Last updated 19:44, Thursday, 26 June 2008

THE Hine family were toasting Casper’s Girl after she had landed them their third Derwent Valley Federation win in seven years.

HIGH FLYERS: Ian McGarr (centre) with the winning bird he bred and his uncle David Hine (left) and grandad Joe Hine

The Casper in question is Flimby 15-year-old Ian McGarr, junior member of the partnership Hine, son and grandson.

His uncle David Hine explained: “Ian’s nickname is Casper and this is one he bred himself up at his own home.

“He keeps a few stock birds and also breeds and shows fancy pigeons.

“This one is a mealy hen bred off a cock from Lawrence Tinnion and a hen from Terry Hodgson in the village.

“She’s had a brilliant season after winning Leyland 1, Appleton and now Marlborough, and she was also fourth from the second Leyland. She also had a third ticket as a young bird from Garstang.

“I wasn’t sure about sending her but Ian insisted she went and it’s paid off.”

Joe Hine, son David and grandson Ian have had a splendid season in the Flimby West Coast club and this was their seventh win.

The birds should have been racing from Portsmouth and were brought back to Marlborough on Sunday, staying overnight before being released on Monday morning at 7.30am.

The weather had been atrocious on Saturday and Sunday but there was always the prospect of good racing conditions on Monday, so in the end the decision to hold after moving back was spot-on.

Returns were very good and the pigeons were in good condition considering they had been in the basket for nearly four days. The Hines sent eight to the race and dropped one of them.

That was the last inland old bird race of the season but there are two more water races to contest.

Derwent Valley Federation (416 birds): 1, J and D Hine and grandson (Flimby WC) 1317; 2, 3, 4, Tinnion bros and Aitken 1316, 1290, 1286.6; 5, K. Rafferty 1286.5; 6, Nelson and Crellin 1278. Tinnion bros and Aitken win old bird inland average.

Seaton RBL (3 sent 24): 1, 6, Scholey and Gale 1266, 1181; 2, 4, 5, Mr and Mrs Dustin 1253, 1235, 1198; 3, A Parker and son 1237.

Workington Victoria (12 sent 79): 1, 2, K Harper 1276, 1275; 3, 4, D Challenger 1260, 1254; 5, Steele and Lawman 1249; 6, Walsh and son 1247.

Netherton (7 sent 47): 1, 6, K Rafferty 1293, 1247; 2, Ward and son 1282; 3, Graham and daughters 1278; 4, A Dixon 1256; 5, R Routledge 1250. K Rafferty 1377 wins Old Bird Inland average, runner-up Ward and son 1363.

Flimby HS (8 sent 95): 1, 2, 3, 6, Tinnion bros and Aitken 1316, 1290, 1286, 1274; 4, Nicholson and Crellin 1278; 5, E Pape 1277. Tinnion bros and Aitken win old bird inland average.

Flimby West Coast (3 sent 17): 1, 2, 3, 5, Hine, son and grandson 1317, 1238, 1233, 1203; 4, Mr and Mrs Proctor 1219. Hine, son and grandson win old bird inland averages.

Workington Social Limit (4 sent 20): 1, 4, Hill, son and Smith 1248, 1185, 2, G Best 1241; 3, 6, M and L Cape 1200, 1118; 5, Williams, sons and grandson 1158.

Distington (Marlborough): 1, 2, 3, 4, R McAvoy and son 1300, 1278, 1277, 1275.

Frizington (Lessay, 4 sent 19): 1, D and K Mingins and son 829; 2, 3, Mr and Mrs Burns 821, 735; 4, R J Reeves 584 (second day). (Fougeres, 4 sent 18): 1, 3, R J Reeves 1063, 670 (second day); 2, Mr and Mrs Burns 706 (second day). (Malborough, 4 sent 17): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, T Scott and sons and Sim 1202, 1190, 1135, 1099, 1050, 969.