13/07/2026
Two national victories in a single year. It almost sounds impossible, yet for Freek Smit from Zwartemeer it has become reality.
Last year, Freek stunned the Dutch pigeon racing world by winning the National from Issoudun against more than 32,000 pigeons. Last weekend, he achieved something even more remarkable by also winning the National from Châteauroux, this time against a field of over 36,000 birds. It is an achievement that only a handful of fanciers will ever accomplish.
In the latest PigeonPixels Podcast, Freek looked back in detail on the road to this extraordinary victory. Surprisingly, it all started not with confidence, but with doubt.
"I didn't feel comfortable," Freek explains. "Because the previous weekend's race had been cancelled and the conditions had changed so much, I missed my usual benchmark. I wanted to be absolutely certain the pigeons were in top condition."
That uncertainty led him to visit veterinarian Nanne Wolff on Sunday evening. Freek asked him to take a critical look at the team. The response immediately put his mind at ease.
"What are you doing here?" Wolff replied. "I haven't seen your pigeons looking this good all season. If you're not in the top ten next weekend, you should start questioning everything."
Those words completely removed his doubts. Looking back, it may have been exactly the confidence boost he needed.
Interestingly, Freek had already decided a week earlier not to basket his pigeons. Even before the race was officially cancelled because of the extreme heat, he had chosen not to take any unnecessary risks.
"The national race was more important to me. I didn't want my pigeons to suffer from the heat or a difficult transport."
It perfectly reflects his philosophy. Rather than racing every single weekend at all costs, he makes decisions with the season's biggest races firmly in mind.
Freek is equally outspoken about the way races are currently organised. In his opinion, pigeon racing should be far more flexible when extreme weather conditions occur.
"The welfare of the pigeons must always come first. If that means racing on a Friday or a Monday instead, then so be it. I'd rather wait for a good race than compete in a difficult one that could easily have been avoided."
The same philosophy applies to his youngsters. While many fanciers can't wait to start racing them, Freek prefers patience.
"The first few may come home, but I want the rest to come home as well. I'll need that team next year."
His racing system itself is remarkably straightforward. Very little changes from year to year. The old birds are paired in December, raise one round of youngsters and then compete throughout the season following virtually the same routine. Feeding consists mainly of Verkerk Sport and Verkerk Light, supplemented with peanuts, small seeds, Tovo and P40. After demanding races, he deliberately keeps the pigeons on a lighter feeding schedule for longer before gradually increasing the energy level towards the next race.
"If I build them up too quickly, they stop eating halfway through the week. I want them to keep eating well right up until basketing."
His medical approach is just as simple. He only treats when there is a genuine reason to do so. A mild case of canker a few weeks ago was treated, but apart from that the medicine cabinet remained closed.
Another striking detail was the pigeons' training during the week leading up to Châteauroux. They trained for exceptionally long periods, even by Freek's own standards.
"The hens trained for four and a half hours, and the c**ks for more than four hours. That was truly exceptional."
Those are exactly the kinds of signals that give him confidence, although he remains realistic.
"Your pigeons can be in perfect condition, but you still need a little bit of luck. That final touch of wind also has to be in your favour."
Besides discussing his latest national victory, Freek also spoke extensively about the development of his bloodlines. The winning hen is the result of many years of carefully crossing proven performance pigeons, with the Verkerk family playing a particularly important role. Interestingly, that very same family also produced last year's National winner from Issoudun.
Yet perhaps the most impressive aspect is Freek's modesty. Despite winning two National races within just twelve months, he remains remarkably down to earth.
"Last year I thought, 'This is something that only happens once in a lifetime.' To win another one… that's simply unbelievable."
It was also an unforgettable day for his family. His wife experienced the arrival of the winning pigeon from only a few metres away.
"That feeling when you see them coming home... it never gets old. Having her there made it even more special."
The full PigeonPixels Podcast with Freek Smit explores his racing system, his philosophy, the development of his family of pigeons, and the decisions that ultimately led to two National victories in the space of just one year.
The full video interview will be released soon on the PigeonPixels YouTube channel.
