Ian Wood completed a memorable old bird season by winning the final channel race from Ancensis.

A two-year-old dark chequer cock covered the 511 miles to Harrington in three minutes under 13 hours.

Sent sitting eight days on eggs, the winner had been prominent in an earlier channel race from Fougeres when he was sixth in the Derwent Valley Federation.

“He was my second pigeon on that day and has always been steady and consistent, the type that makes a good channel pigeon,” said Ian.

“His mother actually topped the Federation from Fougeres in 2009 when only five birds were clocked on the night.

“She went on to have many Federation positions from the channel for me.

“She was bred from a pair of birds gifted to me by Peter Rushforth in 2006, being a Dereck Norden red Cock and a Massarella Van Hee red Hen through Champion Motta.

“The sire of this latest winner is a cock I bought for stock at Chris Gordon’s sale in Blackpool in 2009."

Since moving to fly in the Harrington Central club, Ian has had five Federation toppers – three of them from the channel.

Wife Denise leaves the work among the pigeons to Ian but is very supportive and helps on the clerical side.

The birds were liberated in a light north west wind on Saturday morning at 6am with Ian clocking just before 7pm – the anticipated time of arrival.

But only one other bird was clocked on the day, some two and a half hours later by Workington Victoria’s John and Liz Walters.

Like Ian and Denise Wood, they have also enjoyed a successful channel programme.

In total, 11 birds were clocked in the Derwent Valley Federation before the race closed.

RESULTS

DERWENT VALLEY FEDERATION (61 birds): 1, I. and D. Wood (Harrington Central) 1158; 2, Mr and Mr Walters and son (Workington Victoria) 965; 3, N. and G. Wordsworth (Harrington Central) 763; 4, R. McAvoy and son (Harrington Central) 627; 5, Harker and Berwick (Dearham) 620; 6, Blacklock and sons (Workington Victoria) 555.

HARRINGTON CENTRAL (5 sent 19): 1, I. and D. Wood 1158; 2, N. and G. Wordsworth 763; 3, R. McAvoy and son 627; 4, Telford and Pooley 321; 5, J. and M. Carter 285.

WORKINGTON VICTORIA FC (5 sent 15): 1, Mr and Mrs Walters and son 996; 2, Blacklock and sons 555; 3, Martindale and Lawman 325.

CUMBERLAND SOCIAL CIRCLE (9 sent 18): 1, I. and D. Wood 1158; 2, 4, Harker and Berwick 620, 535; 3, Blacklock and sons 555; 5, Martindale and Lawman 312.