Race Report: FCI Arabian Gulf Final – Dubai One Loft Pigeon Race
More than 900 pigeons were released near the Saudi border at 7 AM on February 22, 2025. The birds faced a strong headwind and arrived in scorching conditions, with temperatures reaching 34°C in the shade.
It was a very tough yet fair competition, with 137 pigeons making it home on the same day and nearly 500 returning before the race concluded. The presence of top-tier lofts in the top 100 is a testament to the exceptional quality of the winners.
Al Tahadi Loft emerged victorious with an outstanding dark-checkered hen with white flights. This exceptional racing bird comes from the elite bloodline of Finn by Tom Van Gaver, crossed with Emiel Denys. Finn is regarded as one of the world’s top breeders, and Tom has built his loft around this highly successful lineage. Al Tahadi Loft is not only one of the largest collectors of racing pigeons globally but also an outstanding competitor in both local Qatari races and international one-loft races (OLRs).
The Turkish fanciers performed exceptionally well, securing three spots in the top 10. This comes as no surprise, given the proven track records of Selim Yakup Ramo & Geylani, Ahmet Cavdar, and Team Ulufer & Soellner Pigeons in the OLR circuit. Romanian long-distance specialist Fratii Ursu claimed 4th and 21st place, while Dutch fancier Jort Batenburg was a standout performer in the final, placing two pigeons in the top 10 and several in the top 100. His success is a reflection to breeding only quality pigeons worldwide.
The UAE’s Dubai VIP (Al Hamli Loft) reinforced its reputation as a super loft. After securing five top-100 finishes in last year’s final, the team once again demonstrated its excellence in both the UAE and international competition.
The Emirates RPA Team from Dubai had an incredible season, racking up multiple top-10 finishes and excelling in all Ace competitions. Comprised of several elite lofts from Dubai, this team solidified its position as one of the event’s top performers.
Among the visitors at the final was Dr. Brockamp, who secured 9th place while consistently placing at the top throughout the series. Notably, he kept most of his best pigeons in the race, achieving impressive results.
Other standout performers included Hooymans Racing Pigeons, with five birds finishing in the top 150, further highlighting their remarkable season. Koopman Racing Pigeons placed two pigeons in the top 50, reinforcing their status as an elite breeding loft. Similarly, Ype Hemstra enjoyed a stellar season and secured two top-50 positions in the final.
Finally, it was fantastic to see top pigeons like Burj Khalifa (Kaier) and Victorious (Mostafa El Semary and Al Khaleej Loft) excel in the final. These two pigeons have been dominant in the Ace pigeon standings, further proving their exceptional quality.
Congratulations to the winners :
- 🏆 Al Tahadi Loft 🇶🇦
- 🥈 Selim Yakup Ramo & Geylani 🇹🇷
- 🥉 Ahmet Cavdar 🇹🇷
- Fratii Ursu 🇷🇴
- Jort Batenburg 🇳🇱
- Dubai VIP 🇦🇪
- Team Ulufer & Soellner Pigeons 🇹🇷
- Emirates RPA Team 🇦🇪
- Brockamp Racing Team 🇩🇪
- Jort Batenburg 🇳🇱
- Van Veen – Dalmolen 🇳🇱
- Bart Pepermans 🇧🇪
- Krajcik Daniel & Andrea 🇸🇰
- Team Tom Van Gaver- Alberto Abajo BE 🇧🇪
- Mostafa Elesemary & Al – Khaleej Loft 🇪🇬
- Al Mehairbi Loft 🇦🇪
- Josef Kusser 🇩🇪
- Jaap Koehoorn 🇳🇱
- Jelle Roziers 🇧🇪
- Al Kandari Team 🇰🇼
- Fratii Ursu 🇷🇴
- Team KMS 🇳🇱
- Mostafa Elesemary & Sherif Mousa Team 🇪🇬
- Team Hennie & Arie Voskuil 🇳🇱
- Team Seelen – Te Morsche 🇳🇱
- Loft Verstraete Pigeons 🇧🇪
- Hooymans Pigeons 🇳🇱
- Dediu Daniel + Bruno Starr Olr 🇷🇴
- Nelson Loft 🇬🇧
- Fire Flyers 🇬🇧
- Team Rogala & Dubik & Kita 🇵🇱
- Team Utrecht 🇳🇱
- Emirates RPA Team 🇦🇪
- AlQudra Loft 🇦🇪
- Alfons Klaas 🇩🇪
- Palomar Peregrino 🇲🇽
- Ype Hemstra 🇳🇱
- Brockamp Racing Team 🇩🇪
- Golden Team 🇦🇪
- Kaier Europe 🇧🇪
- Team Van Haute A F 🇧🇪
- Koopman Pigeon Racing 🇳🇱
- Ype Hemstra 🇳🇱
- Wouters Michel – Michel Debecker 🇧🇪
- Millys Dream Team 🇬🇧
- Van Veen – Dalmolen 🇳🇱
- Kadir Can & Taskan Teneke 🇹🇷
- NG Van Reeth 🇧🇪
- Koopman Pigeon Racing 🇳🇱
- Baraq Loft 🇦🇪
