Meet the Champion of Race 3: Frits & Wytse Mantel
8/16/2026
Frits & Wytse Mantel are a Dutch father-and-son duo who have been involved in the pigeon sport together since 2008. They are the winners of Race 3 of the AviRings Derby PRO 2026. They have also achieved several notable results in previous AviRings Derby seasons, as reflected in the certificates they have earned over the years.
In this interview, they tell us more about themselves and how they got started in pigeon racing.
»We are a father and son from the northern Netherlands. Since 2008, we have been into pigeon sport together. Frits has had pigeons since he was 14 years old. In 2018, we changed gears and were one of the pioneers in the Netherlands to fully focus on One Loft Races. It has definitely paid off the last few years with good results.«
What were your beginnings like – how did you get into this sport?
»My father started with a pigeon he got from a neighbour. Initially, he trained the pigeons with his bike 10 kilometers away as a young boy. It was so special that they always came back; he immediately enjoyed the pigeon sport. Now, almost 60 years later, the pigeon sport has evolved in a total other way with big One Loft Races, electronic clocking, and GPS rings, for example. But he still enjoys it really much.«
How many times have you participated in AviRings Derby PRO?
»I think we have been participating since the second edition of the race. We really like the new concept with 3 finals of 500km. I think the pigeons that will be on top of that list will be for sure good breeders for the future.«
What made you decide to participate in this year's season?
»The transparency and the earlier mentioned 3x 500km final races are what we really like about the race. Also, many other top fanciers participate in this race, so it's a good competition.«
Can you tell us more about the winning pigeon?
»Our winning pigeon is a grandchild of our top breeder Vardy. The Vardy bloodline has proved itself many times on OLR in recent years. His grandson Alexio won 7. Final Algarve Golden Race in 2022, and he is becoming our new basic breeder.
The winning pigeon is also a grandchild of Alexio. So it's a really special story; both our old and new basic breeders are the grandfathers of this winner.«
What makes this pigeon special?
»Both parents are bred out of co-breeding. The father is from the pairing Vardy with a sister of Victory Best Kittel from Pipa Breeding. And the mother is from the pairing Alexio with Victoria, an OLR breeding tophen from Jelle Jellema. So we also want to thank both Thomas Gysselbrecht and Jelle Jellema for their part in this success.«
Was this pigeon one of your favorites before the race, or was the victory a surprise?
»With this pedigree, it was not really a surprise because there was definitely a breeding philosophy behind it. I think we have a very good bloodline for One Loft Races, and with the co-breeding of the other bloodlines, it makes it even more versatile.«
How did you prepare your pigeons for AviRings Derby PRO Season 6?
»We send our pigeons really early, because we try to have maximal profit of the darkening system. Hopefully it will pay off in the final races. And of course, most important, we started our breeding program with healthy pigeons.«
What would you say is the most important thing when preparing a pigeon for a One Loft Race?
»Try to send a pigeon that is capable of winning on OLR. We know our bloodline can win on these races. But we worked very hard for many years to reach this level with our pigeons. Then, in the end, you also need some luck with the motivation and current shape of your pigeons at the race.«
What does winning the third race of the season mean to you?
»It made us very happy because both our top breeders, Vardy and Alexio, from the old and new generation, were the grandfathers. And also, it was hopefully the beginning of a really nice summer season for us.«
Do you have a message for other participants?
»Enjoy the pigeon sport as much as you can. Because it can give you so much joy. From the whole preparation process to all the nice conversations with fellow participants. Good luck to all the other participants in the next races!«