Bad weather on the south coast caused a change in plans for the West Cumbria Amalgamation.

First of all it was not possible to liberate on Saturday and, after being held overnight, conditions were no better in the morning.

The transporter moved back up country looking for improved weather but nothing presented itself until they got to Appleton.

The birds which had been sent to fly nearly 300 miles from Bedhampton were set a shorter challenge, less than 100 from Appleton.

It remained a Cumbria Combine, Amalgamation and Federation race, however, and provided Workington fanciers Mr and Mrs Walters with a nice double.

John and Liz topped the Derwent Valley Federation and the Amalgamation with a yearling grizzle hen.

She was among a number of young birds John bought last year from renowned Egremont fancier David "Sugar" Wilson.

“We have her on the roundabout system and, although this was the first time she has scored for us, she should have been among it from Windrush but trapped badly," said John.

"She has often been the first pigeon back to the loft and has always been consistent."

The loft has had two wins in the competitive Workington Victoria club this season, and three in the Workington Social Limit club.

This weekend is the penultimate old bird race, a channel test from Messac.

WEST CUMBRIA AMALGAMATION (817 birds): 1, Mr and Mrs Walters and son (Workington Victoria) 1279; 2, M and L Cape (Workington Victoria) 1274; 3, Martindale and Lawman (Workington Victoria) 1271; 4, Holliday and Dixon (Lowca) 1270.6; 5, Evans and Abraham (Workington Victoria) 1270.4; 6, S. and E Chambers and daughter (Sandwith) 1269.

DERWENT VALLEY FEDERATION (594 birds): 1, Mr and Mrs Walters and son (Workington Victoria) 1279; 2, M. and L. Cape (Workington Victoria) 1274; 3, Martindale and Lawman (Workington Victoria) 1271; 4, 5, 6, Evans and Abraham (Workington Victoria) 1270, 1261.8, 1261.8.

WORKINGTON SOCIAL LIMIT (5 sent 60): 1, 5, Mr and Mrs Walters; 2, 3, 4, 6, McLuckie bros.

FLIMBY WEST COAST (2 sent 41): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Hodgson and Saldert 1255, 1254.7, 1254.7, 1253.9, 1253.8.

DEARHAM UTD: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, Harker and Berwick 1304.7, 1304.7, 1267, 1249, 1245; 3, M. Ward and son 1269.

SEATON RBL (4 sent 37): 1, 4, Gale, O’Fee and Yelland 1282, 1219; 2, 3, Dobie and Palmer 1240, 1225.

FLIMBY HS (7 sent 114): 1, 6, A. Bromley and co 1288, 1260; 2, 3, P. Rushforth 1285, 1274; 4, 5, Nelson and Crellin 1272.16, 1272.01.

HARRINGTON CENTRAL (6 sent 54): 1, 5, N. and G. Wordsworth 1259, 1222; 2, 6, J. Devlin 1258, 1217; 3, 4, I. and D. Wood 1254, 1230.

NETHERTON HS (6 sent 120): 1, 2, 3, 4, W. Hodgson and son 1271, 1269, 1267, 1265; 5, R. Routledge 1251; 6, Reay, Dempsey and son 1244.

CUMBERLAND SOCIAL CIRCLE (18 sent 36): 1, Martindale and Lawman 1261; 2, 3, Tomlinson and Banks 1257, 1256; 4, I. and D. Wood 1254; 5, Nelson and Crellin 1246; 6, P. Rushforth 1244.

WORKINGTON VICTORIA (9 sent 161): 1, Mr and Mrs Walters and son 1293; 2, M. and L. Cape 1288; 3, 5, 6, Evans and Abraham 1285, 1276, 1276; 4, Martindale and Lawman 1283.