The Cumbria Combine birds are racing from Guernsey today after a 7am liberation from the Channel Islands.
They were liberated with Scottish birds from the Lanarkshire Federation and had the help of a south wind when let go.
This is the third race for Cumbrian birds from Guernsey. The first one wasn’t a good one and a subsequent inland race from Yeovil was a shocker, so numbers have fallen dramatically.
In fact the West Cumberland Federation have only been represented by one loft – Alan Graham and co from Cleator Moor – in recent races, and they haven’t sent to this latest Guernsey test.
The Derwent Valley Federation have 55 birds away in today’s race and there are a total of 161 in the Cumbria Combine.
Instead the West Cumberland Federation will – weather permitting – start their young bird programme from Flookburgh, which the Derwent Valley put back until next week-end.
But with 90 per cent rain forecast for Cumbria tomorrow prospects don’t look good, even though it is the shortest distance the birds will race.
