IT looked as though the Derwent Valley Federation had suffered an awful opening race to the young bird programme on Sunday.

When clocks were opened two hours after the first arrivals had been timed in the majority of fanciers had about half of their birds still missing.

In fact the youngsters, liberated at Flookburgh at 2-30pm were still homing after 9-30pm and by the end of the day returns were more like 80% plus.

A good number also returned on Monday so that to some degree fanciers “got out of jail” when it had looked pretty dismal to start with.

The problem had been the strength of the west wind. It had eased after lunch-time as the weather brightened but was still pretty strong.

The Derwent Valley Federation officials had earned praise from the members over their decision to postpone the race on Saturday because of the poor weather forecast. It proved spot-on and no race would have been possible.

The birds were basketed on Saturday night and after initial poor visibility on Sunday morning had improved it was just a question of waiting for the wind to ease.

The West Cumberland Federation also postponed on Saturday and travelled for their planned opener to Garstang but because the wind “was bending the trees” at the race-point they made the decision to come home without racing.

The West Cumberland had two Leylands in their race programme so the first one on Saturday will now be replaced by Garstang.

DERWENT VALLEY

WORKINGTON VICTORIA (11 sent 415): 1, 4, McLuckie bros 1196, 1191; 2, 5, J. Walsh and son 1193, 1184; 3, R. Donnan 1192; 6, K. Harper 1182.

NETHERTON HS (8 sent 396): 1, 2, 3, Dixon and Burgess 1192, 1185, 1180; 4, K. Rafferty 1144.9; 5, R. Routledge 1144; 6, Hodgson and son 1140.

BROUGHTON MOOR HS (4 sent 134): 1, 3, 4, Dempsey and son 1094, 1064, 1043; 2, 5, Stevenson and son 1070, 1031; 6, Minshaw and son 968.

WORKINGTON SOCIAL LIMIT (10 sent 200): 1, 2, 5, McLuckie bros 1143, 1130, 1115; 3, Wilson and son 1126; 4, A. Devlin1116; 6, G. Best 1105.

DEARHAM UTD: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Harker and Berwick; 6, T. L. Charters.

FLIMBY WEST COAST: 1, J. and D. Hine and grandson 1142; 2, 4, Hunter bros 1131, 1112; 3, C. and A. Ostle and McNichol 1116; 5, Ellwood and co 1091.

FLIMBY HS (8 sent 243): 1, 2, 4, Hodgson, Tinnion and Aitken 1146, 1144, 1141; 3, 6, M. Little and sons 1142, 1081; 5, K. Graham 1091.

ELLENBOROUGH FC (9 sent 271): 1, 4, Barlow, son and grandson 1128, 1113; 2, 3, J. Scott and son 1126, 1120.

SEATON RBL (4 sent 177): 1, 2, 3, A. Parker and son 1226, 1224, 1220; 4, J. Dustin 1215; 5, 6, Scholey and Gale 1208, 1195.

HARRINGTON CENTRAL (10 sent 367): 1, Brash and Semple 1141; 2, Mr and Mrs Carter 1139; 3, D. Holliday 1138; 4, 6, Telford and Pooley 1135, 1132; 5, J. and M. Carter 1133.

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