Hens Dominate the Ace Long Distance (Old Birds) Category in the 2025 Season

The Ace Long Distance (Old Birds) category remains one of the most demanding standards in the National Championship. Five long-distance races, very low coefficients, and above all, the need for consistent form throughout the entire season. At this level, one exceptional race is not enough; regularity, fast recovery, and the ability to repeat the effort at relatively short intervals are essential.

In the 2025 season, the Ace Long Distance standard was achieved by 240 old birds, a figure that reflects both the interest in this category and, above all, its difficulty. The national podium, however, has a noteworthy particularity: it is occupied entirely by hens. This is not an isolated situation but continues a trend observed in other endurance categories, where hens, when properly managed in widowhood, demonstrate impressive consistency.

National Champion – RO-2023-0303342, raced by Ion Lucian (Caraș-Severin)

The hen RO-2023-0303342 finished the 2025 season at the top of the national ranking in Ace Long Distance (Old Birds) with a total of 48.94 penalty points. Her performance was not limited to this category alone. In the same season, she placed 3rd National Long Distance (Old Birds), was selected for the national Olympic team (2nd place), and also made the national team for World Best Pigeon. Additionally, she scored consistently in the overall rankings, placing 5th National Speed and 8th National General. Her competitive record clearly shows that we are dealing with a complete pigeon. In the previous season, at only one year of age, she became county champion in Speed and General and placed 3rd Provincial General. In the current season, she achieved 12 prize positions, including the five long-distance races from Blucina (Czech Republic – 559 km). The regularity of her results was the key to her success.

Ion Lucian competes in the General categories with approximately 80 widowhood cocks. His system is well structured: the pigeons raise one youngster before the season, and one week before the first race they are placed on widowhood. Between races, one or two training sessions of approximately 70 km are carried out, sufficient to maintain orientation and condition. The champion originates from original Pîslă Daniel pigeons.

Eugen Stoica (Arad) and the National Vice-Champion RO-2022-3000429

If there is a fancier who has built his reputation on the Long Distance and Ace Long Distance categories in recent years, that is Eugen Stoica. The 2025 season is no exception. He confirms his champion status once again, thanks to the hen RO-2022-3000429, who becomes double national vice-champion in Ace Long Distance (Old Birds) and Ace Long Distance 2-Years. In Ace Long Distance (Old Birds), she accumulated 55.03 penalty points, ranking in four races of 610 km and one of 550 km. The total kilometers flown are the highest among the pigeons on the podium, highlighting superior endurance capacity and excellent adaptation to long distances. Her performance is no coincidence. The hen belongs to a well-established family; she is a half-sister to “Magic Man,” National Vice-Champion Long Distance 3-Years 2023, and is related to numerous national podium pigeons. Eugen Stoica’s racing team consists of 60–70 pigeons, raced on widowhood throughout the season. Pairing takes place around March 15, and form is built progressively. Home training is essential: one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening. Intermediate training tosses of 35–40 km are carried out depending on the pigeons’ condition and weather conditions. Nutrition is carefully managed, with pigeons fed Versele Laga and Beyers mixtures.

In addition to the individual performances of this hen, Eugen Stoica also won two national Breeders trophies in 2025: 1st National Ace Breeders 3-Years and 3rd National Long Distance Breeders.

3rd National Place – Florin Toader and RO-2023-0956634

In 2025, Florin Toader decided to compete exclusively on the Bulgaria–Greece route, giving up participation on the Poland route. The decision proved inspired, as the fancier from Prahova achieved several important national rankings, including 3rd National Ace Long Distance (Old Birds). The hen RO-2023-0956634 secured this result after achieving a total of 66.21 penalty points in the five long-distance races from Askos (Greece – 555 km), a route that places additional demands on orientation and endurance.

His system differs from the other podium competitors. The pigeons are not taken for road training; preparation is carried out exclusively through loft flying, 30–40 minutes in the morning and evening. Feeding is based on Aidi mixes (1, 2, 3 and Energy), while preparation includes products from Versele Laga, Rohnfried, and CEST Pharma.

From a genetic standpoint, the hen is the result of a cross between an original Martin Krieg cock and an original Herbots Family hen.

In conclusion, the 2025 season confirms that success—at least in the Ace Long Distance category—is not the result of a single outstanding race, but of a solid construction: from breeding base and racing system to the management of form and recovery throughout the entire competitive season.