A drop back in distance for the West Cumbrian birds on Saturday made no difference to the leading fanciers.
Once again the best performances came from David Harrison (Egremont), Evans and Abraham and the McLuckie brothers (Workington).
All three lofts have been producing outstanding performances throughout the season and Saturday was no exception when the Cumbria Combine birds raced from Stratford-upon-Avon.
They were let go early at 6am because of the threat of thunderstorms later in the day but along with other race organisations across the country it proved a sticky day for racing.
David Harrison, who seems to be making more headlines than Donald Trump, won the West Cumbria Amalgamation after the early liberation. His winner was clocked at 8.43am, covering the 175 miles at over 64mph.
Only 11 birds went from the West Cumberland Federation and on what proved a tricky day (all over the country apparently) just three were clocked, all by the Egremont maestro.
David said: “It was a poorly supported race unfortunately for various reasons, and turned out a bit of a disaster for lots of organisations around the country by all accounts.
“My guess is its atmospheric disruption caused by thunder but who really knows.
“I haven’t got a lot of details of my winner as I bought it at one of the transporter sales from top Carlisle fancier Peter Kirkwood and I never asked for a pedigree until now, which Peter will gladly supply.
“The winner is a blue pied yearling hen on the roundabout which came home two weeks late from Marlborough minus six tail flights but recovered really well.
“With the new flights nearly fully grown and having been rested I decided to give her a final race and she has come up trumps as she arrived with a loft mate to win the Amal 22 seconds behind the likely Combine winner Adam Young.”
Second and third in the Amalgamation went to Kevin Evans, of Workington Victoria, who took first and second in the Derwent Valley Federation. The second bird was his Cumbria Combine winner from last week.
Kevin, who is helped now by Bob Taylor, said: “The winner is a four year old chequer cock off a son of the old red cock of Steve Foster’s when paired to the Holkers hen. He was also an RPRA award winner in 2022.
“The Holkers hen was responsible for the second pigeon, who won the Combine the week before, so she’s proving a great addition to the stock loft.”
There’s another remarkable pigeon on the same allotment as Kevin, the McLuckie brothers who won both Victoria and Workington Social to continue this hen’s superb season.
From North East pal Alfie Hawthorn, the three year old chequer hen christened Geordie Lass has three firsts, a second and a fourth in Workington Social; a first, second, third and sixth in Workington Victoria and three firsts and a second in the Cumberland Social Circle.
Andrew Berwick and Kenneth Watson continued their fine run of form in Flimby HS as the Aspatria loft took first and second.
But Andrew was quick to praise the successful racing performances from Messrs Harrison, Evans and McLuckie which he described as “absolutely awesome.”
On his own loft’s success from Stratford, Andrew said: “We got two widowhood cocks together. First in the clock was a two-year-old chequer white flight whose had a lot of tickets but this was his first win.
“He’s through our old red breed crossed with an Eijerkamp cock while the second bird, a chequer cock is his half brother and he won Marlborough the other week.”
John Devlin won in Harrington Central with a yearling blue cock who was on the Fed and Amal sheets from the first Stratford race.
“His dam is Heremans Ceusters and his sire a Louis Cooremans and this pairing has produced six winners,” said John.
CUMBRIA COMBINE (492 birds): 1, 2, A. and K. Young (Millom) 1898, 1897; 3, Harrison and son (Egremont) 1894; 4, 5, Evans and Abraham (Workington Victoria) 1893.6, 1893.5; 6, Martindale and Lawman (Workington Victoria) 1893.4.
WEST CUMBRIA AMALGAMATION (211 birds): 1, D, Harrison and son (Egremont) 1894; 2, 3, Evans and Abraham (Workington Victoria) 1893.7, 1893.5; 4, Martindale and Lawman (Workington Victoria) 1893.4; 5, 6, McLuckie bros (Workington Victoria) 1893.3, 1893.1.
WEST CUMBERLAND FEDERATION (11 birds): 1, 2, 3, D. Harrison and son (Egremont) 1894, 1887, 1845.
DERWENT VALLEY FEDERATION (200 birds): 1, 2, Evans and Abraham (Workington Victoria) 1893.7, 1893.5; 3, Martindale and Lawman (Workington Victoria) 1893.4; 4, 5, 6, McLuckie bros (Workington Victoria) 1893.3, 1893.19. 1892.
FLIMBY HS (7 sent 73): 1, 2, 6, Berwick, Watson and co 1872.3, 1872.1, 1772; 3, 4, A. Bromley and co 1859, 1812; 5, Hodgson and Saldert 1785.
DEARHAM UTD (2 sent 28): 1, 3, 4, Dempsey, son and Reay 1848, 1775, 1698; 2, D. Todhunter 1782.
WORKINGTON SOCIAL LIMIT (3 sent 14): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, McLuckie bros 1893.438, 1893.438, 1892, 1891, 1887, 1880,
WORKINGTON VICTORIA (7 sent 77): 1, 2, 5, 6, McLuckie bros 1898.2, 1898.2, 1896.9, 1896.7; 3, 4, Evans and Abraham 1898.1, 1898.1.
CUMBERLAND SOCIAL CIRCLE (13 sent 26): 1, 2, McLuckie bros 1893, 1891; 3, Williams and Hadfield 1828; 4, Hodgson and Saldert 1762; 5, Martindale and Lawman 1656; 6, Blacklock and sons 1513.
HARRINGTON CENTRAL (5 sent 21): 1, 4, J. Devlin 1799, 965; 2, M. Walker 1730; 3, N. and G. Wordsworth1587; 5, I. and D. Wood 963.
