Becoming, with any doubt, the most important national marathon stage in Romania, the “National Race” Berlin is approaching its tenth edition. This season, the National  Berlin competition will be organized for the tenth consecutive year and, as always, will be the most important and long-awaited moment of the competitional year.

The adventure called ” Berlin National ” started exactly a decade ago and has evolved slowly, but surely, so that today, in Romania and beyond, Berlin National is the most famous marathon stage in our country. From 2011 until now, the National Berlin competition has contributed to the assertion of Romania and Romanian pigeon fanciers, but perhaps the most important aspect is that each edition of the National Berlin competition has brought to the fore new winners, for each on who won this stage meaning a huge step forward.

Ionuț Burcă from Arad opened this special list of champions, so that in the following seasons other pigeon fanciers could see their dream come true: Ioan Sărac (2012), Cornel and David Ursu (2013), Flavius ​​Vancea (2014), Ioan Szilagyi (2015), Constantin and Dinu Curea (2016), Constantin Lupu-Asavei (2017), Team Nicola + Dehelean (2018) and, last but not least, last year’s big winner, Sergiu Vanani. From the very beginning, the responsibility for everything that means the Berlin National competition was on the Bihor Columbofile Association’s shoulders , which organized it in an exemplary manner. In addition to the other prizes at stake (plaques, packages of pigeon products, etc.), the winner of the first place is awarded a special trophy and, starting with 2019, the decor is very elegant. Especially for such moments, the “Champions Gala” was promoted, a festivity in which all the pigeon fanciers who took a place on the podium at the national stages are awarded. Another special feature of this special race is the emulation it creates at the level of fanciers from all over the country. Even if it is a stage organized in the Western area and, somewhat, “fenced” in the Carpathian mountains chain, every edition of this competition was attended by pigeon fanciers from all areas of Romania. For example, last year, fanciers from Neamț or Prahova counties participated, with distances of approximately 1,300 km. A very good example that Berlin National is a fair competition for all participants and can be won at any distance is the 2017 edition, when the first place in the competition was won by Constantin Lupu-Asavei from Iasi County, at a distance of 1,201 km. So, for such a race, the distances represent, at a certain level, only some numbers, the “surprise” can occur from any corner of the country. For this reason, any participation can be a winner. In fact, such a race is not only for the sake of participation, but only to win!

In front of a new edition of Berlin National, this time an anniversary one, we can only hope for another national competition. The preparations are on the last hundred meters, and the expectations are in line with the efforts made for the smooth running of the stage. Certainly, Berlin National 2020 will be a new race that will be part of the beautiful history of the Romanian pigeon sport and will provide unique emotions to the big winner. As always, Berlin National will keep us in a beautiful state of pressure this year until we know who will be able to say from now on: “I am one of those who won a race like Berlin National!”