcelona 3,912 old in 2018 
70 National Barcelona 4,919 old in 2021 
72 Int.Nat Barcelona 15,602 old in 2025
82 National Barcelona 4,919 old in 2021
89 National Barcelona 4,129 old in 2019

Breeding Line

Since 1992, Walter has been focusing on the marathon races, which he is truly passionate about. His first real successes came from Jan Ernest and Janssens Hausoul, two world-renowned lofts with a truly impressive line. The line was also supplemented with pigeons from Paul & Luc Bramel and the Rekker Westra combination. But the former, especially the older line, still performs incredibly well in today's top pigeons, with the "823" line clearly at the forefront.

NL 05-0503823 A chequered white flight cock was staked with an old ring and quickly moved to the breeding loft. His dam is a direct descendant of Janssens Hausoul.

Sire of 8th National PerpignanSire of "061/08" 44th National Dax 8,728p, Grandsire of "El Cid" 1st National Barcelona '18 3,932p, Grandsire of "De Bergerac" 1st National Bergerac '19 23,728p, Grandsire of 7th Nat Perigeux 13,348p, Grandsire of "264/18" 49th National Barcelona 4,832 old in 2023, Great-grandsire of 1st National Barcelona 4,842 old in 2022, Great-grandsire of 2nd National Bergerac 28,415p in 2024, Great-grandsire of "Mr. Fit Barcelona" 2nd National Barcelona '19 4,132p, Great-grandsire of "Bonte 760" 1st National Barcelona 4,832 old in 2023. Great-grandfather of 5th International Barcelona 17,107d 2024 at Vincent Vork.

We are offering something truly unique for this auction. A son of foundation sire "823" paired with the sister of the dam of the 1st National Barcelona 2023.

NL 23-2332078 "Son 823"

1st National Barcelona 2023

For Walter, this is the third national victory of his career, and of course, it's the highlight and ultimate goal of his colony. The winner is NL 20-2024760 "Bonte 760," a hen that was entered in two afternoon releases as a yearling, but narrowly missed both races, although she returned home feeling refreshed. Walter loves to see such a performance. In Barcelona in 2022, she won 165th National, making her Walter's 5th-placed pigeon. Now she's won gold in the Netherlands and 8th place internationally, which is fantastic. Her sire is a 2018 cock that also entered Barcelona in 2023 and was the 2nd-placed pigeon. He won 48th National and is also part of the breeding loft.

In this auction a fantastic son of the 1st National Barcelona coupled with a brother of the 1st National Barcelona flown by Pieter Goeree

Other top items in the auction are also present and we introduce them to you below