When the Marathon Pigeon Shows Its True Value: Frankfurt Oder, Kaunas and Madona – Three Races, Three Tests for Moldova’s Marathon Elite

In Marathon racing, the final result is merely the last chapter of a story that begins long before race day. A pigeon that covers 900, 1,000 or 1,100 kilometres and returns on the same day or during the first hours of the following day is not simply a well-trained pigeon. In most cases, it is the product of rigorous selection, a valuable breeding family, a proven racing system and flawless preparation.

The 2026 season has already brought three major tests for Moldova’s Marathon pigeons: Frankfurt Oder, Kaunas and Madona. Three release points, three different types of races and three different stories, but all sharing the same common denominator: the Marathon pigeon.

Frankfurt Oder National 2026 – Where Extreme Distance Truly Begins

The first major test of the Extreme Distance season took place at Frankfurt Oder on June 26, 2026. Liberation was at 06:12, and depending on their home loft, the pigeons faced distances ranging from approximately 950 to more than 1,100 kilometres.

A total of 1,425 pigeons, entered by 232 fanciers from several Moldovan branches and beyond, took part in the race. Such a field automatically turns the event into a serious test, both for the pigeon and for the man behind it. Under these circumstances, Frankfurt Oder was certainly not just another Marathon race with a few extra kilometres. By the time the race was closed, only 31.58% of the pigeons had returned, and a significant number of the classified birds had to complete their race on the second day.

Florin Antohe – Stage Winner

The overall classification was dominated by Florin Antohe from Roman, Neamț Branch, with the hen RO-2022-1248739. The pigeon covered 1,076 kilometres and arrived at the home loft at 20:40:49, recording an average speed of 1,238.50 m/min. In a race of such magnitude, this is a performance that speaks volumes.

The hen was not an accidental performer. She already had experience in long-distance competition, with classifications at Berlin International 2025, Roela National 2025 and Birzai National 2024. In other words, this was a pigeon that had already passed through a demanding selection process, rather than one that simply had a single exceptional day.

Relu Iurieți – Winners of the Loft Team Classification

While Florin Antohe dominated the individual classification, Relu Iurieți from Corni, Botoșani Branch, produced the real display of strength at team level. With 20 pigeons entered, he managed to clock nine and win the fancier/team classification with 26.67 points. His first pigeon, the cock RO-2023-1100051, arrived at 21:19:16 after covering 1,003 kilometres, taking 16th place overall. Another arrival followed just two minutes later, while at 22:30:59 the hen RO-2023-1100061 arrived, completing Relu Iurieți’s team and taking 22nd place overall. It should be noted that both of Relu Iurieți’s designated team pigeons had already achieved the As Extreme category standard in the previous season. 

Kaunas National – The Marathon in Which Class Pigeons Confirmed Their Quality

At Kaunas, on July 12, 2026, both the landscape and the scale of the competition changed. A total of 14,554 pigeons entered by 1,088 fanciers took part in a race that became one of the most important Marathon tests of the season. Liberation was at 08:25, while the distances were around 850–880 kilometres.

Boghean & Popa – Another Victory, Another Confirmation

The overall classification was won by the Boghean & Popa partnership from Burdujeni Centre, Suceava Branch. Their cock RO-2023-0674085 covered 867 kilometres and arrived at the loft at 20:27:44, recording an average speed of 1,200.83 m/min. For Boghean & Popa, the Kaunas result came after their victory in the Jonava race, covering approximately 856 kilometres. Two victories in the same season turn the result from a simple success into a genuine confirmation of form and quality.

Cardei Mircea & Furlan – Two Classifications, Almost Simultaneous

The fancier/team classification was won by Cardei Mircea & Furlan, also from Burdujeni Centre. With only six pigeons entered, the partnership managed to score with two designated team pigeons that arrived almost simultaneously: one at 20:49:16 and the other at 20:49:25. The two pigeons occupied 43rd and 44th places overall, while their score of 5.98 points was enough to secure victory in the team classification.

Madona National 2026 – The Race in Which the Pigeons Even Beat the Night

If Frankfurt Oder was a test of endurance and Kaunas a test of consistency and class, Madona National 2026 was the true examination of an Extreme Distance pigeon. On July 12, 2026, Suceava Branch released 18,630 pigeons entered by 1,197 fanciers, representing an impressive number of branches, centres and clubs. The release point was Madona, Latvia, and the distances ranged from approximately 1,055 kilometres to more than 1,190 kilometres, depending on the home loft. What makes Madona particularly impressive is the fact that some pigeons continued flying after sunset. There were pigeons that refused to end their race when daylight disappeared. In other words, these were the pigeons every serious Marathon fancier wants in his or her team.

Daniel Beniuga – Stage Winner

The overall classification was won by Daniel Beniuga from Ipotești, Suceava Branch. His hen RO-24-0100446 covered 1,076 kilometres, arriving at 00:22:26 and recording an average speed of 1,238.67 m/min. The arrival is impressive not only because of the position achieved, but also because of the time at which it took place: 00:22:26. At such an arrival time, we are no longer talking about an ordinary race. We are talking about the ability of certain pigeons to continue flying after darkness has fallen and to maintain their orientation even during the night.

Ionuț Tănasă and the Team That Turned the Night into a Weapon

While Daniel Beniuga produced the winner of the overall classification, Ionuț Tănasă was the great winner at team level. With 75 pigeons entered, he managed to clock 39, with ten pigeons arriving during the night. Seven of them finished inside the top 100 of the overall classification. His first pigeon arrived at 01:13:52 and took 8th place. The first designated team pigeon arrived at 01:37:40 and finished 11th overall. Further arrivals followed, while a fifth pigeon, the second team pigeon, arrived at 02:36:29 in 38th place. The team included two already-established hens, Miss Code and Magic 126, and they made a decisive contribution to the victory in the team classification.

A Few Conclusions

Viewed separately, Frankfurt Oder, Kaunas and Madona are three different races. Viewed together, they tell the same story. The true Marathon pigeon is a product of selection. It is not enough to have a fast pigeon. It is not enough to have an impressive pedigree. It is not even enough to have a good generation. At Extreme Distance level, a pigeon must prove that it can: fly hundreds upon hundreds of kilometres without losing its direction; manage its effort and conserve its energy; return from a race that, for many pigeons, represents the limits of physical endurance; repeat its performance and, in the toughest situations, continue flying even after evening has fallen.

As for the performers of these stages, they are fanciers whose breeding lofts are built around tested breeders, whose racing pigeons have gone through rigorous selection, and who have developed and perfected, over time, proven racing systems—whether widowhood or natural racing.