Last updated 19:42, Thursday, 19 June 2008

OVER the last few years one of the most consistent lofts in West Cumbria has been Bromley and co in Flimby HS.

Current holders of the coveted Big Cup for the combined averages in the Derwent Valley Federation, the Bromleys have particularly shone in the water races.

Well, the Fed - part of the Cumbria Combine - raced from Fougeres on Saturday and Bromley and co were back at the top of the sheet.

It used to be Alan Bromley with brother Stan but this season it’s been Alan flying the team on his own.

The winning bird on Saturday, following the 6.30am liberation in France, had won for the brothers last years from Falaise.

He’s a four-year-old dark chequer cock of Busschaert bloodlines off a very good stock pigeon which has produced many winners, including two Fed toppers in 2005.

This pigeon had been sent to the water for the first time in 2006 and took seventh open in the North West National. Second time over he won Falaise.

Now he can put Fougeres on the CV after being timed at 5.20pm following the 450-mile flight to Flimby.

Bromley sent five pigeons to the race - with the winner sitting seven-day eggs - and got them all back. The first three on the night took first, ninth and 17th Federation.

Like everybody else this season, Alan has lost a good number of birds but he will be sending at least a dozen to Portsmouth this weekend. He will also have six each for the last two channel races as he bids to retain the Big Cup.

Saturday’s win has lifted Bromley into fifth in the league table operating this year for fanciers in the Derwent Valley Federation.

For each Fed race fanciers are awarded points. There is also a league table for the Federation clubs.

The leagues were suggested by Flimby fancier Richard Hodgson to give the fanciers who are badly measured or clubs who only have four or five members the chance of winning something at the end of the season.

Top club in each league will receive £250. The fancier with most points in each league will win £100 and the pigeon with the most points in each league will earn £100.

The A league includes the top six clubs and Ellenborough while the B league includes the bottom four clubs. Seaton RBL who are in the lead, Broughton Moor and Seaton FC, who both have yet to score any points.

The league is to carry on throughout the young bird fed programme as well.

Club’s league: Flimby HS 861, Harrington Central 789, Workington Victoria 442, Workington Social 364, Netherton 321, Flimby WC 299, Seaton RBL 234, Ellenborough 185, Maryport 97, Dearham 58, Clifton 42, Silloth 28.

Fancier’s league: Tinnion bros and Aitken (Flimby HS) 286, John Devlin (Harrington Central) 283, Graham Best (Workington Social) 170, Kenny Harper (Workington Victoria) 158, Bromley and co (Flimby HS) 153, Sleightholm and Broatch (Harrington Central) 148, Alf Parker and son (Seaton FBL) 122, Hucknall bros (Workington Social) 111, Nelson and Crellin (Flimby HS) 108, E Hodgson and son (Flimby HS) 107.

Flimby West Coast FC have expressed their thanks to all those fanciers, in both the Derwent Valley and West Cumberland Federations, who supported the series of show races. Prize money paid out over the three races was £615.

West Cumberland Fed entrants won £363 and Derwent Valley members took £252.50.

The top prize winners were J Fitzsimmons and son (WCF) with £128.25 and J and D Hine and grandson (DVF) with £108.50.

Derwent Valley Federation (128 birds): 1, Bromley and co (Flimby HS) 1166; 2, A Hayton (Flimby WC) 1104; 3, Mr and Mrs Proctor (Flimby WC) 1103; 4, J and D Hine and grandson 1062; 5, Tinnion bros and Aitken (Flimby HS) 1024; E Hodgson and son (Flimby HS) 1023.

Seaton RBL (2 sent six, race sponsored by Metropolitan Racing)): 1, PT Dobie 638. (Lessay - 4 sent 10, race sponsored by Metropolitan Racing): 1, 2, 5, Scholey and Gale 983, 908, 642; 3, 6, F Scott 660, 609; 4, Mr and Mrs Dustin 658.

Flimby HS (8 sent 38) 1, 4, Bromley and co 1166, 993; 2, Tinnion bros and Aitken 1024; 3, 5, E Hodgson and son 1023, 964; 6, Varty and son 922.

Netherton (3 sent 6): 1, 3, Ward and son 920, 599; 2, Graham and daughters 694.

Workington Victoria (6 sent 19): 1, Evans and Abraham 1004; 2, 4, 5, 6, Blacklock and sons 946, 697, 691, 681; 3, K Harper 738.

Flimby West Coast (4 sent 17): 1, A Hayton 1104; 2, Mr and Mrs Proctor 1103; 3, 4, J and D Hine and grandson 1062, 927; 5, Ellwood and so 863. (Show race 15 sent 48): 1, Mr and Mrs Proctor (£96) 1103; 2, J and D Hine and grandson (£72) 1062; 3, 5, E Hodgson and son (£48) 1023, 964; 4, Fitzsimmons and son (£24 and £13 nom) 995; 6, Mr and Mrs Garner 919.

Harrington Central (6 sent 13): 1, 4, J Devlin 1000, 728; 2, Carter and sons 945; 3, 5, L Turner 755, 727; 6, Sleightholm and Broatch 706.

Distington from Fougieres: 1, Halliday and Dixon 731.7; 2, 3, 4 R McAvoy and son 716.3, 716.2, 716.

Previous week’s club results -

Flimby West Coast (4 sent 16): 1, J and D Hine and grandson 870; 2, 3, A Hayton 837, 794; 4, Ellwood and co 679; 5, Mr and Mrs Proctor 646.

Harrington Central (8 sent 22): 1, 3, J Devlin 1104, 989; 2, Carter and sons 1030; 4, N and G Wordsworth 979; 5, J and M Carter 826; 6, Brash and Semple 454.

Netherton (6 sent 16): 1, W Fox 1067; 2, Ward and son 1056; 3, R Routledge 990; 4, A Dixon 917.

Flimby HS: 1, E Pape 1077; 2, Hunter bros 1067; 3, J Varty and son 1032; 4, Bromley and co 1003; 5, Tinnion bros and Aitken 985; 6, G Weaver 984.

Workington Victoria (8 sent 25): 1, 4, K Harper 1075, 645; 2, 5, D Challenger 996, 608; 3, Blacklock and sons 650; 6, G Best 578.

Cumberland Social Circle (Fareham, 22 sent 44): 1, Hill, son and Smith 1270; 2, Walsh and son 1246; 3, Evans and Abraham 1245; 4, Nelson and Crellin 1241; 5, Harker and Berwick 1226; 6, Sanderson and grandson 1210.

Distington (Lessay): 1, R McAvoy and son 109.7; 2, Holiday and Dixon 923.2; 3- Deacon Brothers 797.3; 4 Holiday and Dixon 664.9.