That the youth is doing quite well in the pigeon sport, we have had to admit several times. The 28-year-old Tim Penders has also made his mark multiple times in a very short period. Pitts went in search of the secret behind this Dutch ace who recently won 1st NAT. SECT. 1B from Issoudun (523km) and brings exclusive pigeons from the heart of this champion colony to the auction. A limited offer, but clearly of the very highest quality! In 2021, Tim won 1st NAT. SECT 1B Grand Prix Orleans (441km), in 2022 1st NAT. SECT. 1B Argenton (588km), and in 2023 1st NAT. SECT. 1B Issoudun (523km).
For Tim Penders (28), everything began when a strange racing pigeon arrived at his white fancy pigeons which he kept as a teenager in a small loft on the terrace. The pigeon was registered with owner P. Thissen, and out of gratitude for the registration, Tim immediately received 20 pigeons to take home to get started. At that moment, there wasn't even a loft to put the pigeons in, but Tim quickly found a solution: in the shed in the garden, he had made his own café where he initially held parties for friends on weekends. In a matter of days, this space was transformed into a pigeon loft, where the breeding pigeons still reside today. 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 pigeon lofts for sale in our area, but there were ho places for other animals including a canary loft. The loft needed a lot of work, and during the dismantling and transport, a lot got damaged. With much help from my father and friends, I was able to build a fantastic loft. I looked at various lofts online and designed the interior of my loft from there. Mark Renneberg, an old acquaintance of my father, came to look at my loft and also gave me some good tips.” Over time, the loft was further expanded and now accommodates 15 racing hens as well as 2 compartments for young pigeons.
Focus on the hens
The doffers are only played as young pigeons. It is the hens who must defend the honor later in the old pigeon category. These 15 have their own nest boxes where they are locked up during the day. The hens are all very tame and particularly intense with each other. In the morning around 06:30 am, they start their morning training, which usually lasts about 45 minutes. After returning, they are fed and given water and naturally go back to their boxes. Since Tim works as a teacher at VISTA college in Heerlen, his father usually trains the young pigeons in the afternoon. When Tim comes home from work, it’s the hens’ turn again for their second training. Before the races begin, they are taken out several times to about 20 kilometers. For the first races, the doffers are not shown for marking, but when the mid-distance races start, they are, and that’s when the more exciting races begin for Tim. Starting from the one-day long-distance races, the hens are allowed to 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 holidays since Tim is on vacation then. Around 60 to 80 young pigeons are raised annually, and since falcons usually take about 20-25 of them, about 40-50 remain to be started. They train once a day and must go up into the air. Once in the air, no flag or anything of the sort is used. “Pigeons must want to fly by themselves. If they don't, to me, there’s something wrong,” says Tim. Until the first races, the young ones stay together, and as soon as some pairs are formed, they are separated and played on the sliding door. When they return from a race, they can enjoy each other until evening, after which they are separated again. They are darkened from March through early June. Starting in early August, they are then illuminated until September. The young pigeons are well trained and first released from the garden in front of the loft, then in small steps progressively further until a distance of 20-25 km is ultimately reached. They are also caught the evening before, get drinkers on the baskets, and can learn to drink that way.
Breeding lines
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” (founding hen Tim) (3rd ace pigeon Mid-distance, 4 x 1st prize and 6th NPO Gien 8578 pigeons). Lines from Jo and Florian Hendriks and the type 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 racers at the Penders loft!
Sjef and Frank Everts: the “979,” type 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
Feeding and medical care
The pigeons are always provided enough to eat and are not kept tight. The old pigeons receive Galaxy Light from Beyers up to 300 km, and from 300 km onwards, they start receiving additional Galaxy Energy from Beyers. When the day-long distance races begin, they are always fed with Galaxy Energy in the last few days. The pigeons receive minerals and grit from Patagoon 2 to 3 times a week, and wheat germ oil or garlic juice combined with vitamin minerals often goes over the feed. In the water, Tollyamin is administered 3 times a week and upon their return; Tim is very satisfied with this. The pigeons shine nicely and maintain a good condition.
Before the season, the pigeons receive a course against trichomonas, which is regularly maintained during the season. Some pigeons are also checked for diseases by veterinarian Vincent Schroeder, and if they have anything, they are treated accordingly. For the breeding season, several breeders and racers are checked to ensure healthy young ones are born. Once the racing season has ended, all racers and breeders receive a paratyphoid treatment. And Tim adds: “Above all, I place a lot of value on the bond with the young ones and also with the old pigeons and try to give all the pigeons equal attention so 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 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-long 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 anniversary
- 2nd Pigeon Championship general anniversary
- 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 Un-designated Racing Club Parkstad
- 3rd Emperor under 800km Racing 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 Racing Club Parkstad
- 2nd General Champion -650km
- 2nd NAT. Loft Championship Designated Mid-distance -30
- 2nd NAT. Pigeon Championship Mid-distance -30
- 2nd Un-designated Mid-distance Championship Racing Club Parkstad
- 3rd NAT. Pigeon Championship Un-designated Mid-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.