There are Saturdays when everything comes together – experience, strategy, preparation, and sheer quality. June 28th, 2025, was one of those days. The father-son duo RA Bakker & Son – Dolf and Ruud Bakker – delivered one of the most dominant victories of the season on the National Middle Distance race from Pont Saint Maxence.
This wasn’t just a win. It was a statement. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, plus 7 (5 in the top 10). This wasn’t racing… this was demolition.
Ruthless Results in Cold, Hard Numbers
1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th prize
5 birds in the Top 10
90 pigeons entered – 65 prizes won → 72.2% prize rate
14 birds in the Top 100, a staggering 57 in the Top 500
Arrivals just seconds apart
Winning speed: 1574.488 m/min over 354 km
These are not just results – they are a masterclass. This was a full-blown display of dominance, from start to finish. Nobody came close.
The Bloodline Behind the Blowout
Make no mistake – this didn’t happen by chance. Since 2007, RA Bakker & Son have been building one of the strongest Koopman-based families in Europe. Each year, they’ve handpicked the finest pigeons directly from Gerard Koopman, forming a close friendship and creating a true powerhouse of performance.
Key Pigeons That Define the RA Bakker Legacy:
“Valitas” – 1st NU Blois (9,586 b.), 2nd NPO Bourges, founding father of the colony. Even spent time at Koopman’s breeding loft.
“Germiny” – 1st NPO Blois, 2nd & 6th NPO Bourges, 15th Issoudun. His children are already top 10 performers in huge races.
“Gene” – Full brother of Germiny, with five Top 10 NPO results.
“Artus” – Grandson of Valitas and sire to multiple 1st prize winners.
“Malika” – 1st NPO Blois and 3rd NPO Bourges in one season. Daughter of top breeder “Rheingold.”
An astounding 95% of their loft is Koopman origin – not a random mix of bloodlines, but a purpose-built, tightly-bred super strain.
New Location, Even Stronger Results
Two years ago, Ruud Bakker relocated to Zoelen with his family and built a brand-new loft. The results? Even better than before. They didn’t just maintain their level… they leveled up.
Some of their most jaw-dropping NPO results:
La Ferté – 1-2-3-4-5 against 3,493 pigeons (89 entered, 63 prizes!)
Issoudun – 1-4-9-11-12 against 2,895 pigeons
Châteauroux – 1-4-5-6 against 2,292 pigeons
Blois – 1-2-3-4 against 2,310 pigeons (30 entered, 20 prizes)
And these are not flukes – this level of consistency is unheard of. Every year, race after race, they dominate.
Pont St. Maxence 2025 – Race Overview
Date: June 28, 2025
Liberation Point: Pont Saint Maxence
Liberation Time: 07:14 AM
Number of Pigeons: 3,741
Distance (winner): 354.050 km
Weather: Dry, light wind – ideal conditions
Winning Speed: 1574.488 m/min
RA Bakker Prize Rate: 72.2% (65 of 90 pigeons)
Who Else Tried to Keep Up?
Comb. van Rooij (Reg. 1020): Excellent 5th and 6th, with 7 birds in the Top 20.
J. den Hartog & Son (Reg. 1712): Strong 8th, 31st, 33rd, and 46th.
Looijen & Grift: Few pigeons, huge impact – Top 10 finish with minimal entries.
But truth be told – this day belonged to Dolf and Ruud.
What Makes Them So Elite?
Professional approach since 2007
Years of focused linebreeding on a singular, proven base
Extreme selection – only the very best make the cut
Large teams, high performance percentages
Investing in knowledge, not just birds
This isn’t just a good loft. This is a legacy in the making.
The Pigeon Boss Speaks:
“There are many good fanciers out there. But RA Bakker & Son? They operate on another level. This is pigeon sport mastery. This is what happens when passion meets precision. And mark my words – they’re only just getting started.”
Want to learn more about their breeders, pedigrees, or philosophy? Let me know and I’ll expand this story with exclusive details, bloodline breakdowns, and insights straight from the champions themselves.
RA Bakker & Son – The new standard in Dutch day-long distance racing.And the rest? They can only try to keep up. The Pigeon Boss, watching from the top.
Until the next blog,
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss