On Saturday, May 24th, 2025, all eyes were on the prestigious race from Issoudun (516 km) for Section 4 in the Netherlands. The pigeons were released at 06:45 AM under warm conditions with high velocities recorded throughout. But one name stole the show with a display of dominance rarely seen in this sport: Tim Penders, just 30 years old, claimed both 1st and 2nd place against 4,454 pigeons—and placed 12 pigeons in the top 1,500.
👑 The Future of Pigeon Sport Is Young – And It’s Already Winning
At only 30 years old, Tim Penders has already written his name into the history books. With three national sector wins to his name, he stands as a powerful example of what young talent can achieve in modern pigeon racing.
In a sport often associated with tradition and an aging demographic, Tim is proof that the future is alive, youthful, and already winning.
It’s more important than ever to support, encourage, and promote young fanciers. They bring fresh energy, innovation, and above all—unstoppable passion. Fanciers like Tim are the ones who will carry pigeon racing into the next era, and they deserve our full attention and admiration.
🔥 Issoudun Results – Pure Dominance on the Scoreboard
Here’s what Tim’s result sheet looked like:
- 🥇 1st Place – 4-8568430V – 522.841 km – 11:22:20 – 1,885.248 m/min
- 🥈 2nd Place – 4-8568477V – 11:22:41 – 1,882.871 m/min
- Also scoring: 84th, 98th, 375th, 657th, 823rd, 842nd, 888th, 899th, 1111th, 1454th
Out of 13 pigeons entered, 12 won prizes – an extraordinary 92.3% prize ratio.
💡 From a White Dove to a Winning Loft – The Story of Tim Penders
Tim’s pigeon journey began humbly. As a teenager, he kept white ornamental doves on his balcony. One day, a stray racing pigeon landed among them. Its owner, P. Thissen, rewarded Tim’s honesty with a unique gift: 20 real racing pigeons.
Without even a proper loft, Tim transformed a small backyard “party shed” into his first pigeon loft—with the help of his father and friends. That same space still houses his breeding pigeons today.
Now, his racing team includes 15 hens, each with their own box and trained twice daily. While Tim teaches at the VISTA College in Heerlen, his father manages the young birds’ afternoon training. The family teamwork shows in the results.
🧬 A Breeding Base Built for Victory
Tim’s pigeons are built from the finest bloodlines and sharp selection principles. No flags. No coercion. “The birds must want to fly on their own. If not, they don’t belong here,” says Tim.
Top bloodlines in the Penders loft include:
- Jo & Florian Hendriks – lines such as “New Bliksem”, “King Kong”, “Daughter Olivia”
- Henk Schepers – Olympiade Brussels 2017, Borgmans, de Bruijn
- Sjef & Frank Everts – “Nanteuil” line (Cees & Maurice Everling)
- His own foundation hen “Favorietje” – 4x 1st prize, 6th NPO Gien 8,578 pigeons
Notable descendants:
- “076” – Dam of 1st Nat. Sect. 1B Argenton
- “592” – 1st Nat. GP Orléans, 8th NPO Sens
- “699” – Daughter of Favorietje
- “752” – Inbred to Favorietje
📊 Issoudun Race Summary
- Release time: 06:45 AM
- Distance flown: 522.841 km
- Participants: 291 fanciers
- Pigeons in competition: 4,454
- Winning speed: 1,885.248 m/min (113 km/h)
- Pigeons entered: 13
- Prizes won: 12
- Prize percentage: 92.3%
❤️ A Message to the Sport From The Pigeon Boss
In a time when many worry about the future of pigeon racing, Tim Penders offers hope—and proof—that the sport is evolving. He is not just a young talent; he is a true champion shaped by hard work, vision, and family support.
This is why we must nurture and celebrate our young generation of fanciers. They are the heart of tomorrow’s sport. They will not only preserve the legacy of pigeon racing but elevate it with fresh ambition and competitive fire.
Let’s celebrate them. Let’s follow them. They are not just the future—they are the now.
Until the next blog,
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss
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