Jimmy Nelson and Fleck Crellin have a loft star at the moment – and he came up trumps on Sunday.

Their two-year-old chequer cock won the Derwent Valley Federation race from Marlborough, giving the partners their third Fed topper in the eight years they have flown together.

It was also the best bird into west Cumbria as it topped the Amalgamation result sheet, with 30 of the top 40 positions occupied by Derwent Valley fanciers.

Fleck said: “He’s been an exceptional pigeon for us, and he didn’t even race as a young bird.

“We bought his grandsire off Keith Rafferty when we bought his loft.

“A Karl Boerx on both sides of the pedigree, he has been phenomenal in his consistency.

“He is always in the first three to the loft and last season was fourth, eighth, ninth and 14th in the Derwent Valley Federation, winning one race in Flimby HS.

“In the first race this season, he won Garstang by two minutes, and it’s always a pleasure to see him trap – he’s right into the loft with no messing.

“We fly him on the roundabout system but his hen doesn’t race. She’s always there for him.”

The West Cumbria Amalgamation birds were held until Sunday and liberated at 9am into a light north wind.

The winning bird was clocked at Flimby at 2:26pm, and it proved to be an excellent race.

This weekend, the Cumbrian birds face their first cross-channel test with the opening race scheduled from Carentan.

RESULTS

WEST CUMBRIA AMALGAMATION (1,260 birds): 1, Nelson and Crellin (Flimby HS) 1281; 2, P. Rushforth (Flimby HS) 1280; 3, Williams and Hadfield (Workington Social) 1279.31; 4, N. and G. Wordsworth (Harrington Central) 1279.30; 5, Holliday and Dixon (Lowca) 1276; 6, Barker, Charlton and Brown (Ellenborough) 1275.

DERWENT VALLEY FEDERATION (916 birds): 1, Nelson and Crellin (Flimby HS) 1281; 2, P. Rushforth (Flimby HS) 1280; 3, Williams and Hadfield (Workington Social) 1279.31; 4, N. and G. Wordsworth (Harrington Central) 1279.30; 5, Barker, Charlton and Brown (Ellenborough) 1275; 6, Martindale and Lawman 1268.

FLIMBY HS (7 sent 140): 1, 3, 6, P. Rushforth 1289, 1269, 1248; 2, 4, Nelson and Crellin 1288, 1267; 5, A. Bromley and co 1258.

HARRINGTON CENTRAL (9 sent 121): 1, N. and G. Wordsworth 1279; 2, I. and D. Wood 1260; 3, 4, Mr and Mrs D. Wood 1256.4, 1256.3; 5, R. McAvoy and son 1253; 6, L. Turner 1249.

NETHERTON HS (6 sent 158): 1,2, 3, 4, W. Hodgson and son 1270, 1269, 1264.9, 1264.2; 5, 6, Musgrave and son 1259.9, 1259.8.

WORKINGTON VICTORIA (9 sent 218): 1, Williams and Hadfield 1283; 2, 3, 5, 6, Martindale and Lawman 1271, 1268, 1266.3, 1266.3; 4, Evans and Abraham 1267.

FLIMBY WEST COAST (2 sent 57): 1, 3, 4, 5, Hodgson and Saldert 1262, 1258, 1253, 1244; 2, Hunter bros 1260. (Show race – 11 sent 42): 1, Williams and Hadfield 1279.31, £42; 2, N. and G. Wordsworth 1279.30, £31.50p; 3, Martindale and Lawman 1265, £21; 4, Hodgson and Saldert 1244.8, £10.50p; 5, Fitzsimmons and son 1244.2.

SILLOTH: 1, 2, 3, Reeves bros; 4, 6, D. Creighton; 5, J. Morton.

CUMBERLAND SOCIAL CIRCLE (18 sent 36): 1, Nicholson and Crellin 1281; 2, Mr and Mrs D. Wood 1256; 3, McLuckie bros 1255; 4, J. Walsh and son 1253; 5, I. and D. Wood 1246; 6, P. Rushforth 1236.

DEARHAM UNITED (77 birds): 1, 2, Deacon bros 1260.4, 1260.3; 3, 4, 5, 6, Harker and Berwick 1259, 1255, 1250.8, 1250.6.

WORKINGTON SOCIAL LIMIT (7 sent 61): 1, 6, Williams and Hadfield; 2, G. Best; 3, Mr and Mrs Walters; 4, 5, McLuckie bros.

ELLENBOROUGH: 1, 2, Barker, Charlton and Brown 1275, 1268; 3, 4, Barlow and Doyle 1217, 1160.