Gebr. Simons & Zoon from Ransdaal in South Limburg has been a respected name in Dutch pigeon racing for decades. After a particularly successful racing career, the family has decided not to participate in racing events from 2027 onwards. However, their passion for pigeons remains unabated, as the valuable breeding colony will be retained. Through Pitts, enthusiasts now have the opportunity to add 22 direct young pigeons from this successful colony to their loft, including several offspring of proven winners and foundation birds!
A family loft with an impressive history
Those who have followed pigeon racing in Limburg, Netherlands, for a while will undoubtedly recognize the name Gebr. Simons & Zoon. For decades from Ransdaal, they have worked with great passion, craftsmanship, and consistent selection on a colony that distinguished itself at various distances. The results were notable, and the family became a solid presence in regional pigeon racing.
In 2007, when the family became the 25th General Champion of the Great Collaboration Valkenburg, they reached an extraordinary milestone that speaks volumes about the consistency with which this loft performed. It's impressive to have one strong season, but showing up at the top year after year requires a solid foundation and rigorous selection.
The quality is not solely a thing of the past, as evidenced by the results from the most recent seasons. In 2025 and 2026, the pigeons from Ransdaal proved to be exceptionally strong once again.
Another impressive run of championships in 2025
The 2025 racing season yielded numerous beautiful awards. A standout was NL23-9500024 ‘Milke’, who captured the title of 1st Pigeon Champion One-Day Long Distance 2025 for Fondclub Midden-Limburg with five prize results. A wonderful accolade for a hen that would also confirm her class in the following season.
The family could also reflect on a successful season at the Department Limburg level, including a 6th Loft Champion Middle Distance, 14th Pigeon Champion Middle Distance, and 16th Loft Champion One-Day Long Distance.
Moreover, the results in Samenspel Maasvallei were particularly strong. There, they achieved both the 1st and 2nd Foundation Pigeon Yearlings, the 1st and 10th Foundation Pigeon Old Pigeons, as well as the 1st and 8th Foundation Pigeon Young Pigeons. Additionally, numerous honorary placements followed in the one-day long distance, middle distance, and sprint categories, including the 2nd, 4th, and 9th Pigeon Champion One-Day Long Distance, 3rd Pigeon Champion Middle Distance, 4th and 8th Young Pigeons Middle Distance, and 5th and 9th Young Pigeons Sprint.
A record that clearly shows the strength of this colony was not limited to a single discipline. Both the old pigeons and the yearlings and young pigeons performed exceptionally well at various distances.
Even in 2026, there were still impressive victories!
Although 2026 would ultimately be the last active racing season, the pigeons of Gebr. Simons & Zoon continued to prove their qualities this year. For instance, ‘Milke’ provided a splendid 1st prize from Argenton against 894 pigeons on June 6.
Victories were also achieved in Issoudun on two occasions. On May 23, NL24-7010840 took the 1st prize against 511 pigeons, while NL24-8592810 was the fastest among 399 pigeons on June 20.
Three beautiful victories in the French races emphasize once more that the family had pigeons capable of outshining the competition right up until their final racing season.
The decision to stop participating in races from 2027 onwards marks the end of a particularly successful chapter. The family is saying goodbye to active competition, but certainly not to the pigeons themselves. On the contrary, the carefully built breeding colony will remain in Ransdaal.
Direct offspring from proven top flyers!
This is where the great appeal of the collection offered via Pitts lies. It’s not just about young pigeons from a colony with a rich history. Several youngsters offered are directly descended from hens that have themselves delivered impressive performances. Enthusiasts get the chance to acquire offspring from proven racers directly from the original loft.
One of the most notable mothers is undoubtedly NL21-1420014, an excellent racing hen who stood out over several seasons. She won, among other races, 1st Arcis-sur-Aube against 2,268 pigeons, 5th Sens against 10,653 pigeons, 6th Châteauroux against 521 pigeons, and 33rd Sens against 10,336 pigeons. From this exceptionally fruitful hen, two direct offspring are offered: NL26-8268248 and NL26-8268249.
