The New Winners of the 2025 Carol I and Ferdinand I Trophies

In Romanian pigeon racing, few categories demand more endurance and consistency than As National and As National Breeders. Both combine races across all distance types and require exceptional performances from birds and fanciers alike.

For As National, a pigeon must classify in 10 races, including three marathon stages, accumulating a minimum of 5,000 km. Similarly, the As National Breeders category also requires 10 scored races, at least three from the Marathon/Extreme group, and a total distance exceeding 5,000 km. The difficulty of these standards explains their prestige. For this reason, the national champions are honored with two special distinctions awarded with the approval of the Romanian Royal House:

The Carol I Trophy, offered to the top pigeon at As National Adults, also declared Pigeon of the Year. The Ferdinand I Trophy, awarded to the breeder with the lowest score at As National Breeders, thus becoming Breeder of the Year.

The Lazăr Brothers – Two Consecutive Years at the Top

Marcel and Iulian Lazăr, from Fetești (Suceava), are making history. For the second year in a row, they have won the Carol I Trophy, a remarkable and rare achievement. The champion of the 2025 edition is the cock RO-2022-1300004, who accumulated 5,529 km over the 10 races and a total coefficient of 739.23 penalty points.

At county level, their pigeon is the only one to have fulfilled this extremely demanding standard, and in the national rankings he is followed by just one competitor—highlighting once again how challenging this category truly is.

The Lazăr brothers have competed together since 2013, showing a clear preference for the As Fond category, where they prepare a team of 50–60 pigeons each year, raced on the widowhood system. Breeding is treated with the utmost seriousness: over 80% of their stock birds are bred and selected by the brothers themselves. The current champion, “Hector”, is a grandson of “Huracan”, winner of the same category in 2024. Hector’s father comes from the loft of Ionuț Gagea, completing an exceptional genetic line.

Oliviu Râmneanțu – A Perfect Season and the Ferdinand I Trophy

In 2025, Oliviu Râmneanțu of Topolovățu Mic (Timiș County) experienced the best season of his pigeon-racing career, which began in 2015. His equal interest in all distance categories proved to be the key factor in winning the National Ferdinand I Trophy, with a remarkable score of 219.52 penalty points. His achievements do not end there. He also secured: 3rd National – Speed Breeders and 3rd National – Speed Old Birds.

A close look at the 10 races counted for the category shows impressive consistency: four 1st places, two 2nd places, three 3rd places, and the weakest result—a 6th place. A record that speaks for itself about the quality and preparation of his team.

Oliviu Râmneanțu entered the season with 52 racers, all flown on widowhood. For the long-distance stages, he relied on proven lines from the Western Province, while for speed events he turned to some of Europe’s top families: Koopman, Dirk Van Dyck, and Jan Van den Pasch.