Fast race for West Cumbrian pigeons

Michael Nolan and Danielle Easdon with their joint winners in West Cumberland Fed.

The West Cumbrian birds raced from Appleton (Lymm) again at the weekend with another good, fast race.

It has proved a fine race-point over the years and two more races this season have underlined that.

As far as West Cumberland Federation competitors are concerned it’s been the David Lofthouse show so far.

But this time, the Lowca club member and his helper Barry Irving had to settle for fourth, fifth and sixth as well as five other positions in the top 20.

Coming out on top with two together on the same velocity were the Cleator Moor “solicitors” team of Nolan, Hetherington, Coultas and Easdon.

The joint winners are both blue hens but of different breeding.

Michael Nolan said: “One of them is off a pair we had off Keith Rafferty which have now bred three Fed winners.

A second successive win by this cock for Neil Semple.

“It’s the same way bred as our blue hen that was best old bird in the Amalgamation last year.

“The other blue hen which was on the same second over the pad so is a joint winner, is off a blue cock whose dam won the Fed and Amalgamation from Appleton.

“The mother is a full sister to our 50 hen who had first and second Amal from Cannock.”

David Harrison dominated the Egremont club in old bird racing, but John Wilson and Neil Buchanan had led the way with the youngsters.

However, on Saturday it was David who grabbed the win ahead of three from the Wilson and Buchanan team.

The winner is a blue Ceuster hen flying to the perch. She was bred in the stock loft from two gift birds from Malcolm Scott of Gateshead.

Nice to see Howard Whittam taking fifth ticket. He flew years ago in Arlecdon and moved to Thornhill. He packed in during Covid but started up again this year.

In the Derwent Valley three lofts won their clubs with birds that had already been successful this season.

The well bred pigeon that has won three out of four races for Peter Dobie and Ralph Palmer.

Neil Semple won his fourth race in a row in Harrington Central with a chequer cock who had won the previous week.

He is off a son of Best Kittle and a daughter of Super Heremans.

Williams and Hadfield did the double in Workington Victoria and Workington Social Limit and their winning bird is the same that won a week earlier.

A blue white flight cock he’s off a barless cock bought at the Amalgamation transporter sale and is through Kevin Evans good red cock lines, paired to a home bred hen which has produced a lot of good birds previously for the partnership.

And topping them all is a blue cock flying for Peter Dobie and Ralph Palmer who was winning his third race in Seaton in four weeks.

He won last week as well from the first Appleton and also from Garstang.

A fine looking winner in Workington Victoria for Williams and Hadfield.

His sire is the South African cock which was 24^th Million Dollar race.

Dam is the Wentworth Lofts hen which was 2^nd 2019 Algarve Great Derby Final.

Alan Bromley was first and second in Flimby with a blue hen of their own successful family.

“The parents were both Busschaerts who got injured so we put them both to stock.

“It was a good move because they have been responsible for multiple winners, including a first and second Cumbria Combine.

Another winner from their old established family for Alan Bromley.

“There’s no fancy loft pedigree here, just our own family put together over the years.”

This week’s race from Stafford will be a bit special for members in the Cumberland Social Circle.

It’s been designated to celebrate VJ Day and is a single entry, separate from the normal two bird entry.

As happened with the VE Day special in Old Bird racing this will carry a first prize of £50 and an inscribed medallion with £30 and £20 for second and third.

FLIMBY HS (6 sent 149): 1,2, A. Bromley and co 1601.8, 1601.1; 3, Varty, son and grandson 1599.4; 4, 5, 6, Hodgson and Saldert 1599.3, 1598, 1597.

WORKINGTON SOCIAL LIMIT (7 sent 233): 1, 3, 4, Williams and Hadfield 1592.76, 1592.52, 1592.52; 2, Wilson and Johnston 1592.702; 5, J. Dolan and daughter 1590.9; 6, McLuckie bros 1590.7.

WORKINGTON VICTORIA ( 9 sent 271): 1, 2, 3, Williams and Hadfield 1611.6, 1611.3, 1611.3; 4, Wilson and Johnston 1610; 5, Evans and Abraham 1609.5; 6, McLuckie bros 1609.4.

SEATON RBL (3 sent 40): 1, 2, 3, 4, Dobie and Palmer 1599.72, 1599.72, 1599.2; 1599.

ELLENBOROUGH: 1, 2, Barlow and Doyle 1507, 1482; 3, 4, Barker and Charlton 1466, 1442.

HARRINGTON CENTRAL (4 sent 119): 1, 2, 3, 4, N. Semple 1594.5, 1594.2, 1594.2, 1594; 5, Telford and Pooley 1592; 6, Mr and Mrs Carter and sons 1589.

WEST CUMBRIAN FEDERATION (421 birds): 1,2, Nolan, Hetherington, Coultas and Easdon (Cleator Moor) 1611,9, 1611,9; 3, D. Harrison and son (Egremont Rangers) 1611.05; 4,5, 6, D. Lofthouse (Lowca) 1610, 1609, 1608.

EGREMONT RANGERS (106 birds): 1, D. Harrison and son 1611; 2, 3, 4, 6, Wilson and Buchanan 1606, 1605.4, 1605.1, 1604.64; 5, H. Whittam 1604.67.

CLEATOR MOOR CENTRAL (6 sent 196): 1, 2, Nolan, Hetherington, Coultas and Easdon 1616.14, 1616.14; 3, 4, 5, 6,Dobson, sons, grandson and Lyle 1612.7, 1212.1, 1612.1, 1611.

LOWCA (4 sent 161): 1, 2, 3, 5, D. Lofthouse 1610, 1609, 1608.9, 1608.4; 4, 6, Pears and son 1608.5, 1607.