RUTZ & SONS (Altheim, Germany) – A True Dynasty of European Marathon Pigeon Racing

In the European pigeon racing landscape, few names have managed to build such a solid and, above all, such a consistent reputation as RUTZ & Sons. For more than three decades, the Rutz family from Altheim, Germany, has maintained a constant presence at the very top of international marathon and extreme long-distance competitions, where not only speed, but above all endurance, intelligence and mental balance make the difference between a good result and an exceptional one. For many fanciers, races such as Barcelona, Pau, Narbonne, Marseille or Perpignan represent the pinnacle of a sporting career. For RUTZ & Sons, however, these races are true genetic benchmarks, used year after year to further refine an already established elite racing loft.

2024 – A Benchmark Season

The 2024 season was, in every respect, one that once again confirmed the remarkable stability of the Rutz loft. Out of a total of 133 pigeons entered in seven international races, no fewer than 87 were classified, resulting in a success rate of 65.41%, a figure extremely rare at international marathon level. The highlights included a 2nd National prize from Narbonne, a strong overall performance at Barcelona with 28 pigeons classified from 37 entered, as well as solid results from Pau and Marseille, where almost the entire team managed to make the national rankings.

These performances propelled the Rutz loft to 4th place in the ARGE Euskirchen Championship, 2nd place in the Mediterranean Cup, and 6th place in the prestigious Seegmüller Cup, clearly confirming that this was not about isolated results, but about genuine long-term consistency at the highest level of pigeon racing.

2025 – The Year of Definitive Confirmation

If 2024 was excellent, the 2025 season represented, without exaggeration, the sporting peak of the last decade for RUTZ & Sons. From 102 pigeons entered, 70 were classified, producing an impressive success rate of 68.63%, a figure that places the loft among the absolute elite of European marathon racing. This outstanding level of performance was crowned with two major titles: German National Champions DBV – Marathon Category and National Champions ARGE Euskirchen.

In addition, they achieved 2nd place in the Seegmüller Cup and 3rd place in the EUROPAMARATHON. As a further mark of prestige, one pigeon from the Rutz loft was selected to represent Germany at the 2026 Pigeon Olympiad in Dortmund, a rare distinction reserved only for the very best performers.

At national level, the 2025 season produced:

-4 pigeons in the National Top 10

-17 pigeons in the Top 50

-26 pigeons in the Top 100

These figures once again underline the depth of the team and the ability of the loft to perform not just with a single champion, but with a broad and highly competitive racing squad. Although the absolute national victory was narrowly missed, with 2nd National from Dax and 3rd National from Pau, these results only further fueled the already well-known ambition of the Rutz brothers. Jens summed up this mentality perfectly when he stated, without hesitation, that he cannot be fully satisfied as long as he knows that victory was so close.

Barcelona – The Race That Shapes the Rutz Loft

A special chapter in the history of RUTZ & Sons is undoubtedly the Barcelona race, considered by most specialists to be the ultimate test in world pigeon racing. For the Rutz family, Barcelona is not just another competition, but the very foundation of their entire selection philosophy.

Over the last ten years:

-315 pigeons entered

-198 pigeons classified

-62.86% success rate

An absolutely exceptional figure for a race exceeding 1,000 kilometers. Even more impressive is the distribution of these performances:

-8 pigeons in the National Top 10

-17 in the Top 20

-45 in the Top 50

-90 in the National Top 100

In the last two editions alone, the percentage rose to 71.43%, with 45 pigeons classified from 63 entered, statistics that, in marathon racing, are considered almost unreal.

The Organization Behind the Performance – Genetics and Management

The structure behind these results is simple, yet extremely effective. The loft is led by Karl-Heinz Rutz (76 years old) together with his twin sons, Jens and Sven (42 years old). Although, for health reasons, Karl-Heinz is no longer physically involved in the daily work at the loft, his strategic role remains decisive, as he continues to be the main advisor in all important decisions.

Jens is responsible exclusively for the mature racing team, while Sven manages the breeding loft and the young birds. This clear division of responsibilities ensures full control over every stage of the pigeons’ performance cycle.

From a genetic point of view, the success of the Rutz colony is based on a highly coherent breeding program developed over several decades. Everything starts with the foundation hen Angelina, originating from the Stichelbaut line, around which the core of the modern Rutz loft was built. This base was strengthened with Morsnowski blood, derived from the famous Buffel x Dicky (De Weerd) combination, and with the Van Wanrooy line, introduced via Jan Lijnders.

Over time, the genetic base was strategically reinforced with pigeons from Kipp & Sons, Jan Dons, Yvan Moureau, Jan Van Keulen, Wilfried Stiel and Gerard Van Tuyl, and in recent years with elite performers such as the 2nd National Narbonne from Klaus Paulus, the famous “Rhône Man” from Jos Thone, or the 1st National Brive from the Plum family.

Preparation and Management of the Pigeons

Preparation at RUTZ & Sons begins from a very young age, with young birds being trained intensively and entered as often as possible, not to force distances, but to prepare them properly for the future. Last season, the youngsters completed eight training races up to 240 km, with the emphasis placed on regularity and repetition rather than extreme effort.

The mature pigeons are flown weekly, without being overburdened, rarely participating in more than two or three international races per season. Barcelona is reserved exclusively for fully mature pigeons, both physically and mentally, usually starting from the age of two or three years.

Health management is based on prevention and balance. Young birds are vaccinated twice a year against paramyxovirus, while adult pigeons receive only the basic vaccination. Treatments are kept to a strict minimum and are applied only when absolutely necessary, under veterinary supervision.

Feeding is based on mixtures from Paloma and Vanrobaeys, without peas during the racing season, supplemented with protein products, amino acids, B-complex vitamins and iodine. During the competitive period, pigeons are trained daily around the loft and regularly participate in preparation races in order to develop muscle strength and sustained endurance.

In essence, Rutz & Sons represent far more than just a successful racing loft. They are a true model for any marathon fancier, built on discipline, rigorous genetic selection and a clear philosophy of performance. In a sport where many seek quick solutions and immediate results, the Rutz family demonstrates that real value is built slowly, through systematic work, constant elimination of mediocrity, and by keeping only those pigeons capable of performing at the highest level, regardless of distance or conditions.