The season of long distance stages in the provinces of Moldova and Oltenia began with a real demonstration of strength. At the end of the basketing evening for the Vilnius (Moldova) and Tokmak (Oltenia) competitions, we could see that the participation in the two competitions is a huge one, truly historical for the recent times of the Romanian pigeon fancier sport. For example, 22,070 pigeons were basketed for the Vilnius stage, and 16,467 pigeons were employed in the Tokmak one. These numbers were made possible by the participation of 927 pigeon fanciers from each province, with the exception of almost all the associations in the two groups taking part. 

In the general rankings, the competition in Vilnius was won by Paul-Vasile Ticu (Iași County), and in the breeders competition Constantin Bolboros (Botoșani County) won, while the Tokmak stage was won by Mihai Anghel (Argeș County ), and George Vochin (Dolj county), for breeders. This season’s Vilnius and Tokmak marathon competitions produced a unique emulation in the provinces of Moldova and Oltenia, gaining a scope that we had encountered until now only at the national stages. However, the participation figures are much higher comparing them to the last national marathon stages last year, for example.

The two competitions were similar in terms of distances, starting from a plus 820 km to the first fanciers and reaching around 1000 km to the last pigeon fanciers.

 Paul-Vasile Ticu (IS), the 1st place winner out of 22,070 pigeons

The Vilnius marathon competition was organized by the Bacău Pigeon Association, but fanciers from seven associations from the province of Moldova participated. To a greater or lesser extent, 927 fanciers from Bacău, Botoșani, Suceava, Vaslui, Neamț, Iași and Vrancea participated. The first place of the entire launch was won in the Iași Association, the big winner being Paul-Vasile Ticu from Târgu-Frumos. Even if in the ranking system, the winning pigeon is noted as a hen, in fact it is a young cock, reproduced last year, and this is the first marathon of his career. The cock, with the series RO-19-0426059, finished the 884 km race after more than ten hours of flight, arriving home at 17:36:00. The average speed he achieved is 1424.53 m / min. “The male competed using the natural method. He even mated much later than the others, which is why I thought it was a hen and appears as a hen in the rankings. As origins, it comes from several lines of important marathon pigeons, but in its pedigree are also found pigeons Jan van de Pasch or Nini Enăchescu. His father is the 1st place in the province of Moldova in the All-round category, and his mother is the 4th provincial place in the same category. He ranked five stages so far, including this marathon, and will continue to go to competitions, with the hope that he will achieve something remarkable at the end of the season “, said Paul-Vasile Ticu. In counties rankings, Vilnius competition is as follows: Bacău – 1st place: Grădinaru Roal (2,802 pigeons); Botoșani – 1st place: Ciprian Cozma (4,513 pigeons); Iasi – 1st place: Paul-Vasile Ticu (1,974 pigeons); Neamț – 1st place: Gabi Nour (4,416 pigeons); Suceava-1st place: Relu and Gheorghe Străchinaru (6,666 pigeons); Vaslui – 1st place: Daisa family (1,679 pigeons).

 Tokmak – 1st place won by Mihai Anghel (AG)

The organization of the Tokmak stage was the task of the Dolj Pigeon Association. With the exception of the Mehedinți Pigeon Association, in which only five fanciers participated, the rest of the associations from Oltenia (Dolj, Gorj, Olt, Argeș and Vâlcea), plus 26 fanciers from Teleorman, contributed for a super marathon stage, unique, until now, in this region, with 16,467 pigeons and 927 fanciers at the start. The first place of the ranking was won in Argeș, the “author” of this result being Mihai Anghel. His hen, RO-18-9006821, covered the distance of 844 km of the stage with an average speed of 1123.63 m / min., reaching her loft at 17:46:13. “This hen is a good flier of my team, last year, at the age of one, ranking nine stages, of which five of over 600 km. It was the 3rd place in the county in the Gold Club, after two other pigeons, also mine. As origins, it comes from a hen from Gelu Vochin, daughter of the national vice-champion for Ace Marathon category, and the father is reproduced from two pigeons from Vasile Bădin. The hen’s father was a good flier, and now he proves to be a very good breeder. In fact, they are a very good family of pigeons, which brought me a lot of results. From a sister of the cock was reproduced the hen with the 1st place on Craiova club at the Tartu race in 2019, and from a brother of his was reproduced the 1st place provincial Ace Maraton in 2017, pigeon competed by my brother, Iulian Anghel. The method I compete them is total widowhood, with both cocks and hens. The feed I use is produced by Vanrobaeys, and for this competition, the pigeons were taken to a single training before basketing, from a distance of 30 km “, said Mihai Anghel. In the county rankings, the winners of this competition are: Dolj – 1st place: George Vochin (5,471 pigeons); Gorj- 1st place: Daniel Banculea (925 pigeons); Argeș – 1st place: Mihai Anghel (3,607 pigeons), Olt – 1st place: Florian Cernițu (4,286 pigeons); Vâlcea – 1st place: Dumitru Florescu (1,613 pigeons).

After this spectacular debut, the highlight of the current season will be the national stages. The first of these, the so-called “seminationals”, will take place right at the end of this week, while at the beginning of August the classic competitions Izium Național, Berlin Național, Birzai Național and the others will take place.