Since his restart in 2010, Rainer Leisegang from Hattorf, centrally located in Germany, has built a particularly strong reputation in the international pigeon sport. Although he could not participate in the races himself due to his professional activities, his breeding loft has become a constant value among numerous fanciers spread across Europe. The results of his pigeons at other lofts speak for themselves.
The first major international successes did not take long to arrive. In 2010, his friend Patrick Lismont achieved the 2nd National Argenton against no less than 35,867 pigeons with a pigeon from Rainer Leisegang. Three years later, in 2013, another brilliant national result followed. This time it was Ulrich Lemmens who with a pigeon from Hattorf earned the 2nd National Tulle against 7,350 pigeons.
These early successes formed the foundation for a remarkable breeding story. Due to his occupation as a site manager, where he regularly worked away from home, it was impossible for Rainer to participate in the racing flights himself. Therefore, he chose a different approach: his breeding pigeons had to prove their value through their offspring at other lofts.
A total of no less than 17 satellite lofts, spread across five European countries, tested youngsters from his breeding pairs in the following years. Not every delivered pigeon naturally developed into a top bird, but time and again absolute top flyers and exceptional breeders emerged. The number of individual successes has now grown so large that a complete listing would be impossible.
Among the fanciers who achieved or still achieve success with pigeons from Hattorf, we find Patrick Lismont, Veulemans-Perilleux, Schroeven-Hermans, Eddy Claes, Van Hertem-Schuurmans, Linda & Michel Baertsoen, Tino Bergemann, Bernd Spieß, Vollrath Schwitters, Huub Hermans, Meldgard-Jeppsen, Alexandre Peixoto, Stefan Meyer, Albert Brämer and Norbert Fuge. And thus the list is certainly not exhaustive.
The international pigeon press also did not overlook these achievements. In edition 17 of April 24, 2024, the renowned pigeon magazine 'De Duif' wrote:
“Rainer has one of the better breeding lofts in Germany.”
This recognition aligns perfectly with the philosophy with which Rainer has built his colony over the years. It was not the big names or impressive pedigrees that were central, but especially the genetic quality. Children, brothers, and sisters of absolute top pigeons had their chance on his breeding loft to prove themselves as breeders.
A new start after the complete sale in 2024
In 2024, Rainer was forced to sell his entire pigeon stock for health reasons. A drastic decision, but fortunately, this did not mean the definitive end of his activities in pigeon sport.
After an almost complete recovery, he was able to start rebuilding a breeding colony again in 2025. He remained true to his original principles: a limited number of carefully selected breeding pigeons from proven top lines.
The current stock consists of no more than 16 breeding pairs and three reserve hens. Nothing more! A particularly compact colony where quality is clearly more important than quantity.
For this new start, Rainer relied on pigeons from the very best of his friends Patrick Lismont, Luc van Mechelen, and Timo Becker. Additionally, the breeding base was strengthened with children from the foundation pigeons of Sabrina Brugmans, Team Van Oeckel, Niels Broeckx, Gebr. Herbots, and Patrick Vervloesem.
Of course, his own, now particularly successful “Solveig-family” could not be missing.
The “Solveig-family” – more than 450 top prizes!
A special place within Rainer Leisegang's breeding story is reserved for his “Solveig-family,” which has proven its exceptional breeding qualities over the years.
The figures are impressive: children and grandchildren of “Solveig” have collectively achieved more than 450 prizes in the top 10%, while several descendants have also emerged as ace pigeons at all levels.
These achievements underline the exceptional breeding value of the family and simultaneously illustrate what Rainer Leisegang has stood for since his restart in 2010: a small, strictly selected breeding colony whose quality is repeatedly confirmed by performances at other lofts, both in Germany and far beyond.
