The weather has again interfered with the race programme for West Cumbrian pigeon fanciers.
The final channel race is underway, but from a different race-point, and the second young bird race, a return to Flookburgh, has been cancelled.
Distance enthusiasts were expecting a final test from Vire but with little prospect of a liberation there the Midlands National birds were moved back to Falaise – which is about 420 miles from West Cumbria.
After a delay, waiting for an improvement in the weather, the birds were liberated at 11am today into a south-west wind and cleared the site well.
Not many Cumbrian fanciers have sent to this one after a disappointing race from Messac a fortnight ago and they have been concentrating on their young birds, but there are problems.
In fact an emergency delegates meeting has been called for Monday at 7pm at Harrington Sailing and Boating Club.
Amal secretary Graham Cates said: “Due to the problems presented by the weather, to get the young birds off to a sound start an emergency delegates meeting has been called to review the programme.”
No West Cumberland Federation members sent to last week’s opener from Flookburgh, and numbers in the Derwent Valley Federation were down as fanciers felt their birds needed more training.
It didn’t prove a good race, either, and with this week-end’s return to the south Cumbrian race-point cancelled it creates a dilemma.
Garstang is next on the agenda on July 26 so a lot of fanciers will be anxious to get their birds some useful race experience before they have to face a 17-mile jump to Garstang.
There is the option of joining the new Midweek Members Club and sending to their race from Flookburgh on Wednesday.
There is a suggestion that the West Cumbria Amalgamation will be trying to organise their own mid-week race from Flookburgh.
Unfortunately the weather forecast through until Thursday isn’t good which would create more problems.
One thing that has been confirmed is the appointment of Neil Buchanan as chairman of the West Cumbria Amalgamation.
He takes over from Danny Rodgers, who has had to stand aside because of new work commitments.
