SOLWAY NEWS
By Jimmy Graham
The Solway Federation were down at Leyland on Saturday 11 th August. There were 2,776 birds sent from 99 members and they were liberated at 09.00 into a South West wind. The distance from this lib point to Ecclefechan is only 95 miles and after two hours flying we knew something was wrong. The three leading birds were the only ones to make it over the 1200 ypm mark. Only about fifty percent of the birds made it on the day and there has been very few since. I'm writing these notes about five days later and we're still no better off. As far as I can make out most of them are still around the race point and many others being reported down country. On that note and it only being the third young bird race many fanciers in our area have taken their clocks home and are calling it a day. The saying goes, "No yearlings, no two year olds" and so on...
Anyway back to the race itself and the leading three birds flew into Lockerbie Club for Michael Currie & Ewan Hind. Michael who is based up in Moffat is the furthest flyer in the Solway Federation and he timed the leading two birds on 1215.447 (a dead heat). This is the first year Michael has had his youngsters on the darkness system and he's over the moon with the results. The two Chec Cocks took 1 st and 2 nd Club, 1 st and 2 nd Section and 1 st and 2 nd Open. Ewan Hind being Michaels Club mate timed the following two to take 3 rd and 4 th Club and the same in the Section and Open on 1200 and 1198. The Currie loft had a third bird taking 5 th Club, 6 th Open doing 1186. Lockerbie Club had 203 birds sent by 6 members.
Springfield Homing Club had a great entry of 664 birds entered by 13 members and it's Mr.& Mrs.D.Skelton of Kirkpatrick Fleming timing the leading two, they also took 5 th and 8 th Section and 5 th and 8 th Open doing 1186 and 1174. The 'in-form' loft of Dennis Graham takes 3 rd Club on 1151. G.Grant 'Jnr' takes 4 th doing 1147 and Mr.& Mrs.Gus Power are 5 th on 1147.
Eastriggs Homing Club sent 248 birds to the post from 9 members and taking the Red is A.Dunglinson doing 1093. He had a wee bit to spare over the second bird timed by C.Halbert on 1051. Mr.& Mrs.N.Thomson takes 3 rd and 5 th doing 1047 and 978. Mr.&Mrs.M.Goldie take 4 th on 1042.
Langholm Flying Club had R.V.Graham time the leading three doing 1179, 1171 and 1168, they also took 7 th , 9 th and 10 th Open. D.Norden takes 4 th spot doing 1160. A.Henderson is 5 th with 1149. The Club had 113 birds away from 5 members.
Annan Homing Club entered 328 birds from 10 members and taking pole position is A.Simmons on 1051. He timed another to take 4 th spot doing 1002. J.McCarton is 2 nd on 1044. J.Metcalfe takes 3 rd with 1019 and finally Mr.& Mrs.P.E.Hesslop are 5 th on 993.
Dumfries S.C. took five of the ten diplomas in the West Section. Timing the leading three in the Club and Section is Jim Seaton. Jim's three birds were doing 1094, 1092 and 1085. Lynne & Charteris had the next two taking 4 th and 5 th Club, 5 th and 8 th Section on 1048 and 1009. The Social Club had 153 birds competing from 4 members.
Hoddam Flying Club had 322 birds away from 10 members and timing the leading three birds into the club is Mr.& Mrs.J.Graham. Any of the three could have won the race as the first one nearly hit the landing board, turned away and flew a couple of laps around the loft before being joined by the other two. They all landed together and just walked in !, so as I was saying any of the three could have actually won the race. The winner turned out to be a Gaby Vandenabeele bred by myself from Louella stock. The second one (and my fourth bird home) were both bred from stock from Leslie Woodside of Ballyclare. (My thanks to Dennis Taylor of Aberdeen). I looked after the three pairs of Woodside pigeons for a while and came away with five good distance pigeons. The third bird was bred from 'Clintpark Lad' 7 'The Murphy Hen'. John Gilmour 'Jnr' captured the next three. The velocities of the first six birds were 1132, 1131.5, 1131.3, 1130, 1129.1 and 1129.
Brydekirk Homing Club had 10 members sending 218 birds and timing the winner this week is J.M.Dalgliesh doing 1066. Rae & Howat are 2 nd on 1057. S.Irving 'Jnr' comes in 3 rd with 1046. H.Dobie is 4 th doing 1037 and Scaife & Garner 5 th on 1027.
Anglo Scottish Flying Club had 20 members sending 374 birds to Sedburgh on Sunday 12 th August. Liberated at 12.20 into a west by South West wind. The winner this week for the second time is Longtown fancier Alfie Kulaszewski. Alfies bird was flying 49 miles and recorded a velocity of 1184. Smith & McClusky from Carlisle were 2 nd doing 1169. D.McNeil another Carlisle loft were 3 rd on 1165. Again another Carlisle loft ,McMorrine Bros were 4 th with 1162. A.Donnelly, J.Barnes, S.Glencross & Son, J.Barnes and S.Edmundson (2) all from Carlisle finished in that order with velocities of 1146,1141, 1139, 1134, the last two dead-heated on 1133.591. Stevie Allan had the first five birds over the Border.
Dumfries Flying Club sent 323 birds from 13 members and of course they took the other five diplomas. Terry Richardson took the Red and also 4 th Section doing 1061. G.Nicolson is 2 nd Club, 6 th Section on 1022. Stanley Boyd takes 3 rd Club, 7 th Section doing 1018 and Mr.& Mrs.Karl Gunther 4 th and 5 th Club, 9 th and 10 th Section doing 1004 and 1002.
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..
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