WEST CUMBRIA FED

Reports by Gary

STAFFORD 1

The West Cumbria Federation were racing from Stafford on Saturday 26th of April and experienced what can only be described as a disaster. The birds were liberated at 10.15 am in a light South wind and despite weather conditions at the home end being horrendous a quick race was forecast. This proved to be the case with the leading velocities being recorded in the early 1700s. However it quickly became clear that we were in trouble as the returns were sporadic to say the least. As I type these notes on Sunday evening I would estimate that 40-50% of the convoy are still astray. The fog has hung around all day, giving little or no chance for birds to home. Returns on the Sunday have also been poor, which suggests that the birds are way off line. With the exception of the local weather, it is difficult to say what went wrong as the birds had clear run weather wise to Millom which is 25 miles south of us. It is possible that the birds hit a blanket of fog and rain on the way up the coast which caused them to divert either out to sea or into the fells. It is also possible that the birds clashed as birds are starting to be reported in Wales, were any Welsh North Road feds above Stafford? The Solway fed liberated at Leyland at 11.20am and an educated guess puts our birds in that vicinity when these birds were released. It could be that our birds were disorientated by clashing with these birds and went up the ‘backside’ of the fells. Though, as far as I am aware, no birds have been reported in Scotland. All theories at this stage but I doubt we will never know what went wrong.

We start the result round up at Cleator Moor where the winners are Joe and Brian Fitzsimmons on 1761 (breaking up point). The winning pigeon is a yearling blue cock flown on the roundabout; he is a Vandanabeele from Formula 1 lofts being a grandson of Benetton and Amber Louise of M & D Evans lines. The runners up are Mr & Mrs Joe Tomlinson on 1755. This pigeon is a yearling blue w/f cock flown on the widowhood and is a Janssen from Alan Hambling of Barrow bred from his RPRA award winner known as ‘The Robber’. In 3rd place are Rodgers & Benn on 1707 with a pure van de Weyer yearling blue cock flown on the widowhood. In 4th place and completing a good race are Joe and Brian Fitzsimmons on 1705.9 with a Page Brothers Janssen, a grandson of ‘de miracle’. 13 members sent 475 birds. Thanks to Ken Todd for the report. Ken took the decision on Friday afternoon to leave his own birds at home, great shout that Ken!

Joe (right) and Brian Fitzsimmons, 1st Cleator Moor club, Stafford 1, 475 birds competing.

The next result is provided by Barry Irving of Mirehouse who like all the other lads reports heavy losses. 7 members sent 146 birds and the winner is David McLaughlin on 1659.5 with a 2 year old mealy cock. The runners up are Bernard and John Trodden on 1636.8 with a 3 year old van Reet blue hen flown on the roundabout. Michael McGrady takes 3rd place with a 3 year old van Reet blue w/f cock that has now scored on three consecutive weeks. He won both the Sandwith and Mirehouse clubs last week and has three career wins to his credit. In 4th place are Bob and Colin Blaney with a 2 year old blue cock, a Page Brothers Janssen on 1633.2.Thanks to Barry!

The next result comes from John Scott at Egremont, and at the risk of sounding like a stuck record, yes I do remember records, heavy losses are reported with some fanciers 20 or more missing The winner is Mark Lofthouse on 1733.3 with a yearling cheq pied cock flown on the widowhood. This pigeon was a bit of a lad when he returned and wasted a bit of time before being clocked (good job he had a good lead Mark!). Mark was understandably delighted with his win. The winning pigeon was only having the second race of his life as he was unraced as a youngster and only flew the previous weeks race from Appleton. He is a Alf Baker Busschaert bred from birds from Micky Adams of Manchester. The runner up on 1703 is Ian Sharples with a 2 year old blue cock flown on the roundabout. In 3rd place are Mr & Mrs Peter Bewsher on 1694.6 with a 2 year old cheq cock flown on the natural. 4th place is taken by Shaun and Linda Trodden on 1694.2 with a 2 year old cheq w/f hen flown on the roundabout. 12 members sent 345 birds.

Bob McAvoy has news from Distington where 3 members sent 95 birds and completing a hat-trick of victories are Bob McAvoy & Son on 1705.33 (breaking up point). Bobs winner this week is a yearling cheq hen flown on the roundabout. Her dam is a direct Marcelis that has bred numerous winners and scorers for Bob. The sire is a blue cock that is a full brother to Bobs Fareham combine winner. In 2nd place is John Harrison on 1694 with a yearling Roland Janssen white cock. The nest sister to this cock won two Carnforth young bird races last season. Bob McAvoy is also 3rd and 4th on 1672 and 1615 with a yearling Tarleton Janssen cheq pied cock, scoring for the first time and a yearling Marcelis red cock that won a 1st club, 10th fed and a 2nd club as a youngster.

A really tight finish ensued at Lowca where 3 members sent 90 birds. All three lofts had a bird out of the same flock and all three made a ‘horlicks’ of the trap. However when the clocks were read the winners were R Ennis & Sons on 1691.4 with a yearling cheq pied cock sent sitting eggs. The winning pigeon is bred from pigeons obtained from Jim O’Hara of Scotland. The runners up are Andy Holliday and Kenny Dixon on 1690.4 with a yearling blue cock flown on the roundabout. This cock is bred from our two best channel birds. The sire was 1st club, 2nd fed, 5th combine from Lessay in 2006 and the dam has  won the following, 1st club Picauville, 2nd club, 16th fed Falaise, 4th club Lessay and 1st club, 9th fed Le Mans.In 3rd place are David and Sandra Wood on 1687.7 with a yearling dark pied cock flown naturally. This cock was a gift bird from the late John Nesbiitt of the Mirehouse club. Sandra had remarked that she liked the bird when she was race marking the bird last season and John remembered this and gifted the bird to Sandra. Not a bad performance from a broken pigeon. A strange occurrence in the club as no other birds were clocked to claim 4th place. You’ve got to laugh, if you didn’t you would cry!

