On the plains of Croatian Slavonia, along the banks of the Bosut River, one of the most prestigious pigeon racing derbies in Central Europe is underway. The AS Croatia Derby 2026 , based in Đakovo and organized by Petar Brlošić, has already completed four races during August and is now entering its decisive phase with the 450km semi-final and the 550km grand final still to be run.
A structure designed to select
What distinguishes the Derby AS Croatia from other one-loft races is its staggered training and competition program: 18 preparation flights ranging from 5 to 70 km, five qualifying races from 150 to 350 km, a semi-final, a grand final, and an optional 620 km super final. In total, the most consistent pigeons accumulate more than 3,200 km of racing before the season ends.
The launching loft is in Đakovo, and the pigeons represent all of Europe: Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Croatia, Serbia, Italy, Slovenia, and Poland have all placed birds in the top positions throughout August. With nearly a thousand pigeons in the program, the level of international participation is among the highest in the Balkan region. Real-time electronic tracking is provided by BENZING Live, with times recorded to the millisecond.
The results of August
Hotspot 1: 150 km from Tamasi (August 11)
The first points race took place in demanding conditions: a headwind and intense heat across the Slavonian plains. Despite the weather, speeds were high and margins were minimal. Team van der Maas (Belgium) was the fastest with 1,245.51 m/min; second-place finisher Ivica Pogačić (Croatia) was just 0.24 seconds behind. Rounding out the top five were Dr. Oflin & Kujtim Sejda (Germany), Team Ločniškar (Slovenia), and Tim Vila Velebita (Croatia). The return to the loft on the first day exceeded 85%.
Race 3: 250 km from Kisbér (August 14)
Just three days after the hotspot, the competition returned to the baskets for the 250km race from Kisbér, Hungary. Team SKYBAR (Belgium) took the victory with a speed of 1,185.82 m/min in a final decided by fourteen hundredths of a second over Mirjana Prpić (Serbia). Goran Gusak (Croatia) completed the podium, also placing a second pigeon in ninth position in the same race.
Race 4: 311 km from Nove Zamky (August 23)
The longest race held to date, with 905 pigeons in the loft and an 84% return rate on the first day, produced the fastest flight of the month. Dreger (Germany) entered the loft at 10:53:28 with a speed of 1,332.09 m/min, leaving Team Theobald (also Germany) six seconds behind. The international podium was completed by Team Jacover Trieste NDT (Italy), with Goldental (Croatia) and Michiel Averesch (Netherlands) in fourth and fifth place, respectively.
The three results confirm that the 2026 AS Croatia Derby has no clear favorite: Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands have each won one race, with Croatia and Serbia also appearing on the podium. This geographical spread indicates that the field is still wide open and any of the frontrunners could win the grand final.
What remains: semi-final, grand final and super final
The calendar still holds the most important races for the final standings. The 450km semi-final will act as the last qualifier before the grand final. The 550km grand final offers €60,000 in prizes, with €12,000 for the overall winner and prizes for the top 50 finishers. For the longest-distance pigeons, the 620km super final also distributes 70% of the entry fees among the participants who finish.
Technical support is complemented by Vanrobaeys in nutrition and Vet Schroeder Tollisan in veterinary assistance. Pigeons offered for sale after the competition will be auctioned through PIPA's auction system.
Why this derby is worth following
The AS Croatia Derby offers something not always found in major competitions: times published down to the millisecond, differences measured in hundredths of a second, and the ability to follow every launch live from home. For a breeder looking to evaluate their bloodlines under real competition conditions and test whether their stock can withstand 550 km at speeds exceeding 1,200 m/min, this race is an invaluable data source. The semi-final and grand final will determine the 2026 winners before the end of the European summer.
If you already have pigeons that have participated in the AS Croatia Derby or other races of this level, registering their pedigree and results on FirePedigree is the easiest way to ensure that history travels with the bird when it comes time to breed or sell.