On Saturday, May 24th 2025, the E21 race from Sourdun was released at 07:00 AM under partly cloudy skies, a mild southwest wind, and a temperature of 16°C. 4,934 pigeons from 435 fanciers were in the race – a serious test of class and conditioning. But one name rose above all others: Henk Marsman from Zwartsluis.
💨 A lightning-fast win
Marsman's winning pigeon NL24-4257082 M covered the 495.009 km race with a clocking time of 11:14:33, achieving a blistering velocity of 1,944.646 m/min (≈ 116.7 km/h). This incredible speed secured 1st place overall in Afdeling 11, making Marsman the man of the moment.
📊 Dominant performance across the board
This was no fluke or lucky shot. Henk Marsman sent a team that dominated:
- 🥇 1st vs 4,934 pigeons
- 13 pigeons in the result list
- 10 pigeons in the top 1,000
- Arrival spread between 1st and 13th pigeon: just 45 minutes
- Consistent speeds from 1,944 to 1,596 m/min
With such a strong team result, Marsman proved yet again that his loft doesn't rely on one star — his entire colony performs at a national level.
🧬 Pedigree Power: NL24-4257082 “ZN SUPER KOPPEL”
The winning pigeon NL.24-4257082 (Male) descends from the best of Anton Ruitenberg and Henk Marsman's own lines. The breeding is pure performance × performance:
- Father: “De Inteelt Dirk” – Grandson of the legendary “Wondere Dirk” and sire to multiple NPO winners (1st NPO Morlincourt, 3rd NPO Troyes, etc.)
- Mother: “Queen Suarez+” – From #Mr Chimay#, winner of 1st Chimay against 16,354 pigeons and 4th NPO Issoudun
- Combined, this pedigree includes over 10 NPO top 10 results and several national winners.
This is a textbook example of elite genetics, carefully cultivated and selected for performance over generations.
🔥 The Reference Machine – 2024 Proven Results
Henk Marsman's loft is not only winning on his own perch – it's delivering champions across the country. Just a few highlights from 2024 references:
- 🥇 1st NPO Gray Afdeling 9 – by Hjeld Dikkeboer, out of a grandchild of “Blue Power Marsman”
- 🥇 1st NPO Northern Section Afd. 8 Gray – by Edwin Timmerman, from a grandchild of “Suarez”
- 🥉 3rd NPO Charleville – by Wim van Zon, Nijverdal
- 🏅 7th NPO Issoudun – by Brend Lourens, Twijzelerheide (grandchild of “Mr Morlincourt × Sensen”)
- 🏆 Multiple top 10 (TT) positions in Afdeling 11 with Marsman bloodlines
These results confirm what insiders already knew: Henk Marsman's pigeons don’t just win — they breed winners.
🧭 Race Summary
- Liberation point: Sourdun, France
- Distance to loft: 495.009 km
- Liberation time: 07:00 AM
- Weather: Partly cloudy, SW wind, 16°C
- Pigeons in competition: 4,934
- Fanciers participating: 435
- Speed of the winner: 1,944.646 m/min
- Total prizes for Marsman: 13
- Prize spread: From 1st to 1,645th
- Outstanding prize ratio and team depth
🏁 Conclusion From The Pigeon Boss
The 2025 Sourdun race was no easy affair – moderate headwinds and stable weather created a fair but tough competition. Yet Henk Marsman delivered a textbook masterclass in pigeon racing: early arrival, fast speeds, and consistent performance across the board. Supported by an elite bloodline and confirmed by top references in 2024, Henk Marsman’s loft has rightfully earned its place among the very best in Dutch pigeon racing.
Until the next blog,
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss
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