A little pice of racing pigeons history: International Barcelona Race

Next friday July 9th 2021, it will be writen a new page in the worldwide race for the long dístance marathon lovers: the Barcelona International.

During the last 70 years, Cureghem Centre club has been the wellkown organizer (1951-2020). This year Club Entente Belge will run the Great honor to organize the event.

When in 1951 Cureghem Centre started as Barcelona race responsable, there was not so easy and many difficulties were found. The 1956 edition was a rather special one due to the puur number of basketing pigeons, only 885, and there were plans to put an end to it. But then, in 1957, nobody knew why, suddenly 3,350 birds participated. 1957 was also the first year that the winner was a German.

Then, in 1959, the Dutch were allowed to participate and this was the beginning of a great story, THE GREAT STORY OF BARCELONA INTERNATIONAL HAD BEING STARTED.1993 edition was the one with the highest number of pigeons liberated with 33.044 entries; and the Great podium was taken by the legend dutch fancier, Jan Theelen, with his super hen “Rikky”.

Super birds would win and… would never come back home.

These are some figures and names about the famous race.

Results of Barcelona International after the 2nd World War

Year Nº pigeons Time released Pigeon fancier Country winner Distance (km) AGE of winner
1948 1.200 M. Wuyts BELGIUM 1095
1949 2.401 H. Berlengee BELGIUM 1056 4
1950 R. Tant BELGIUM 1101
1951 2039 Jos Boels BELGIUM 1089
1952 2025 Oscar Devriend BELGIUM 1080 3
1953 2175 V/d Berghe BELGIUM 1054
1954 1910 Leysens-Lepreux BELGIUM 1070 7
1955 1080 Denis Adonis BELGIUM 978 4
1956 885 O. Van Biervliet BELGIUM 1035 5
1957 3350 G. Staudt GERMANY 1051 2
1958 3756 Gilbert V/de Weghe BELGIUM 1068 4
1959 4184 Marcel Desmet BELGIUM 1063 4
1960 4441 Albert Monin BELGIUM 969 4
1961 3578 Martin Krauth HOLAND 1090 7
1962 3300 Ad Demarets BELGIUM 1.051 4
1963 3599 Ad Demarets BELGIUM 1.051 5
1964 3845 Deraedt Van-Grembergen BELGIUM 1081 6
1965 4036 D. van Bommel HOLAND 1191 6
1966 4343 Andre van Bruane BELGIUM 1044 5
1967 4078 L. Plancquaert BELGIUM 1087 4
1968 5348 Ross Jurgen GERMANY 1094 5
1969 8267 M+J Opsomer BELGIUM 1057 3
1970 6781 Desmet Lippens BELGIUM 1111 3
1971 7384 M. Huls HOLAND 1093 4
1972 7293 D. Roelandt BELGIUM 1077 5
1973 8515 06.00 Jef Carlens BELGIUM 1078 4
1974 10.273 E. Sutor GERMANY 1098 3
1975 8301 A Callebert BELGIUM 1068 2
1976 11016 06.40 R. Florizoone BELGIUM 1080 6
1977 10.502 R. Christen LUXEMBOURG 954 4
1978 11.131 J. Gryspeer BELGIUM 1052 4
1979 12.201 R. Gyselinck BELGIUM 1073 4
1980 13636 08.00 J. Hendriks HOLAND 1242 4
1981 13202 08.40 Cor Willegers HOLAND 1140 6
1982 15605 08.10 Gebr Peermans BELGIUM 1082 3
1983 12146 07.40 Paul Gilmont BELGIUM 1018 2
1984 13033 07.45 Andre van Bruane BELGIUM 1044 5
1985 17060 J & P Vervisch BELGIUM 1050 4
1986 18076 German Schlomer GERMANY 1129 6
1987 21545 Chretien Vanoppen BELGIUM 1076 2
1988 21194 09.40 Wim van Leeuwen HOLAND 1171 3
1989 25502 10.10 Kerstin & Dirk Bohm GERMANY 1068 4
1990 28128 08.40 Uwe Hermes GERMANY 1121 2
1991 27167 Jean Luc van Roy BELGIUM 1045 3
1992 27068 08.20 Martin Biemans HOLAND 1152 4
1993 33196 09.20 Jan Theelen HOLAND 1128 3
1994 26807 08.20 Rene Verborg BELGIUM 1047 4
1995 20936 08.20 R & A Gyselbrecht BELGIUM 1084 3
1996 20129 09.20 Willems-Thone BELGIUM 1096 2
1997 24908 Valentin Vanheusden BELGIUM 1087 2
1998 24139 09.00 Kipp & Sohne GERMANY 955 3
1999 28095 09.40 Joop Torreman HOLAND 1171 7
2000 26597 08.00 Comb Houtekamer HOLAND 1139 2
2001 25760 09.10 Sybille Heymann HOLAND 1141 3
2002 26944 09.10 Comb RBB Gardien HOLAND 1190 4
2003 20204 09.00 Freres Fauche BELGIUM 1045 4
2004 24913 09.30 Vrosch Meyers HOLAND 1100 4
2005 25815 09.10 Cyrille Schaschkow FRANCE 943 2
2006 22887 09.30 Gerard van Tuyl HOLAND 1186 3
2007 25716 09.50 Menne & Tochter GERMANY 1200 3
2008 23708 09.45 Danny Vangenenden BELGIUM 1076 2
2009 27669 09.45 Comb W & M van Houten HOLAND 1205 4
2010 25750 09.45 Burkhard Heller GERMANY 1098 3
2011 26066 10.00 Comb Boogaard -van Buuren HOLAND 1237 4
2012 25320 14.00 Philippe Deu FRANCE 1043 5
2013 25294 09.30 Luc Wiels BELGIUM 1057 5
2014 21169 09.00 Jelle Jellema HOLAND 1258 3
2015 19083 07.40 P Cuffels & Fils FRANCE 917 3
2016 17732 11.15 Lothar Lesmeister GERMANY 981 6
2017 17094 09.05 Leen Roks HOLAND 1148 7
2018 15707 09.00 Team Freddy de Jaeger BELGIUM 1087 3
2019 15981 09.50 Jeroen & Stijn Rans BELGIUM 1083 3
2020 14589 08.50 Alin Karscu GERMANY 1005 2

Jan Theelen, 1º International Barcelona 1993 of 33.196 pigeons, pigeon record at this time.

Alin Karscu, 1º International Barcelona 2020, last winner of this race.

In order: Alin Karscu, pigeon, wing and pedigree.

The Barcelona race is worth witnessing, with an incredible display of infrastructure, with a beautiful image of each of the pigeons looking for the victory.