Michael McGrady reports that 12 Sandwith members sent 247 birds and the winners were Pears and Currie on 1684.5 with yearling cheq cock. This cock is a Kenny Coulston Busschaert and is flown on the roundabout. Well done Sammy! The runners up are Jim Scurr and Gordon Parry on 1675.1 with a yearling Jan Theelen red cock flown on the roundabout. Michael McGrady & Son take 3rd place on 1638 with the same 3 year old van Reet cock that also scored in the Mirehouse club. Jim Scurr and Gordon Parry also take 4th place on 1632.9 with a 4 year old blue w/f cock, a previous scorer for Jim and Gordon.

A very disillusioned Trevor Scott has news of the Frizington club where 6 members sent 114 birds. The winning pigeon on 1626 was recorded at the loft of D & K Mingins & Son. The red card winner is a yearling cheq pied cock, unraced as a young bird and sent to the race feeding two youngsters. The loft also took 2nd place on 1593 with a Busschaert cheq cock sent sitting eggs. 3rd place was taken by J Mossop & Son on 1588 with a 2 year old dark hen sent sitting eggs. This bird is a Lefebre Dhaenen bred from a father and daughter mating from birds gifted to the Mossops by Michael (Toshak) Haley. The Mossop loft also took 4th place with a 3 year old blue cock whose hen laid after the cock was basketed. He is a van Reet bred from birds from Bernard and John Trodden and Louella.

The final result comes from John Osborne at Keekle who reports that 7 members sent 216 birds. The winners are Dave and Neil Buchanan with a yearling blue w/f hen on 1728. The runners up are Billy and Mary Garner on 1682 with a yearling cheq cock. 3rd place goes to Billy Waddington and Bob McLaughlin on 1681 with a yearling blue cock. Finally 4th place is taken by John Osborne on 1679 with a yearling dark cock bred by Alan Graham & Co of Cleator Moor.

Sam Stone has news of the Millom Social Club race from Kempsey when the birds were liberated at 10am in a light south wind. 15 members sent 390 birds and the narrowest of margins separated the first two birds. The winners on 1944.53 are D.D & L Fallows with a 2 year old cheq hen flown on the roundabout. This Janssen hen is known by the partners as ‘the Adams hen’. In the runners up berth is Sam’s own loft Stone & Hughes on 1944.12 (that was a close one). This 2 year old cheq cock flown on the widowhood was purchased as a squeaker and was bred by Roy Fullard. In 3rd place are A & K Young on 1935 with a 4 year old Janssen blue cock. D.D & L Fallows return to the frame to take 4th place on 1931 with a yearling cheq cock bred by Gary Keel and like the winner is flown on the roundabout. Sam reports a good few birds missing around the Furness fed.

The next result comes from my mate John Gale, who I was really concerned about after I spoke to him as he was in a ‘low way’. The Derwent Valley fed were also racing from Stafford and liberated 20 minutes behind the WCF. However by the sound of it they experienced a similar tale of woe to us with many birds missing. The Seaton RBL had 6 members sending 120 birds and the winner was the Broughton based loft of Frank Scott on 1747 with a yearling Janssen x Wildermeersch blue hen flown on the roundabout. The runners up are Alf and Alan Parker on 1745 with the same yearling cheq hen that won the club last week from Appleton. This hen is flown naturally. In 3rd place are Mr & Mrs Duggan on 1726 with a natural blue cock that was well fancied and wins the 1st pool and nom. Mr & Mrs Jackie Dustin take 4th place with a yearling red hen on 1711 that is bred from the lofts Louella stock. Cheers John, don’t worry the youngens start in July.

Scott Irving Jr has news of the Annan & District premier club who are transported by the WCF. 7 members sent 63 birds and three times SNFC winners Roy and Marion Seaton completed a 1-2-3. The winning pigeon on 1523 is a yearling pencil cock flown on the widowhood. This cock flew the programme with the WCF last season and he is a van Reet gift bird from Ritchie Ryder. Roy and Marion’s second bird on 1443 is a 2 year old cheq hen, one of the lofts old ‘supercrack’ pigeons.

The bird taking 3rd place on 1287 is a yearling cheq cock, again flown on the widowhood. This one is a Mr & Mrs Bush x Patrick Philippens that also flew the WCF programme last season. Looking at the velocities of the first three, these birds have also had it tough, let’s hope we can get a break with the weather because it is ruining the season.

Well what a weekend, an absolute catastrophe. All the Cumbrian feds have suffered some heavy losses over the last fortnight and many fanciers are already finished for the old bird season. We can only hope that the weather improves as I don’t know how much more the local fanciers can take. A couple of steady races wouldn’t go amiss.

Good luck to all competitors for next week, when the WCF returns to Stafford.

I can be contacted on 07763324981 and 01946 591910 or e-mailed at lesleyholliday06@aol.com

GARY HOLLIDAY