By Jimmy Graham

The Solway Federation (79/1215) was down at Leyland on Saturday 14th August. Liberated at 12.00 into a light North-East wind we knew that we had a stiff race on our hands. And that’s the way it turned out. The leading birds were doing just over the 1100’s and they were coming in fast for the first half hour. However after that they all dried up and that was that. By the next day only around 30% of the 1,215 birds sent had returned and there hasn’t been many more since. Where did they all get to? Well I’ve heard that most of them are still at the race point and we’re now getting them back via Gordon Grant from fanciers in the Keswick area. On behalf of everyone here I would like to thank them all for taking the time and collecting them, thanks again lads. This is the second week on the trot we’ve had a disaster like this with heavy losses. Fanciers are now deciding whether to skip the remaining races and hold on to what’s left for future years………

Anyway back to the race where the leading ten were as follows;

1st to 5th  R.V.Graham, Langholm.                       Vel 1105 to 1119.

6th  Mr & Mrs Gus Power & Allen, Springfield.   Vel 1096.

7th  Mr & Mrs D.Skelton,  Springfield.               Vel 1092.

8th to 10th  S.J.Irving,  Brydekirk.                     Vel 1091 to 1088.

Annan H.C. 7/118

J.Willacy takes this one by 27 yards over R.S.R.Rome & R.J.Rome. The Willacy loft comes in again to take 3rd and the next three to Crombie & Mechan. Velocities being 1073, 1046, 990, 969, 969 and 967.

Hoddam F.C. 8/169

Here we have Mr & Mrs J Graham winning their fourth Young Bird race. This week I timed four birds to take 1st, 2nd, 5th and 6th doing 1086, 1082, 1038.2 and 1038.1. My winner this week being a Soontjen Blue Cock.

G.Dalgliesh & Son took 3rd and 4th Club doing 1075 and 1042.

Brydekirk H.C. 9/180

Well he’s done it; young Scott Irving goes nap by winning five Young Bird races out of five. His velocities being 1091,1089 and 1088. Scott’s flying a good batch of youngsters at the moment and they have been well admired by Club members, keep it up boy!

Langholm H.C. 5/72

The leading five were timed by R.V.Graham with velocities of between 1131 to 1119.

Springfield H.C. 12/231

The Red card here went to the partnership of Mr & Mrs Gus Power & Allen doing 1096, followed by Mr & Mrs D.Skelton on 1022. No further news from Springfield.

Eastriggs H.C.  7/69

Winning his second Young Bird race of the season is Carlisle fancier Tommy Linden, his bird was doing 1060. Jim Ferguson takes 2nd and 5th doing 1057 and 1041. 3rd and 4th goes to Mr & Mrs Chris Little with 1056 and 1045.

Lockerbie H.C. 7/94

A good win here for Davy Robinson with the only bird to home with a velocity of 1018, the remainder were all in the 900’s. Michael Currie from Moffat only sent four birds and took 2nd and 4th with two of them doing 993 and 963. Michael said he seemed to have made the right decision for once, he just didn’t fancy that North-East wind over Shap. Davy Robinson was back in again taking 3rd with 972.

Nith Valley 10/112

Once again it’s Nith Valley cleaning up in the West Section, they had 282 birds competing and the Valley took eight of the leading ten. The winner was timed by R.Burgess on a velocity of 1044; he also had another two birds in the clock to take 2nd and 5th Club, 4th and 7th Section doing 1025 and 1021. Albert Hay also had a good race timing three to take 3rd, 6th, 8th Club, 5th, 8th, 9th Section on 1023, 1015 and 1009. This is a new member to me; R.Jastrzebski, he took 4th Club, 6th Section on 1021.  W.J.Smith was 8th Club, 10th Section on 992.

Dumfries F.C. 6/69

Mr & Mrs Karl Guenther won this one and topped the Section doing 1045. No other results in but I do know Karl also timed both the 2nd and 3rd.

Dumfries S.C. 5/81

Like the Flying Club, only one bird is in the Section from the Social Club and that’s Lynn & Charteris. Their young Chec Hen was 1st Club, 3rd Section on 1036.

As always any news call on 01576300615 or e-mail address     jimmygmobvf@hotmail.co.uk     “Clintpark”.