Rebellion Loft | 2026 Season Reflection
For Peter Kamstra of Rebellion Loft, the 2026 racing season was, in his own words, "very average." Flying the natural system as he always does, Peter felt his birds performed reasonably well, although he had hoped for stronger results at the Up North Combine level.
While the birds remained healthy throughout the season, getting them to come directly home proved to be a challenge.
Finding the Positives
Despite a season that didn't quite meet his expectations, Peter had some encouraging highlights. One of the biggest positives was having a concentration of good pigeons in his loft. Birds he had high hopes for turned out to be strong performers, giving him plenty to build on moving forward.
Some of his young birds from Elite Lofts in Innisfil also made a particularly good impression. One youngster finished as Peter's first bird home on four occasions during the season.
An Unusual Disappointment
One of Peter's biggest disappointments was experiencing two flyaways during the young bird season. It's something he rarely encounters, making it an especially frustrating part of the year.
When it came to feeding, Peter made only minor adjustments, trying a different brand of feed. However, he didn't notice any significant difference from the change.
Looking Ahead to 2027
One possible change Peter is considering for next season is darkening his young birds.
He feels that birds flown on the dark system have an advantage, particularly when it comes to maturity and feather development. As he put it, "It seems you can't beat guys who have darkened pigeons."
Whether he decides to make that change remains to be seen, but it's something he's giving serious consideration as he looks toward 2027.
Another Season in the Books
Although 2026 wasn't quite what Peter had hoped for in terms of combine results, there were positives to take away. Good health, promising young birds, and a few standout performances provide something to build on.
Like every racing season, there are lessons to carry forward, and Peter will be looking to put those into practice when the birds take to the skies again in 2027.
A Special Mention: Jake Kamstra
On a more personal note, Peter also wanted to acknowledge his brother, Jake Kamstra. Unfortunately, due to health reasons, Jake has had to retire from pigeon racing after a lifetime in the sport that began when he was a teenager. Now 83, Jake's retirement marks the end of many decades of involvement in a hobby that has clearly been an important part of his life.
It's never easy to step away from something you've been passionate about for so many years. We wish Jake all the best and hope he continues to enjoy the friendships and memories that pigeon racing has brought him.
