Discover the Legendary Marathon Performances of Philip Geerdink: The Story of Mr. Perpignan!

Oh, wow! Are you ready to immerse yourself in the incredible story of a true legend in the world of racing pigeons? Get ready to be blown away by the incredible success story of none other than Philip Geerdink, better known as "Mr. Perpignan," straight from the picturesque Hoogerheide!

For over a quarter of a century, Philip Geerdink has dominated the Brabant pigeon racing world as a true king of NPO long-distance races and the toughest ZLU flights. Imagine, season after season, he was awarded not less than five crystal trophies, and sometimes even more!

It's almost unbelievable, but Philip has won the title of 1st Ace Pigeon ZLU five times in the past 12 years alone, at Agen, Narbonne (twice!), and Perpignan (again twice!). Isn't that truly extraordinary?

What makes his success even more impressive is the evolution of his pigeon line. Originally, it was the Van der Wegens and Van Dijk pigeons that stole the show, but now it's the descendants of the legendary Jellemak breeder YOUNG TEUN and the fearless PEPAN, the third prize winner internationally from the incredibly tough Perpignan in 2018. It truly is a heritage to be proud of!

Mister Perpignan
But why is Philip affectionately called "Mr. Perpignan"? Well, let's take a look at his impressive list of national achievements over the years. With only a modest number of pigeons entered, he has set a series of performances that have amazed the world: 3, 3, 10, 10, 12... and the list goes on! And all this without a single double listing! Unbelievable, right?

And let's talk about his performances from last year. He entered a whopping 71 pigeons in 10 marathon flights, and what do you think? He won a staggering 45 prizes! That's a prize percentage of a whopping 63.4%! It's truly a masterful performance that can only be achieved by a true champion. But wait, there's more!
Philip's pigeons achieved 3 CLEAN SWEEPS in 2023 on Pau, Marseille, and Bergerac. Proof of his consistent excellence at the highest level! He clocked 3 out of 3 from Pau, 2 out of 2 in Marseille (with the first in the loft center), and 7 out of 7 from Bergerac! Try to match that!

And when we look at his international and national recognition, you'll simply be amazed! From Fond Champion Z.L.U. to European Cup winner and much more, Philip truly has every major title to his name!

But it doesn't stop with Philip alone, his son Rogier was even crowned 1st National Marathon Champion last year! It's truly a family of champions!

And let's not forget how Philip's pigeons form the basis for other large-scale victories, like those of Simon Schoonen & Son from Bergen op Zoom. Twice national winners with pigeons directly descended from Philip Geerdink's legendary line!

In short, Philip Geerdink, alias "Mr. Perpignan," is not just a pigeon fancier. He is a living legend, an inspiration to pigeon fanciers around the world. His dedication, passion, and unparalleled success make him a true hero within our beloved sport!

Until the next blog,

Jan de Wijs Blogger and Pigeon Racing Expert