Jelle Jellema Int. Barcelona Masterclass 2026

Barcelona Int. 1,241 km, 16,278 pigeons. Jelle Jellema (Nijverdal, NL) delivered the performance of a lifetime, placing 3rd, 5th, 6th, 9th, 14th and 15th International, an 80% prize return. See every pigeon's details and how Jelle prepared this team, read the full build up inside.

Barcelona has spoken again, and once more it has chosen Nijverdal (NL). Jelle Jellema has produced one of the defining marathon performances of the 2026 season, and one for the history books!

Build Up To Barcelona 2026

The foundation for this result was laid months earlier. Jellema's Barcelona team began serious preparation at the end of March, with their first race, a modest 125 km outing, held around 15 April. From there the team worked through six to eight training and preparation races before the big day.

The team split into two clear preparation paths. Sixty percent of the team tackled Périgueux at 900 km four weeks out from Barcelona, while the remainder were held back, never exceeding 350 km in the build up. Jellema was candid about the outcome. "There was no big difference in results," he said, a reminder that in marathon racing, method matters more than mileage alone.

Nest position played its usual strategic role. The Périgueux group, roughly sixty percent of the team, were sent on eggs of 12 to 14 days. The rest were sent on youngsters of 5 to 7 days, a classic marathon motivation split designed to bring hens and cocks home motivated.

Weather Condtions

The international race from Barcelona (Spain), was liberated on 3 July 2026 at 07.45 CEST into blue skies and a clear north wind, holding at a moderate force 3 and 22 degrees. Conditions across the route into France carried through hot and largely settled, with temperatures climbing well into the high twenties and low thirties further inland as the day progressed, a testing combination for birds covering more than 1,200 km home.

Barcelona National Result (NL)

Out of 5,071 pigeons and 917 fanciers in competition nationally, 'Orion Barcelona' lead the way to Nijverdal (NL), at 12.18.07 the second day he arrived, achieving a velocity of 921.36 mpm across 1,241.189 km to win 2nd National, denied only by Ad Fortuin (NL) at the top of the sheet.

But the true story was depth. Jellema placed ten pigeons inside the National Top 50, taking 2nd, 4th, 5th, 8th, 13th, 14th, 29th, 35th, 43rd and 48th. From 41 pigeons basketed, 33 returned prizes, an 80 percent strike rate at marathon distance that borders on unprecedented.

National Barcelona: 2-4-5-8-13-14 etc.. against 917 fanciers and 5.017 pigeons 1.241km

International Barcelona Result

On the international stage the picture is even more remarkable. Against 16,278 pigeons, Jellema placed ten pigeons inside the International Top 52, taking 3rd- 5th-6th-8th-14th-15th-28th-37th-44th and 52nd. For a loft competing at one of the furthest distances in the entire race, backing up a Dutch national podium finish is the clearest evidence yet that Jelle's pigeons is racing on a different level in 2026.

Barcelona has once again confirmed what the pigeon world already suspected. When the race gets hard, Nijverdal (NL) gets stronger.

The Team Behind The Result:

'Orion Barcelona' - 2. National Barcelona '26

2nd. National Barcelona '26. 1.241km 921.362mpm

53rd. NPO Bergerac '24

121st. NPO Cahors '25

212th. National Agen YL '24

From: 'Son Orion x Mirna' - grandson 'Zwart Goud' when paired to 'Daughter Rena' sister to 4. Nat Agen '23 ( 'New Jade 1' x 'Rena' 6.Int.Pau '16 & 8.Nat Barcelona '18)

Infront 'Orion Barcelona' 2.National Barcelona 5.071p & 3.International 16.278p '26

'Ayla' - 4. National Barcelona '26

4th. National Barcelona '26 1.241km 917.254mpm

190th. National Agen YL '24

329th. National Dax '25

From: 'Roderik' ( 'Nathan' 16.Int. Barcelona 25.294p x 'Sigrid' 15.Nat Barcelona NL) orig. Carlo Gyselbrecht paired to 'Eline' super breeding hen, mother to 3.Nat Ace ELD KBDB & 2.World's Best Pigeon Belgium '22 ( 'Zeus' 18.Nat Barcelona'16 x 'Silke' 1.Nat Barcelona '20)

'Ayla' 4.National Barcelona 5.071p & 5.International 16.278p '26

'Kimbo' - 5. National Barcelona '26

5th. National Barcelona '26 1.241km 916.306mpm

5th. National Perpignan '25

108th. National St. Vincent '23

195th. National Barcelona '24

From: 'Son New Laureaat 263' ( 'New Laureaat' 1.Int.Barcelona x 'Kleine Jade' 1.Int. Barcelona) paired to 'Willike' 1.Int. St. Vincent '19

'Kimbo' 5.National Barcelona 5.071p & 6.International 16.278p '26

'Dexter' - 8. National Barcelona '26

3rd. National Ace Pigeon '25

8th. National Barcelona '26 1.241km 914.641mpm

48th. National Dax '25

106th. National Pau '25

From: 'New Lars' 6. Nat Pau 2023 ('Lars' 2. Nat Paerpignan'20 x 'New Rena' 7. Nat Barcelona '20) paired to 'Naomi' 1. Nat Libourne '22 ('Special Jade' x 'Mother Naomi')

On the right - 'Dexter' 8.National Barcelona 5.071p & 9.International 16.278p '26

'Bontje Barcelona' - 13. National Barcelona '26

13th National Barcelona '26 1.241km 908.016mpm

122nd National Agen YL '24

From: NL22-8152586 Orig. Jan Van Egmond x 'Dght New Jade 1' -g/daughter 'New Laureaat' 1.Int. Barcelona 25,382p x 'Kleine Jade' 1.Int. Barcelona 20,669p 1258km.

'Bontje Barcelona' 13.National Barcelona 5.071p & 14.International 16.278p '26

'Lumen' - 14. National Barcelona '26

14th. National Baercola '26. 1.241km 907.518mpm

26th. National Dax '25

150th. NPO Bergerac '24

290th. National Pau '25

From: 'The 970' Orig. Robin Bakhuis (half brother 1.National Bergerac '20 against 25,628 pigeons) paired to 'Kleine Rena' 1.Nat Bergerac '22 S4 Fastest pigeon NU against 9.559p ( 'Special Jade' x 'Rena' 6.Int Pau '16 & 8. Nat Barcelona '18)

On the left: 'Lumen' 14.Nat Barcelona 5.071p & 15.International 16.278p

Barcelona 2026 will stand as one of the defining results of Jellema's career, but in Nijverdal (NL) the focus is already shifting forward. With bloodlines this deep and a team this consistent, the only question left is how far these pigeons can carry the name in the seasons still to come.