LES Blacklock has stood down as President of the Derwent Valley Federation after 26 years.

It followed calls for him to be replaced as race controller after the Federation experienced a very poor race from Wollaston on Saturday.

An extraordinary meeting of the Federation was held on Wednesday after the Workington Social Limit club called for an enquiry and the person who was found to be responsible should be asked to stand down.

Flimby Homing Society had expressed a vote of no confidence in the convoyer John Ellwood while Harrington Central had called for an enquiry.

The criticism had followed the Derwent Valley’s decision to liberate on Saturday morning at 10am while the West Cumberland Federation held until Sunday and had an excellent race.

It should have been the second race under the new Two Feds Amalgamation but the race controller took the decision to go it alone.

He said afterwards: “I am absolutely gutted for the lads who lost pigeons. I take full responsibility. I feel sure that if we had gone at 8-30am we would have had a good race but I still felt we could get a race when we went 90 minutes later.

“The vote went against me at the meeting so I felt it was time to stand aside from all the positions I hold with the Federation. I have been involved for 35 years, the last 26 as President.”

Jimmy Nelson of the Flimby Homing Society is to take on the President’s role in a temporary capacity until the annual meeting.

Wayne McLuckie of Workington will be the Federation’s race controller for the rest of the 2009 season with Stan Bromley of Flimby taking over as convoyer.

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