Gerry Knights king of Clenchwarton Victory long distance races from Shetlands

Clenchwarton Victory had two races over the weekend, writes Kevin Mason.

The first was the club’s longest race from Lerwick, in the Shetlands, when the birds were released in a NW wind at 0800 hrs.

Clenchwarton farmer Gerry Knights was number one when his 5-year-old took 8 hrs 43 mins to fly 515 miles. Gerry has now taken the longest two races in the club this season.

Result: 1 Gerry Knights & Sons, 1735; 2 Peter and Dave Ellwood, 1715; 3 4 5 Her Majesty the Queen, 1698, 1661, 1605; 6 Dale and Neil Dennis, 1575.

The above club’s second race was from Alnwick. Second win of the season for Mr & Mrs Ian Dye. Their yearling, a Nev Godfrey bred Busschaert, took 3 hrs 50 mins to fly 207 miles.

Result: 1 Mr & Mrs Dye, 1583; 2 3 4 Dale & Neil Dennis, 1566, 1565, 1564; 5 Mr & Mrs Ted Scott, 1468; 6 Tom Williams, 1456.

The Lynn North RFC also raced from Lerwick and Alnwick. Five members sent 32 birds to the Shetland Isles. South Lynn father and son partnership of Dave and Peter Ellwood won with a 3-y/o Leem Purton. It took 8 hrs 49 mins to fly 516 miles.

Result: 1 Peter and Dave Ellwood, 1715; 2 4 5 Billy Mellett, 1706, 1684, 1671; 3 Her Majesty the Queen, 1698; 6 Tony Byrne, 1669.

The club birds were released at 11.30 hrs in a NW wind from Alnwick, when seven lofts sent 84 birds. First win of the season for the Perry Brothers & Malc Bunton, when a 2-y/o Vandenbrouke X took 2hrs 38 mins to fly 201 miles.

Result: 1 Perry Brothers & Malc Bunton, 1628; 2 5 6 Peter and Dave Ellwood, 1623, 1565 1561. 3 4 Her Majesty the Queen, 1601, 1599.

Wereham RPC raced from Lyndhurst when seven members sent 74 birds, and liberated in a light north wind at 06.30 hrs. ‘Rodney’s Rockets’ took the first six positions. His De Backer x Verschoot winner took 2hrs 59 mins to fly 145 miles.

Result: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rodney Cochrane, 1426, 1414, 1401 (two birds), 1386, 1382.

The New Lynn RPC also raced from Lyndhurst. The S.T.S. Lofts had the top two, and were led by ‘Sams Boy’ a four-times winner, and bred by their Heremans Ceuster birds, and took 3hrs 15mins to fly 155 miles.

Result: 1 2 6 Jamie Stevens, Jay Thompson, Timmy Simper, 1400 (two birds), 1291; 3 Kim Peacock & Bernie Byrne, 1348; 4 Manning Brothers & Son, 1333; 5 Her Majesty the Queen, 1307.