By Jimmy Graham

The drop in birdage is starting to show now.The Federation race from Shap on Saturday 19 th August could only muster 979 birds from 71 members.Liberated at 13.30 into a North wind the convoy made the journey home with velocities just into the 1100's. There were losses as usual and yet some had full returns but as we all know that happens every now and again. Okay then back to the race where two Clubs dominated the result. Springfield and Hoddam took the ten Federation Open prizes. Springfield took the leading two and Hoddam the remaining eight.

Springfield had 159 birds competing from only 9 members and it was Dennis Graham leading the field timing a Blue Hen on 1124 to take 1 st Club, 1 st Section and 1 st Open. Next was W.Smith taking 2 nd Club, 2 nd Section and 2 nd Open on 1122. G.Grant & Son were 3 rd and 4 th Club doing 1101 and 1099. R.White 5 th on 1085. Dennis is having a great start to the Young Bird season taking 1 st , 2nd, 3rd, 4 th Club, 2 nd , 3rd, 4th and 5 th Fed from Shap. 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th , 5 th Club and the same in the Fed and again from Shap. At Leyland he was 3 rd and 7 th Club, then back again at Shap taking 1 st Club, 1 st Fed and remember he's giving the whole Fed over-fly.

Hoddam Flying Club had the most birds away in the Fed. There were 169 birds from 10 members. Mr.& Mrs.J. Graham time the leading two birds into the Club taking 1 st and 2 nd Club, 3 rd and 4 th Open doing 1111.4 and 1111.1. Once again I'm pleased to say it's another winner from 'Clintpark Lad' and 'The Murphy Hen'. That's now fifteen first prizes from them. When the 'Lad' was on the Bull System I mated 'The Murphy Hen' to his son and the Hen that's 2 nd Club, 4 th Fed is from them. Jim Carruthers had a great race having 13 birds in the first 20 of the Club. He had a drop of six to take 5 th , 6 th , 7 th , 8 th 9 th and 10 th Fed, doing between 1109 and 1107. Great stuff and remember the Club sent 169 birds, the Fed 979 !

Lockerbie Homing Club with 102 birds competing from 5 members went to Kenny Thomson, in fact he took the first two places doing 1090 and 1088.Michael Currie is in there again taking 3 rd on 1075. Robinson & Jamieson were 4 th with 989 and Ewan Hind timed the next two.

Langholm Homing Club had 3 members enter 45 birds.

R.V.Graham takes 1 st , 3 rd and 4 th doing 782, 753 and 632. W.Irving is 2 nd on 775 and A.Henderson 5 th doing 558. I'm made to believe the weather on the outskirts of Langholm was atrocious which in turn stopped the birds getting through.

Annan and District entered only 86 birds from 7 members and taking the first eight Club positions is R.S.R.Rome & R.J.Rome, their velocities between 990 and 905, now that takes a bit of doing ! (The same as Jim over in Hoddam). One of these days someone will take all ten prizes with the E.T.S.

Eastriggs Homing Club sent 70 birds from 7 members and W.Pirie takes 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd on 1035.599 and 1035.599 (dead heat), his third one being 1034.

A.Dunglinson was 4 th doing 1005 and A.R.Taylor 5 th with 994.

Brydekirk Homing Club had 5 members ringing 78 birds and timing the winner this week is young Scott Irving, in fact he was both 1 st and 2 nd doing 976 and 966. Jim Muir comes in 3 rd doing 924. Rae & Howat are 4 th with 916 and R.J.B.Renwick 5 th on 914.

Dumfries Flying Club sent 66 birds from 9 members to this one and it's Stanley Boyd in pole position taking 1 st Club, 1 st West Section on 958. D.Turner takes 2 nd Club, 5 th Section on 932 and R.Dalgliesh is 3 rd Club, 10 th Section with 903.

Dumfries Social Club had only 2 members flying this week and between them they sent 52 birds. Jim Seaton takes 1 st , 2 nd , 4 th , 5 th and 6 th Club, 2 nd , 3 rd , 7 th , 8 th and 9 th Section doing between 946 and 908. Lynn & Charteris are 3 rd Club, 6 th Section with 927.

Nith Valley had 6 members send 71 birds and it was W.J.Smith taking the honours doing 942 and the bird was also 4 th Section.

As always any news or results call on 01576300615 or e-mail address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

"Clintpark"