That the youth is doing quite well in pigeon sport is something we've had to admit multiple times. The 28-year-old Tim Penders has also made quite an impression in a very short time. Pitts went in search of the secret behind this Dutch top player 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 auction. A limited offering, but clearly of the very 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), it all started when a strange racing pigeon arrived among the white fancy pigeons he kept as a teenager in a small loft on the terrace. The pigeon was registered with owner P. Thissen, and as a thank you for the registration, Tim immediately received 20 pigeons to take home and get started. At that time, there wasn't even a loft to put the pigeons in, but Tim quickly found a solution: he had created a small café in the shed in the garden where he initially held weekend parties for friends. Within a few days, this space was transformed into a pigeon loft where, to this day, the breeding pigeons remain. Tim: “In the summer of 2016, I wanted to buy a real pigeon loft, so I went online to search for one. Unfortunately, there were no pigeon lofts for sale in our area, only lofts for other animals, including a canary loft. The loft required a lot of work, and a lot was damaged during dismantling and transport. With a lot of help from my father and friends, I was able to create a fantastic loft. I looked at various lofts online and designed the layout of my loft myself. Mark Renneberg, an old acquaintance of my father, came to see my loft and gave me several good tips.” Over time, the loft has been further expanded and now accommodates 15 racing hens and also has 2 sections for young pigeons.
Focus on the hens
The doffers are only raced as young pigeons. It’s the hens that will later have to defend their honor among the old pigeons. These 15 have their own nest box where they are locked in during the day. The hens are all very tame and particularly aggressive towards each other. In the morning around 06:30, they start their morning training, which usually lasts about 45 minutes. After coming back inside, they are fed and given water and then automatically return to their boxes. Since Tim works as a teacher at the VISTA college in Heerlen, his father usually takes care of the training of the young pigeons in the afternoon. When Tim gets home from work, it's the hens' turn again for their second training. Before the races begin, they are taken out a few times to about 20 kilometers. For the first races, the doffers are not shown for basketting; when the middle-distance races start, they are shown, and that’s when the more exciting races begin for Tim. From the one-day-long races, the hens can spend half a day with their doffer after returning home, depending on the race.
Young pigeons
The 10 breeding pairs are usually paired up in the last week of the Christmas vacation since Tim is off then. Annually, around 60 to 80 young are raised, and since unfortunately, the falcon usually takes about 20/25, there are ultimately around 40-50 left to start. They train once a day and must go up in the air. Once in the air, no flag or anything similar is used. “Pigeons have to want to fly by themselves. If they don’t, in my opinion, something is wrong,” says Tim. Until the first races, the young stay together, and once some pairs have formed, they are separated and trained on the slide door. When they return from the race, they can enjoy each other until evening, after which they are separated again. They are darkened from March until early June. From early August, they are then given extra light until September. The young pigeons are well trained, first let loose from the garden in front of the loft, then with small steps gradually further away until a distance of 20/25 km is reached. They are also caught the evening before the training, then given drinking bowls in the baskets so they can learn to drink.
Breeding Building
Jo and Florian Hendriks: Lines: including the "Joris", "Bettini Lady", "Son New Bliksem", "Deng Lin's Favourit", "Argenton", "New Bettini", "Daughter Olivia", "Brother 081", "Son King Kong")
“Favorietje” (foundation hen Tim) (3rd ace pigeon Midfond, 4 x 1st prize, and 6th NPO Gien 8578 pigeons). Lines Jo and Florian Hendriks and the strain from Jan Ouwekerk.
Henk Schepers from Moergestel: Lines “Olympiade Koppel” including Olympiade Brussels 2017 line from der Merwe, de Bruijn, and Borgmans pigeons. These pigeons have already produced several top performers in the Penders loft!
Sjef and Frank Everts: the “979”, strain of 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 Favorietje
“752” Inbred Favorietje
Nutrition and Medical
The pigeons always get enough to eat and are not kept on a tight diet. The old pigeons receive Galaxy Light from Beyers up to 300 km; from 300 km onward, feeding starts with Galaxy Energy from Beyers. When the day races begin, they are always fed with Galaxy Energy in the last days. The pigeons receive minerals and grit from Patagoon 2 to 3 times a week, and often wheat germ oil or garlic juice combined with vitamin mineral is added to their feed. In the water, Tollyamin is given 3 times a week and upon their return home, which Tim is very satisfied with. The pigeons shine beautifully and come in well.
Before the season starts, the pigeons receive a treatment for trichomoniasis, which is regularly maintained during the season. A number of pigeons are also checked by veterinarian Vincent Schroeder for diseases; should they have anything, they are treated as well. Additionally, before the breeding season, several breeders and flyers are checked to ensure healthy young are born. As soon as the racing season is over, all fliers and breeders receive a paratyphoid treatment. Tim also adds: “I attach great importance to the bond with the young and also with the old pigeons and try to give all the pigeons equal attention so that they know who their owner is.”
Key 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 Middle Distance
- 2nd NPO Youth and beginners Natour
- 2nd Loft Championship Speed Young SS
- 3rd Loft Championship Middle Distance Young SS
- 3rd Loft Championship General Young SS
- 3rd General Champion SS
- 3rd NPO Youth and beginners Day Races
- 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 Middle 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 Long Distance
- 3rd Loft Championship One-Day Long Distance
- 3rd Loft Championship General Young
- 3rd One-Day Long Distance Unassigned Long Distance Club Parkstad
- 3rd Emperor under 800km Long 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 Middle Distance Old
- 1st Pigeon Championship General Old
- 1st Loft Championship General Old
- 1st Loft Championship Middle Distance Old
- 1st Designated Middle Distance Championship Long Distance Club Parkstad
- 2nd General Champion -650km
- 2nd NAT. Loft Championship Designated Middle Distance -30
- 2nd NAT. Pigeon Championship Middle Distance -30
- 2nd Unassigned Middle Distance Championship Long Distance Club Parkstad
- 3rd NAT. Pigeon Championship Unassigned Middle Distance -30
- 3rd Loft Championship One-Day Long 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 Long Distance
- 2nd General champion -650km
- 2nd Pigeon Championship One-Day Long 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.