SOLWAY NEWS
By Jimmy Graham
Charnock Richard & Appleton
The Solway Federation (71/1,159) had a big drop in birdage for this one. The Fed was down at Charnock Richard on Sunday 26th August. Liberated at 10.00am into ‘no wind’, the birds homed with velocities well into the 1200s, as they did last week but again only for the leaders. They stopped coming after that and for the second week running we had a disaster; very few birds made it on the day and even fewer since. My own club (Hoddam) had twenty-three timed at clock opening from one hundred and fifty three birds competing. I myself had four fast ones and waited two hours for a fifth. Everyone appears to be in the same boat; some are even calling it a day and closing down for the year.
Anyway back to the race and Lockerbie had the best of things having six birds in the leading ten. W.Irving of Langholm tops the Fed with a good velocity of 1263, followed by G.A. & L.Firth with three birds taking 2nd, 5th and 6th Fed on 1253, 1250.5, 1250.3. Davy Cockcroft doing 1251 and 1243 takes 3rd and 7th. Kenny Thomson is 4th doing 1250.6 and Raymond White of Springfield is 8th on 1242, S.J.Irving of Brydekirk is 9th and 10th on 1240, 1239.
Club Results:
Lockerbie H.C. 8/211
Lockerbie did well having six birds in the overall Federation result.
Taking 1st, 5th and 6th is G.A. & L.Firth; they timed with velocities of 1253, 1250.5 and 1249 and also took 2nd, 5th and 6th Open Fed.
New starter Davy Cockcroft is flying well and he timed two to take 2nd, 7th Club, 3rd, 7th Open on 1251 and 1243.
Kenny Thomson takes 3rd Club, 4th Open on 1250.6.
Springfield H.C. 5/113
Race controller Raymond White takes 1st, 2nd, 5th Club, 8th Open Fed doing 1242, 1237 and 1132.
E.Hodgson & Sons timed well to take 3rd and 4th Club on 1211 and 1175. John did well here having eight birds in the leading fourteen.
Hoddam F.C. 8/153
Another good win for Mr & Mrs J. Graham. I timed another Ron & Angela Crook bird this week to win by five yards on 1235.
G.Dalgliesh & Son take 2nd on 1230, Jimmy Dalgliesh is 3rd doing 1228 and L.Smith & Son are 4th on 1219.
Langholm H.C. 4/95
Taking the gold and topping the Federation is W.Irving, he timed a young Chec Hen doing 1263. A.Henderson takes 2nd and 3rd doing 1211 and 1216. R.V.Graham has the next two doing 1170 and 1169.
Annan H.C. 8/90
Nice to see C.P.Irving taking the leading two in Annan on velocities of 1210 and 1204.
A.Simmons in top form timed the next three into the club on 1178, 1171 and 1092.
Brydekirk H.C. 5/78
Great flying here from the lofts of S.J.Irving who timed the leading six in the club with velocities of between 1240 and 1194.
It must have been the day for the “Irvings” as an Irving won Langholm, an Irving won Annan and an Irving won Brydekirk. Well done lads!
Eastriggs H.C. 6/70
Clocking up another win here is Mr & Mrs Mark Goldie; they took this one on a velocity of 1155. It had twelve yards to spare over the second bird belonging to C.Halbert doing 1143.
Mr & Mrs Norman Thomson take 3rd on 1133 (long time no hear partner!). Mr. & Mrs. Chris Little take 4th doing 1126.
Dalbeattie H.C. 6/34
A good win here for M.Stewart with a velocity of 1178, followed by N.McCulloch & Son doing 1176. C.Milligan has the next two doing 1171 and 1170.
Nith Valley H.C. 12/188
Skachill & McCormack wins The Valley and also top the West Section on 1229, followed by R.Burgess with three birds taking 2nd, 5th and 10th West Section doing 1226, 1220 and 1208.
