SOLWAY NEWS
By Jimmy Graham
Garstang was the second race of the season for the 104 members of the Solway Federation.
2,136 birds were sent to this one and about fifty-percent made it home on the day.
They were liberated at 10.45am into a very cold North-east wind. The reports showed big gaps in the Clubs and not many returning the following day. I myself didn’t do too bad, dropping seven out of forty-one.
We had put down around two hours to cover the eighty-two mile flight and the winner of the Federation was indeed bang on two hours. The winning bird being a two year old Blue Cock belonging to Springfield fancier W.F.Van Nuil. This is a well-bred bird and flew the one hundred miles to Newark as a Yearling coming home injured and had to sit out the rest of the season. It’s only had one training toss this year and straight into Garstang. The ‘Sire’ is his good Blue Cock that’s topped the Fed three times and was also 3rd Open S.N.F.C. Clermont. The ‘Dam’ is a Ron Williamson Blue Bar stock Hen. The bird that was 3rd Club for him is a Blue Widow Cock that scored from Bovington with the S.N.F.C. in 2011. It has also scored a few times in the Club and is a full brother to his S.N.F.C. 1st Open Newbury 2009, again a Ron Williamson blood-liner, from his friend Jimmy Kennroy of Prudhole.
Federation Results
104 Members – 2136 Birds
1 W.F.Van Nuil Springfield 1111
2 D.Robinson Lockerbie 1097
3 K.Thomson Lockerbie 1089
4 R. White Springfield 1086.8
5 Mr & Mrs K. Gunther Dumfries F.C. 1086.1
6 Mr & Mrs L. Hay Nith Valley 1085
7 J. Millar Nith valley 1084
8 R.V. Graham Langholm 1079.69
9 R.V. Graham Langholm 1079.05
10 R.J.B. Renwick Brydekirk 1079.00
Clubs:
Hoddam F.C. 7/182
Timing in with a four minute lead is Jimmy Dalgleash doing 1020, followed by W. Gilmour timing two to take 2nd and 3rd on 1009 and 1008, his son John Gilmour takes 4th doing 985. Mr & Mrs J. Graham take 5th on 985.
Not a very good report from the Club regarding birdage as only fifty-percent made it home at clock opening and there hasn’t been many since.
Lockerbie H.C. 8/173
Taking the Gold here is Davy Robinson on 1097. The next two were timed by Kenny Thomson doing 1089 and 1037.
Ewan Hind and son Allan are 4th on 1035. Heavy losses reported here as well.
Brydekirk H.C. 6/138
R.J.B.Renwick takes top spot here timing two birds to take 1st and 3rd on velocities of 1079 and 1059. Scaife & Garner take 2nd spot doing 1060. H.Dobie is 4th on 1050 and S.Irving Jnr 5th with 1035.
Dalbeattie H.C. 5/157
Leading the way in this Club is W.Anderson with a Yearling Blue w/f Hen doing a velocity of 1006. Sixteen yards behind it he timed another to take 2nd spot doing 990.
M.Stewart takes 3rd on 986, followed by N.MCulloch 4th doing 949.
Annan H.C. 17/223
R.S.R.Rome & R.J.Rome lead the field here by six minutes timing a Yearling Chec Pd Hen to record a velocity of 1060.
Next on the clock was J.Willacy with a four-year old Mealy Cock doing 1013. J.F.McCarton came in 3rd on 997. A.Nicholson takes 4th on 983 and the winner times again doing 981.
Springfield H.C. 8/236
W.F.Van Nuil timed two birds here to take 1st and 3rd on 1111 and 1073. The only bird in the Fed with a velocity over 1100.
Raymond White takes 2nd Club on 1086 and Gordon Grant & Son are 4th with 1033, followed by L.Smith & Sons who were 5th doing 1027.
Eastriggs H.C. 13/357
Went to the McMorran Bros on a velocity of 1017.
Mr & Mrs C.Little are 2nd doing 1002 and R.Nelson & D.Halliday are 3rd on 964. J.Martin takes the next two with 959 and 930.
Dumfries F.C. 17/247
A good win here for Mr & Mrs Karl Guenther, they took 1st and 3rd Club, 1st West Section and 5th Open with their four-year old Blue Cock on 1086. Their second timer taking 3rd Club, 7th West Section on 1051.
J.Brown takes 2nd Club, 6th west Section on a velocity of 1057.
If someone could e-mail me weekly I can write a full report (the same for Nith Valley).
Nith Valley 13/234
Well done to Mrs Linda Hay on timing her two-year old Blue Cock to take 1st Club, 2nd West Section on a velocity of 1085.
J.Millar was next with a two-year old Mealy Cock taking 2nd Club, 3rd Section with 1084.
W.J.Smith is 3rd Club, 4th Section with his three-year old Chec Cock doing 1059. A.Russell and W.J.Smith take the next two on 1058 and 1050.
Annan Premier Club
Saturday 28th April had the above Club down at Appleton for their third race of the season.
Liberated at 12.00 into a light North-West wind the birds made good work of it and covered the 119 miles home in good time.
Not many losses were reported by the seven members who sent sixty-seven birds.
Winning their second race from the three is the partnership of Kirkup & Linden; they timed two birds to take 1st and 3rd with velocities of 1176 and 1132.
Scott Irving Junr takes 2nd spot on 1153, followed by Ewart Warwick taking 4th, 8th and 9th doing 1128, 1065 and 1161.
Jim Ferguson of Eastriggs is 5th, 6th and 7th with velocities of 1094, 1088 and 1074. Dennis Graham is 10th doing 1035.
Once again thanks to Cumbria for the lift.
Here’s a blast from the past……….
1960. Mr & Mrs J. Graham receiving a trophy from the Lockerbie Gala Queen. Looking on are Lockerbie fanciers Mr & Mrs Tommy McKay, J. Nicol, G. Tait and Lockerbie councillor G. Bryden.
As always any news call on 01576300615 or e-mail address:
