That the youth is doing quite well in pigeon racing is something we have had to admit multiple times. The 28-year-old Tim Penders has also made his presence known several times in a very short period. Pitts sought to uncover the secret behind this Dutch ace, who recently won a 1st NAT. SECT. 1B from Issoudun (523km) and is exclusively bringing a number of pigeons from the heart of this champion colony to the auction. A limited offering, but clearly of the highest quality! In 2021, Tim won a 1st NAT. SECT 1B Grand Prix Orleans (441km), in 2022 a 1st NAT. SECT. 1B Argenton (588km), and in 2023 a 1st NAT. SECT. 1B Issoudun (523km).
For Tim Penders (28), everything began when a strange traveling pigeon arrived among his white fancy pigeons that he kept as a teenager in a small loft on the terrace. The pigeon was reported to owner P. Thissen, and in gratitude for the report, Tim immediately received 20 pigeons to take home to start with. At that time, there wasn't even a loft to place the pigeons in, but Tim quickly found a solution: in the shed in the garden, he had created a little café where he initially held parties for friends on weekends. In just a few days, this space was transformed into a loft where, to this day, the breeding pigeons reside. Tim: “In the summer of 2016, I wanted to buy a real pigeon loft, so I started looking for one online. Unfortunately, there were no lofts for sale in our area, only ones for other animals, including a canary loft. The loft required a lot of work, and during the dismantling and transport, a lot was damaged. With much help from my father and friends, I was able to create a fantastic loft here. I looked at various lofts online and designed the interior of the loft myself. Mark Renneberg, an old acquaintance of my father, came to see my loft and also gave me some good tips.” Over time, the loft was further expanded and now houses 15 racing hens and 2 sections for young pigeons.
Focus on the hens
The doffers are only raced as young pigeons. It is the hens that must later defend the honor among the old pigeons. These 15 have their own nest boxes where they are confined during the day. The hens are all very tame and particularly aggressive toward each other. In the morning around 06:30, they begin their morning training, which usually lasts about 45 minutes. After returning, they are fed and given water, and the hens naturally return to their boxes. Since Tim works as a teacher at VISTA college in Heerlen, his father usually takes care of the training for the young pigeons in the afternoon. When Tim returns home from work, the hens are back for their second training session. Before the races begin, they are taken out several times for a distance of about 20 kilometers. During the first races, the doffers are not shown for the basket, but when the mid-distance races commence, they are shown, and only then do the more interesting races start for Tim. From the one-day long-distance races, the hens may spend half a day with their doffer after returning home, depending on the race.
Young pigeons
The 10 breeding pairs are usually paired in the last week of the Christmas vacation since Tim has a holiday then. Each year, around 60 to 80 young pigeons are produced, and since birds of prey unfortunately usually take about 20/25, around 40-50 remain to start with. They train once a day and must go up in the air. Once in the air, there is no flag or anything like it used. “Pigeons must want to fly on their own. If they don’t, they are not right, in my opinion,” says Tim. Until the first races, the young pigeons stay together, and as soon as pairs are formed, they are separated and played on the sliding door. Upon returning from the race, they can enjoy together until the evening, after which they are separated again. They are darkened from March until the beginning of June. Starting in early August, they are then lit until September. The young pigeons are well trained, first released from the garden in front of the loft, then gradually further until a distance of 20/25 km is achieved. They are also always caught the evening before, receiving drinkers attached to the baskets so they can learn to drink.
Breeding foundation
Jo and Florian Hendriks: Lines: including the “Joris,” “Bettini Lady,” “Son New Bliksem,” “Deng Lin’s Favorite,” “Argenton,” “New Bettini,” “Daughter Olivia,” “Brother 081,” “Son King Kong”)
“Favorite” (Tim's foundation hen) (3rd ace pigeon Mid-distance, 4 x 1st prize and 6th NPO Gien 8578 pigeons). Lines of Jo and Florian Hendriks and the breed of Jan Ouwekerk.
Henk Schepers from Moergestel: Lines “Olympiad Pair” including Olympiad Brussels 2017 line van der Merwe, de Bruijn, and Borgmans pigeons. These pigeons have already produced various top flyers at the Penders loft!
Sjef and Frank Everts: the “979,” breed Cees and Maurice Everling from Gouda (Line “Nanteuil”) and Jo and Florian Hendriks.
“076” Mother of 1st NAT. SECT. 1B Argenton
“592” flew 1st NAT. Grand Prix Orleans and 8th NPO Sens
“699” Daughter of Favorite
“752” Inbred Favorite
Feeding and medical
The pigeons always receive enough food and are not kept short. The old pigeons receive Galaxy Light from Beyers up to 300 km, and from 300 km, supplementary feeding with Galaxy Energy from Beyers begins. As the day races start, feeding is consistently with Galaxy Energy in the last days. The pigeons receive minerals and grit from Patagoon 2 to 3 times per week, and wheat germ oil or garlic juice mixed with vitamin mineral is often sprinkled over the food. Tollyamin is administered in the water 3 times a week and upon return, which Tim is very pleased with. The pigeons shine beautifully and come up very well.
Before the season, the pigeons receive a treatment against trichomoniasis, which is regularly maintained during the season. Several pigeons are also checked for diseases by veterinarian Vincent Schroeder; if they have something, they are treated. Also, before the breeding season, a number of breeders and racers are checked to ensure healthy young are born. Once the racing season is over, all racers and breeders receive a paratyphoid treatment. Tim adds: “I place great value above all on the bond with the young ones as well as with the old pigeons, and I try to give all pigeons equal attention so they know who their owner is.”
Major results
2019
- 12x 1st prize
- 8x 2nd prize
- 10x 3rd prize
- 6th NPO Gien 8578 pigeons.
- 1st NPO Youth and Beginners General
- 1st NPO Youth and Beginners Speed
- 1st NPO Youth and Beginners Young Pigeons
- 1st NPO designated Speed -30
- 2nd NPO Youth and Beginners Mid-distance
- 2nd NPO Youth and Beginners Natour
- 2nd Loft Championship Speed Young SS
- 3rd Loft Championship Mid-distance Young SS
- 3rd Loft Championship General Young SS
- 3rd General Champion SS
- 3rd NPO Youth and Beginners Day Distance
- 3rd NAT General Ladies League
- 3rd NAT Designated Ladies League
- 3rd Pigeon Championship Speed Old SS
- 3rd Loft Championship General Old SS
- 4th Pigeon Championship Return SS
2020
- 12x 1st prize
- 8x 2nd prize
- 11x 3rd prize
- 15th NPO Chalons en Champagne
- 24th NPO Sezanne 8463 pigeons.
- 1st General champion
- 1st Pigeon Championship general old
- 1st Loft Championship mid-distance old
- 1st Loft Championship general old
- 1st Pigeon Championship general yearlings
- 2nd Pigeon Championship general yearlings
- 2nd Pigeon Championship return
- 2nd Pigeon Championship general old
- 2nd Pigeon Championship one-day distance
- 3rd Loft Championship one-day distance
- 3rd Loft Championship general young
- 3rd One-day Distance Non-designated Distance Club Parkstad
- 3rd Emperor under 800km Distance Club Parkstad!!
2021
- 1st NPO Orleans 3330 pigeons.
- 8th NPO Sens 9440 pigeons.
- 23rd NPO Orleans 1494 pigeons.
- 37th NPO Issoudun 4401 pigeons.
- 53rd NPO Melun 2310 pigeons.
- 79th NPO Nanteuil 2310 pigeons.
- 81st NPO Melun 13978 pigeons.
- 81st NPO Orleans 1494 pigeons.
- 81st NPO Mettet 3240 pigeons.
- 88th NPO Melun 13978 pigeons.
- 99th NPO Orleans 3330 pigeons.
- 103rd NPO Melun 2310 pigeons.
- 105th NPO Montlucon 1385 pigeons.
- 109th NPO Issoudun 4401 pigeons.
- 113th NPO Melun 2310 pigeons.
- 1st Pigeon Championship Mid-distance old
- 1st Pigeon Championship General Old
- 1st Loft Championship General Old
- 1st Loft Championship Mid-distance Old
- 1st Designated Mid-distance Championship Distance Club Parkstad
- 2nd General Champion -650km
- 2nd NAT. Loft Championship Designated Mid-distance -30
- 2nd NAT. Pigeon Championship Mid-distance -30
- 2nd Non-designated Mid-distance Championship Distance Club Parkstad
- 3rd NAT. Pigeon Championship Non-designated Mid-distance -30
- 3rd Loft Championship One-day Distance
- 3rd Pigeon Championship Return
- 3rd Loft Championship Return
2022
- 1st NAT. SECT. 1B Argenton 3705 pigeons.
- 1st NPO Argenton 1390 pigeons.
- 30th NPO Vichy 1234 pigeons.
- 62nd NPO Orleans 1961 pigeons.
- 76th NPO Arcis sur Aube 6713 pigeons.
- 79th NPO Melun 3710 pigeons.
- 82nd NPO Issoudun 1252 pigeons.
- 95th NPO Argenton 1390 pigeons.
- 1st Pigeon Championship One-day Distance
- 2nd General champion -650km
- 2nd Pigeon Championship One-day Distance
2023
- 1st NAT. SECT 1B. Issoudun 3252 pigeons.
- 1st NPO Issoudun 1343 pigeons.
- 16th NPO Issoudun 3249 pigeons.
- 18th NPO Sens 2180 pigeons.
- 35th NAT. SECT 1B. Vierzon 3452 pigeons.
- 57th NPO Lorris 8635 pigeons.
- 58th NPO Lorris 8635 pigeons.
- 59th NPO Vierzon 1359 pigeons.
- 63rd NPO Vierzon 1359 pigeons.
- 64th NAT. SECT 1B. Vierzon 3452 pigeons.
- 67th NPO Vierzon 1359 pigeons.
- 69th NAT. SECT 1B. Vierzon 3452 pigeons.
- 73rd NAT. SECT 1B. Vierzon 3452 pigeons.
- 84th NPO Sens 2180 pigeons.