The successful Workington loft of Richard Martindale and George Lawman moved to another level at the weekend.
Already familiar at the head of affairs in the Derwent Valley Federation and the West Cumbria Amalgamation they took the first four spots in the Cumbria Combine.
The Combine (which also includes birds from the East Cumberland Fed and the Furness Fed) had been liberated from Marlborough at 9.30am in a light north-west wind.
Martindale and Lawman clocked at 2-47 with their first four birds trapping inside 11 seconds. They had covered the 234 miles at 44mph.
First and third over the pad in a bunched finish are mainly Van den Bulcke bred from a cock called Balboa.
Every bird they had off him last year took tickets including one for the Dobsons of Cleator Moor that scored five times and has gone on to win this year.
Their dam is from Leach brothers’ top breeder Achilles crossed with a Van den Bulcke.
Richard said: “Our second bird is arguably our most consistent bird this year and already has 2nd Amal, 5th Amal and 24th Amal.
“The bird that was fourth has two 4th Feds, 11th Fed, Amal and Combine to his name.
“He was one of a kit sent up by Justin Rogers from Bosliven Lofts for us to try for him. I think he is a Heremans/Ceuster.”
A fine 2022 racing season for Sandwith’s Barry Irving has continued with back-to-back West Cumberland Federation wins.
The disappointment of missing last year’s young bird racing has fast disappeared with the performances his old birds are putting up this time round.
Racing from Marlborough, Barry took three positions in the top 10 of the Federation – 1st, 5th and 8th, as well as taking the first three positions in the Sandwith club.
All three are bred through birds Barry has obtained over the years from the Irish ace Eddie McGimpsey.
The winner, a blue white flight cock had been 11th Fed from Charnock Richard; while the bird that took 5th Fed had previously taken 2nd Fed, 7th Fed and 10th Fed.
After the 9-30am liberation Barry clocked his winner after the 227 miles-flight at 2.42pm. The bird had covered the distance at 43mph.
But after five excellent races, with very few birds going astray, the last two races have proved costly. Barry sent 28 to Marlborough and only got 14 back, which appeared a typical return.
It was a similar day for fanciers in the Copeland North West club where the McLuckie brothers dominated.
They took five of the first six spots – Rodgers and Benn were fifth – and took all six positions in their own Workington Social Limit club.
Their winner was a chequer white flight yearling cock from their Les Green Van den Bulcke breed which is proving such a sound investment.
This weekend should have been the first channel race but French racing is still up in the air and instead the Cumbria Combine is racing from Guernsey.
The Guernsey race will be a special jubilee event for the Cumbria Combine with £100 to the winner and £50 to each of the other Federation winners.
Cumbria Region RPRA are awarding each Federation winner with an inscribed salver in a presentation case.
CUMBRIA COMBINE (2,931 birds): 1, 2, 3, 4, Martindale and Lawman (Workington Victoria) 1299.5, 1299.1, 1299.07, 1298.7; 5, McLuckie bros (Workington Victoria) 1298.5; 6, Evans and Abraham (Workington Victoria) 1298.4.
WEST CUMBRIA AMALGAMATION (1,555 birds): 1, 2, 3, 4, Martindale and Lawman (Workington Victoria) 1299.5, 1299.1, 1299.07, 1298.7; 5, McLuckie bros (Workington Victoria) 1298.5; 6, Evans and Abraham (Workington Victoria) 1298.4.
DERWENT VALLEY FEDERATION (959 birds): 1, 2, 3, 4, Martindale and Lawman (Workington Victoria) 1299.5, 1299.1, 1299.07, 1298.7; 5, McLuckie bros (Workington Victoria) 1298.5; 6, Evans and Abraham (Workington Victoria) 1298.4.
WEST CUMBERLAND FEDERATION (596 birds): 1, 5, B. Irving (Sandwith) 1282, 1260.17; 2, Graham and co (Cleator Moor) 1265.7; 3, Dobson, sons, grandson and Lyle (Cleator Moor) 1265.4; 6, A. and T. Kenmare (Cleator Moor) 1260.10.
CLEATOR MOOR (12 sent 313): 1, Dobson, sons, grandson and Lyle 1266.94; 2, 6, Graham and co 1266.90, 1242; 3, A. and T. Kenmare 1265; 4, 5, Rodgers and Benn 1264, 1243,
LOWCA HS (4 sent 116): 1, 2, Holliday and Dixon 1210, 1208; 3, 4, D. Lofthouse 1205, 1205.
SANDWITH: 1, 2, 3, B. Irving 1282, 1260, 1244; 4, J. Davidson 1243; 5, Blaney bros 1215; 6, Cottier and Patrickson 1210.
EGREMONT RANGERS (86 birds): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, D. Harrison and son 1249, 1227, 1218, 1217, 1208, 1206.
COPELAND NORTH WEST (14 sent 363): 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, McLuckie bros 1296.5, 1296.4, 1265.5, 1265.4, 1243; 5, Rodgers and Benn 1260.
HARRINGTON CENTRAL (9 sent 177): 1, 6, Mr and Mrs D, Wood and son 1242, 1212; 2, N. and G. Wordsworth 1219.7; 3, I. and D. Wood 1219.1; 4, R. McAvoy and son 1217; 5, Mr and Mrs W. Carter and sons 1215.
WORKINGTON SOCIAL LIMIT (7 sent 149): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, McLuckie bros 1298.5, 1298.4, 1267.58, 1267.51, 1245.6, 1245.5.
WORKINGTON VICTORIA (10 sent 258): 1, 3, McLuckie bros 1302.7, 1302.5; 2, 5, 6, Martindale and Lawman 1302.6, 1302.2, 1302.1; 4, Evans and Abraham 1302.4. Show race (18 sent 95): 1, A. and T. Kenmare 1260 (£115 plus £36 nom): 2, Martindale and Lawman 1250 (£69); 3, Evans and Abraham 1249 (£36).
FLIMBY (10 sent 292): 1, 3, J. Varty, son and grandson 1249, 1224; 2, Rushforth and Hunter 1240; 4, 5, Nelson and Crellin 1216.7, 1216.5; 6, A. Bromley and co 1214.
CUMBERLAND SOCIAL CIRCLE (22 sent 44): 1, McLuckie bros 1298; 2, A. and T. Kenmare 1265; 3, Varty, son and grandson 1249; 4, Mr and Mrs D. Wood and son 1242; 5, Nelson and Crellin 1216; 6, A. Graham and co 1213.
SEATON RBL (3 sent 55): 1, 2, 3, 4, F. Scott 1268, 1214, 1213, 1190.
DEARHAM UTD (7 sent 136): 1, 4, 5, 6, Berwick, Thompson, Watson and Harker 1266, 12156, 1246, 1234; 2, L. Pearson 1262; 3, Deacon bros 1260.
