The final race of the season for West Cumbrian fanciers mixed triumph and tragedy for the successful loft.
Dobson, sons, grandson and Lyle picked up £6,000 for breeding and racing the winner of the prestigious Cleator Moor A ring race.
But tragically, the day after the race, Malcolm Dobson head of the partnership died in West Cumberland Hospital at the age of 76. He had been seriously ill for a month.
Congratulations to the popular winners were soon followed by condolences for the family’s sad loss.
The A ring race had £24,000 in prize money on offer with the first 20 picking up money from the 115 entries.
The birds were liberated at Yeovil in a light north-west wind at 9am and the Dobson’s clocked the winner at 3.45pm. The pied cock had covered the 251 miles at 37mph.
Malcolm headed a partnership of sons Liam and Jackie, grandson Owen and family friend Paul Lyle who perform well in a competitive Cleator Moor club.
The bird, a pencil pied cock had been sent driving his hen and had scored 10th club Garstang as well as 3rd club, 5th Fed from Charnock Richard.
The hen that bred the A ring winner was from Andrew Morgan of County Durham and on her sire’s side went back to Samuels and Lovell’s super Koopmans.
The sire of the winner had flown steadily until being lost. He was through Tommy Laskey’s Lambrecht lines and Malcolm had obtained a pair from Michael Hill of Wigton.
Sixteen of the prizes were won on the night and the last four positions were claimed on Sunday morning.
CLEATOR MOOR A RING
Yeovil (115 entries): 1, Dobson, sons, grandson and Lyle 1090.5, £3,000; Breeder: Dobson, sons, grandson and Lyle, £3,000; 2, Rodgers and Benn 1090.2, £1,500; Breeder: D. Dixon, £1,500; 3, J. Fitzsimmons and son 1089, £1,250; Breeder: P. Billington, £1,250; 4, Rodgers and Benn 1076, £1,000; Breeder: D. Dowell, £1,000; 5, Martindale and Lawman 1075, £900; Breeder: Jepson and Bennett, £900; 6, J. Fitzsimmons and son 1072, £800; Breeder: J. Fitzsimmons and son £800; 7, Martindale and Lawman 1016, £700; Breeder: B. Clennan £700; 8, Lynch and Blows 938, £600; Breeder: M. Mingins £600; 9, N. and G. Wordsworth 928, £500; Breeder: Holliday and Dixon, £500; 10, Pears, grandson and Henderson 888, £400; Breeder: Pears, grandson and Henderson £400; 11, Mr and Mrs Walters and son 877, £300; Breeder: J. Smyth, £300; 12, J. Fitzsimmons and son 871, £200; Breeder: P. Billington £200; 13, M. and L. Cape 841, £150; Breeder: A. Grieve £150; 14, Mr and Mrs W. Carter and sons 832, £100; Breeder: Mr and Mrs Carter and sons £100; 15, Holliday and Dixon 817, £100; Breeder: A. Heugh £100; 16, Martindale and Lawman 748, £100; Breeder: McLoughlin bros £100; 17, Graham and co 425, £100; Breeder: Castellio, £100; 18, B. Irving 419, £100; Breeder: J. Greenway £100; 19, A. Bromley and co 418, £100; Breeder: M. Oliver £100; 20, Martindale and Lawman 406, £100; Breeder: D. Wilson, £100.
