Cumbrian fanciers were singing the praises of the birds who homed yesterday following the liberation from Guernsey.
On a hot day the birds were released at 7.15am and the leaders were into south Cumbria less than nine hours later.
The best time into West Cumbria appears to be that of Ian and Denise Wood, of Harrington Central, who clocked just before 5pm on a velocity of around 1080 (just under 37 mph) and got a second at 5.17.
Joe and Brian Fitzsimmons, of Cleator Moor, clocked at 5.32pm.
It was a memorable day for Les Blacklock, secretary of the Cumbria Combine, when he won the Workington Victoria club at 5.25pm.
He was a young boy in the 1960s when his dad Jim flew in the last race from Guernsey (366 miles).
“Just like then it was a hard race and I believe we have had about 30 birds back on the night in the West Cumbria Amalgamation,” he said.