W.J.Smith is 3rd and 9th Section on 1221 and 1212. G.Russell is 4th West Section on 1220.
Dumfries F.C. 7/118
Mr & Mrs Karl Guenther win once again and this week take 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Their three birds had velocities of 1217.6, 1217.5 and 1215.
Jim Seaton is 4th on 1189.
The Solway Federation (46/ 401) were down at Appleton on Saturday 1st Sept. Liberated at 11.30am into a West-South-West wind, the birds homed well with velocities high into the 1400s although one bird made the 1500s. Birdage again was well down in this race because of the losses throughout the season but Appleton put a smile on most faces as we had a good race with full returns to most lofts. Kirkcudbright, Castle Douglas and Eastriggs missed out on this one but who could blame them. Langholm dominated the top ten in the Federation taking eight out of the ten diplomas. R.V.Graham takes 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th and 10th Fed doing 1520, 1491, 1489.8, 1489.6 and 1447. D.Nordon takes 4th, 8th and 9th on 1499, 1467 and 1465. Springfield had the other two with Raymond White taking 2nd Open and Mr & Mrs Gus Power & Allen 7th, velocities being 1492 and 1488.
Club Results:
Hoddam F.C. 6/77
Winning their fourth race on the trot is Mr & Mrs J. Graham who timed another Ron & Angela Crook bird a Black w/f cock to win on 1436. John Little came in close behind on 1430. Jimmy Dalgliesh is keeping up the pace and takes 3rd and 4th doing 1428.4 and 1428.3.
Springfield H.C. 4/51
Another good win for Raymond White on 1492, his young Chec Hen also took 2nd Section, 2nd Open.
Mr & Mrs Gus Power & Allen take 2nd Club, 7th Section and 7th Open doing 1488.
My brother Dennis Graham (who only sent three birds) takes 3rd on 1435. Dennis’ bird was bred by Charlie Hannah. The winner Raymond White came in again to take 4th on 1387.
Annan H.C. 5/35
Only five members made it this week and leading the way is J.F.McCarton who timed to take 1st club doing 1277.
J.Willacy is 2nd on 1266. Angus Simmons is still doing well and takes 3rd Club on 1231. The winner is there again taking 4th doing 1185.
Lockerbie H.C. 6/78
Two on the trot for G.A.& L.Firth taking 1st, 2nd, 3rd on 1429.3, 1429.2 and 1429. This loft has been going well throughout the season; they take a bit of beating.
Kenny Thomson takes 4th Club doing 1391.
Langholm H.C. 4/78
Langholm did well this week taking eight out of the ten Federation diplomas. R.V.Graham takes 1st Club, 1st Section on 1520 as well as 3rd, 5th, 6th and 10th Open on velocities of 1491, 1489, 1488 and 1447.
D.Nordon takes 4th, 8th and 9th Open doing 1490, 1467 and 1465.
Brydekirk H.C. 5/56
S.J.Irving ‘Jnr’ once again clocks the leading seven. His first four birds had velocities of 1324, 1299, 1298 and 1282. Well done young man!
Dalbeattie H.C. 4/28
M.Stewart takes 1st and 2nd on 1027 and 1026, followed by C.Milligan on 982. N.McCulloch & Son are 4th doing 973.
Dumfries F.C. 5/55
I think this is the twelve 1st from the lofts of Mr & Mrs Karl Guenther and they take the leading four birds doing 1304, 1282, 1268 and 1267; they also took the leading four in the West Section.
Other birds in the Section were from Stanley Boyd taking 6th and 8th on 1261 and 1245. Jim Seaton is 7th on 1249.
Nith Valley H.C. 7/77
Only two lofts from The Valley in the report. W.J.Smith wins and also takes 5th Open on 1261. A.Russell is 2nd Club, 10thSection on 1240.
Next week will be Stafford our last race of the season and of course the S.N.F.C. Young Bird National still to come.
As always any news call on 01576300615 or e-mail address:
“Clintpark”.
