Last updated 13:33, Thursday, 14 August 2008

A RARE first place in the Consett and District Federation was snapped up by Hindmarsh and Telfer in the young bird race from Newark on Sunday.

The bird stormed home in record time when the young birds from the four local clubs raced from Newark 141 miles. The leading birds of the 265 from Tyne Valley Homing Society averaged almost 60mph, with the Hindmarsh and Telfer partnership claimed the first three positions.

Results: 1, 2, 3 and 8, Hindmarsh and Telfer 1711.63, 1688.6, 1667.24, 1645.07; 4, Hunter and Brewis 1662.22; 5, B. Leech 1655.07; 6, J. Gray 1651.02; 7, J. Kennedy 1645.24.

Tynedale Homing Society had eight members sending 162 birds.

The race was dominated by Acomb’s Tom Leadbitter with his birds filling the first three positions.

Results: 1, 2 and 3, T. Leadbitter 1590, 1587, 1571; 4, 6 and 7, S. Hawkes 1567, 1561, 1555; 5, G. and M. Dodd and J. Charlton 1563; 8, P. Jackson 1540.

In the Hexham race Strong and Son won with two together, the winner achieving 51mph.

Result: 1, 2, 5 and 6, Strong and Son 1493, 1483, 1465, 1457; 3, 4, 7 and 8, W.A. and E. Armstrong 1476, 1469, 1454, 1444.

Three Haltwhistle Flying Club members sent 19 birds to Newark, from where a blue chequer busschaert hen took just over three and a quarter hours and arrived in the pouring rain to win for Colin Creighton.

The club also held a race from Leyland on Monday when four members sent 70 birds.

A lovella bred chequer cock won the red card for Colin Dodd and Dennis Smith in a 90 mile young bird race.

Newark: 1, 2 and 3, C. Creighton 1305, 1294, 1290; 4 and 5, Dodd and Smith 1207, 1203.

Leyland: 1, 2 and 4 Dodd and Smith, 1544, 1536, 1304; 3, 5 and 6, C. Creighton, 1307, 1291, 1280.