I believe the Xmas race was once again very well supported and another successful event. This year was the 14th consecutive year for the event and was flown from Morpeth ( 76 miles to most lofts ). In the 14 years the race has been run there have been no holdovers and the race is flown on the nearest Saturday to Xmas - (This year the 22nd December.) Birdage is required to be prepaid by the 1st Dec each year and this year had a record prepaid birdage of 248 birds @ £5 each by 42 lofts , generating £1240 in prize money. The 179 birds entered by 36 lofts were liberated at 0950Hrs into a light South west wind with the winning bird ( Jamie Douglas ) recording avelocity of 922ypm. The total Prize money & pools paid out was £5500. The result was :
1. J.Douglas - Vel 922
2. J.Douglas - Vel 921
3.W.Kinnear & Son - Vel 920
4.W.Kinnear & Son - Vel 919.7
5.J.Douglas - Vel 919.3
6. S.Lapinski - Vel 913
7. P.Melville - Vel 895
8.P.Melville - Vel 894
9. H.Armstrong - Vel 891
10. C.Brown - Vel 868
11. - J.Pryde - Vel 863
12. A&R Pringle - vel 860
J.Douglas winnining over £800
W.Kinnear & Son winning over £800
P.Melville winning over £2100
The returns from the race were once again very good.
