The wind varied from west south west to north west en route but the visibility over the English channel was very good.

Having won the last seven inland races Tommy Boland and Robert Brown proved that channel racing was no problem either with their yearling cock arriving home 14 minutes in front of W G and S Marley’s two year old bird. Geoff Wilson and Son had a very good race with three pigeons in the first nine and a two year old blue cock took third spot just over a minute in front of S and M Smith in fourth. The winner flew the 342.5 miles to its loft in 8 hours and 18 minutes.

Derek Brearley’s two year old hen, which was fourth from Messac, finished sixth this time but more importantly accrued £50 in pools, loft nomination and pontoon money. Wally Lawson’s Fougeres winner was seventh in this race and the balance of the pontoon money went to Steve and Mark Smith in tenth place.

There is now a fortnight’s break from racing to enable fanciers to put the finishing touches to their 2008 young birds before the first race for this year’s crop on July 26 from Stafford.

Falaise result: 1, Boland and Brown 1209; 2, W G and S Marley 1176; 3, G Wilson and Son1161; 4, S and M Smith, 1158; 5, G Wilson and Son 1149; 6, S D Brearley, 1134; 7, W Lawson, 1132; 8, S D Brearley, 1126; 9,G Wilson and Son, 1124; 10, S and M Smith, 1113; 11, K Tattersall and Son 1102; 12, S and M Smith, 1096; 13, W Lawson, 1094; 14, J and K Laycock, 1081; 15, J and K Laycock 1072.