Last updated 19:49, Thursday, 28 August 2008

DERWENT Valley Federation fanciers raced from Whitchurch from the first time on Saturday with mixed results.

The birds were liberated at 9.25am and the leaders covered the 125-mile trip in around two and a quarter hours.

But returns were only estimated at 75 per cent – and there are still three races left, all Federation events starting with Stafford this weekend.

As if they haven’t had enough problems recently in the sport with hawks, avian flu and rising fuel costs, pigeon fanciers have another obstacle to overcome.

Amtrak, the road transport firm which had a monopoly on carrying live birds, has gone into liquidation.

Sending for stray birds – already costly at £30 a time – might prove rather difficult for the fanciers who have their pigeons reported.

The RPRA president Les Blacklock, who is chairman of the Derwent Valley Federation, said: “There’s a suggestion that the private firm UKMail may take over part of the Amtrak business but whether that will include pigeon transportation we’re not sure.

“Getting stray pigeons returned might be a problem for a while.”

Workington Victoria (15 sent 268): 1, G Best 1602. (Appleton, 15 sent 290): 1, J Walsh and son 2237.

Seaton RBL (4 sent 69): 1, PT Dobie 1605. (Appleton, 6 sent 120): 1, Mr and Mrs Dustin 2170.

Harrington Central (11 sent 239): 1, Carter and sons 1610. (Appleton, 11 sent 279): 1, Telford and Pooley 2193.

Flimby West Coast: 1, J and D Hine and grandson 1598. (Appleton, 3 sent 66): 1, J and D Hine and grandson 2059.

Flimby HS (8 sent 167): 1, Bromley and co 1596. (Appleton, 10 sent 236): 1, E Hodgson and son 2169.

Netherton (8 sent 186): 1, K Rafferty 1615. (Appleton, 7 sent 146): 1, Hodgson and son 2122.

Workington Social Limit (5 sent 87): 1, Hucknall bros 1582.

Ellenborough (6 sent 125): 1, J Whitehead 1591.

Dearham (4 sent 68): 1, S Sanderson and grandson 1984.

Maryport (5 sent 50): 1, R Wilson 2128.

Distington (Wollaston): 1, Holliday and Dixon 1477.4. (Stafford 2): 1, R McAvoy and son 1705.9.

Workington & District (Wollaston, 3 sent 30): 1, Mr and Mrs Murray 1181. (Stafford 2, yb, 6 sent 74): 1, Wood and sons 1589.

Great Clifton (Whitchurch, 4 sent 38): 1, Banks and Kenny 1531. Boyes’ Derby: 1, George Hillary, £50; 2, 3, Wedgwood and Burridge, £30, £20.