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 WEST Cumbrian fanciers were bidding for record prize-money at the week-end in the special B-ring race from Kingsdown.
A total of 91 birds were entered from Cumbria’s three Federations – Derwent Valley, West Cumberland and Furness – but the vat majority were doomed to disappointment.
The bulk of the open prize money went to David Brown of Ulverston, who put up a remarkable performance taking first and second open and section, and getting five of his six entries back in race time.
First open prize alone was worth £2,000 and he also picked-up £350 for winning the section.
As far as the west of the county was concerned the only bird on the day, after the 9-00am liberation, was to the Holden Road, Salterbeck loft of Wils and Rena Carter who fly with sons Tom and Wilson junior.
The Harrington Central fanciers clocked a blue hen at 6-17pm to pick-up £350 as the Derwent Valley section winners.
A Wildemeersch, she had been sent sitting 12 days on eggs and appeared to have been lucky to make it home.
Wils said: “There was blood underneath her and it looked more like a talon mark than off the wires so there’s probably been a hawk attack somewhere along the route.
“I’ve win four Federation races over the years but this is the best moment in the sport. The only bird on the day in our section makes her a bit special.”
The parents of the winning pigeon had been bought at the Blackpool show two years ago by son Tom.
“Wildemeersch himself had brought some birds over from Belgium to sell and I liked the look of four of them so managed to buy them at the auction,” he said.
A sister of the blue hen actually won £250 for the Carters at Cheltenham when she was second in the Derwent Valley T-ring race.
Only two other birds were clocked in the Derwent Valley – both on Sunday morning before the race closed. Tinnion brothers and Aitken (Flimby HS) won £250 while Ian and Diana Wood picked-up £100.
As for the West Cumberland Federation only two birds made it home in race time, again on the Sunday morning with Nolan, Hetherington, Coultas and Easdon (Cleator Moor) getting £350 and Bobby McAvoy (Distington) landing £250.
Race organiser Brian Fitzsimmons of Cleator Moor said it was disappointing that the returns had been so poor. The birds had been liberated with the North West Counties Federation and the leading birds were back in Blackpool just after 2pm.
Seven had then made it into south Cumbria – the bulk of them to David Brown.
“Although we did have a disappointing race I will definitely be putting-on another next year and will be selling 500 rings,” he confirmed.
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