Pigeon fanciers in West Cumbria will be racing for £24,000 in prizes today.
Birds competing in the Cleator Moor A ring race were liberated In Yeovil at 9am on a light North West wind.
It is 251 miles from Yeovil to Cleator Moor but fanciers taking part are located from Egremont to Aspatria.
Just over 400 rings were sold for the event and 115 have actually made it to the race.
Each of the 20 prizes are divided between the breeder of the bird and the fancier who bought and raced it.
The prizes range from £6,000 down to £200 and there is a special nomination first prize of £260.
A special donation of £500 to a breast cancer charity will be made in memory of the wife of Billy Southward the A ring auctioneer.
