The Derwent Valley Federation moved on to Leyland for their third young bird race – and again with mixed results.

Although there were lofts with 100% returns, there were also some other fanciers who were looking at too many empty perches.

The birds had been liberated for the 70-plus-miles flight home at 9-30am to avoid the bad weather which was correctly forecast to come in later.

The majority of them cleared, heading north with a light south wind behind them, but a batch of about 100 seemed to have trouble finding the right line.

Leading birds were back home at 10-55am and there were some tight finishes in most of the clubs, with good trapping a key.

Derwent Valley birds go back to Leyland this week-end.

The West Cumberland Federation had not raced in the first two weeks, bringing the birds back home each time. Instead of going to the scheduled Leyland liberation point they raced from Garstang on Saturday.

With young bird sickness taking its toll ahead of the young bird race programme; some poor training returns and a lack of race experience, it was always going to be a problematic opener.

In fact returns were disappointing with an estimated third of the entry missing.

They will race from Leyland this week instead of the scheduled race from Appleton.

DERWENT VALLEY
WORKINGTON SOCIAL LIMIT (9 sent 246): 1, McLuckie bros 1210; 2, 3, 4, G. Best 1206, 1202, 1201; 5, Hill, son and Smith 1198; 6, Wilson and son 1196.
SEATON RBL (5 sent 177): 1, A. Parker and son 1530; 2, 3, Scholey and Gale 1525, 1519; 4, F. Scott 1517.9; 5, Dobie and Palmer 1517.6; 6, J. Dustin 1515.
HARRINGTON CEMNTRAL FC (330 birds): 1, 3, 6, Sleightholm and Broatch 1485, 1484.1, 1483.01; 2, N. and G. Wordsworth 1484.2; 4, Brash and Semple 1483.9; 5, Telford and Pooley 1483.2.
NETHERTON HS (6 sent 178): 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, K. Rafferty 1521.9, 1521.4, 1515.8, 1515.5, 1506; 5, Dixon and Burgess 1509.
BROUGHTON MOOR HS (4 sent 65): 1, 4, Stephenson and son 1299, 1278; 2, 3, 5, Timmins and co 1282.4, 1282.3, 1276; 6, Dempsey and son 1224.
ELLENBOROUGH FC (8 sent 150): 1, S. Barlow 1471.8; 2, Barker, Charlton and Brown 1471.5; 3, J. Scott 1469; 4, D. and J. Reay 1468.
DEARHAM UTD: 1, 2, 3, 4, Harker and Berwick 1514, 1512, 1510, 1432; 5, 6, Sanderson and grandson 1334, 1219.
FLIMBY HS (7 sent 174): 1, E. Roper 1476.6; 2, 3, Hodgson, Tinnion and Aitken 1476.5, 1474; 4, 5, 6, Bromley and co 1473.6, 1473.3, 1472.
FLIMBY WC (5 sent 155): 1, J. and D. Hine and grandson 1476; 2, 3, E. Hodgson and son 1474, 1473; 4, Hunter bros 1471; 5, C. and A. Ostle and McNichol 1448.
WORKINGTON VICTORIA ( 13 sent 318): 1, 3, Evans and Abraham 1523, 1517; 2, Mr and Mrs Hadfield 1521; 4, Walters and son 1515; 5, 6, M. and L. Cape 1514, 1513

WEST CUMBERLAND
GARSTANG
DISTINGTON: 1, 4, D Lynch and co 1064.6, 1060; 2, 3, J Harrison 1064.5, 1064.1.
EGREMONT RANGERS: 1, 5, Mr and Mrs Scurr and son 1019, 969.5; 2, Mr and Mrs Bewsher and co 977; 3, 4, D. Harrison and Son 969.9, 969.6; 6, Mr and Mrs D Wilson 955.
FRIZINGTON HS (6 sent 198): 1, 2, 4, 5, McSherry and Nicholson and son 1046, 905, 815, 763; 3, A. S. Kenmare and sons 853; 6, R. J. Reeves 510.
KEEKLE HS: 1, 5, S and E Chambers and daughter 1016, 971; 2, 3, 6 D Buchanan and son 1011, 1002, 968; 4, Blackwell and Murray 987.
 LOWCA HS: 1, 2, G Holliday 1046, 1044; 3, 4, Holliday & Dixon 1030.5, 1030.2.
SANDWITH FC: 1, 2, 3, 4,6, V. Raby and co 1003, 862, 838,  810, 758; 5, Blaney bros 809..

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