Equally interesting are the two direct daughters of ‘Milke’ (NL23-9500024). This champion hen crowned herself as the 1st Pigeon Champion One-Day Long Distance at Fondclub Midden-Limburg in 2025 and confirmed her qualities in 2026 with the 1st prize from Argenton against 894 pigeons. Additionally, she achieved, among other results, a 6th in Issoudun against 399 pigeons. With NL26-8268399 and NL26-8268400, two direct daughters of this champion hen will be up for auction.
Also, NL23-9500020 deserves special attention. This versatile winner achieved 1st Sourdun against 1,356 pigeons and 1st Issoudun against 145 pigeons. In addition, she had a 2nd Sourdun against 3,708 pigeons and 9th Argenton against 894 pigeons. Two direct offspring from her are also offered, namely NL26-8268675 and NL26-8268676.
Another interesting figure in the breeding colony is NL24-8592810, who won from Issoudun against 399 pigeons in the last racing season. This hen also recorded beautiful results in other participations at Issoudun. Her direct daughter NL26-8268677 is also part of the Pitts collection.
Furthermore, we have NL21-1418509, a particularly consistent top flyer who achieved 2nd Rethel against 498 pigeons and 2nd Brienne against 291 pigeons, alongside various other top prizes at Rethel and Châteauroux. Two direct sons from this hen, NL26-8268242 and NL26-8268243, are being offered.
The performances of NL21-1420016 should also not go unmentioned. This hen won the 1st prize from Melun against 352 pigeons, followed by 2nd Vichy against 123 pigeons and 5th Issoudun against 511 pigeons. With NL26-8267163 and NL26-8268385, enthusiasts have the chance to add two direct sons of this winner to their breeding loft.
These are all examples of how Gebr. Simons & Zoon incorporates their proven racing pigeons into breeding. The offered youngsters have not yet participated in racing but come from parents who have shown their qualities in practice.
A strong breeding foundation with internationally renowned bloodlines
In addition to their own performances, the colony of Gebr. Simons & Zoon relies on a carefully assembled breeding foundation that includes various internationally recognized pigeon families.
Among them is the blood of Gaby Vandenabeele, with famous names like ‘Rudy’, ‘Bliksem’, ‘New Bliksem’, ‘Super Romeo’, ‘Royal Blue’, and ‘Vicky’. A pigeon family that has made its mark on modern racing pigeons worldwide.
The lines of Gaston Van de Wouwer are also present, including ‘Kaasboer’, ‘New Kim’, ‘Maria’, and ‘Torre’. Additionally, successful breeding material from C & G Koopman has been utilized, with notable names like ‘Branco’, ‘Kyan’, ‘Kyara’, and ‘Eenpoot’.
By combining these internationally valued bloodlines with their own successful racing pigeons and years of selection, a breeding foundation has been built in Ransdaal where both pedigree and proven performances play a crucial role.
22 young pigeons from a colony that continued winning until the end
For this special Pitts auction, Gebr. Simons & Zoon selected 22 unflown young pigeons from 2026, directly sourced from their own breeding. A collection where various generations of successful racing pigeons and interesting bloodlines come together.
The direct offspring of the top flyers mentioned above undoubtedly represent some of the main attractions, but the other youngsters offered also possess interesting pedigrees and strong performances within their immediate family.
It’s important to emphasize that this is not a complete loft sale. The family is stopping active participation in racing from 2027 onwards, but they will retain their valuable breeders. Their passion for pigeon racing and breeding quality pigeons continues to exist.
For enthusiasts looking for reinforcement from a long-term successful colony, this sale presents an interesting opportunity. Not only because of the impressive history of the loft, but especially because the quality has also been confirmed in the most recent seasons.
Through Pitts, enthusiasts now have the chance to draw directly from this proven colony while the breeding tradition in Ransdaal continues unabated.