Most of you will know that besides chess, horse racing is my other great passion. So as interest builds towards the 2019 running of the self-proclaimed "World's Greatest Horse Race" (that's the Grand National if you didn't know!), at Aintree on April 6th (this coming Saturday, as I write), I thought it would be fun if we could have our very own KCC Grand National.
So from the thousands of racehorses that have performed over the years, I have manged to assemble a field in which each horse has an association - some closer than others! - through its name with a member of KCC. So every one of our current members will have a runner in the great race. Some of these horses have long passed on; some are retired; and some never competed in a steeplechase in their lives, but all of them did at some time take part in either a National Hunt race (fences, hurdles or bumper) or a Point to Point race. Some of these horses were quite good; a few were very good indeed; and some were pretty useless. A bit like KCC - except that none of us are very good indeed, of course!
Below you will find the runners and riders for the race, and then sometime next week - after the real event has taken place - I'll report on the KCC version, and one club member will have the proud distinction of winning the Grand National! Who will it be?? The clues are all there, of course!
Here we go, then, with the horses in alphabetical order. Find your horse and cross your fingers for luck.
Horse Rider
1 Ballyandy Andy Baruch
2 Baltic Magic Algirdas Toleikis
3 Banjo Paterson Andrew Paterson
4 Beer Goggles Dave Shurrock
5 Ben Nevis Ben Graff
6 Bernard Bernard Charnley
7 Bold Carl Carl Pickering
8 Captain Chris Chris Aldridge
9 Captain Stuart Stuart Blaiklock
10 Corrupt Accountant* Bernard Rogers
11 Diamond Joshua Joshua Pink
12 Dr Donnelly Mike Donnelly
13 Hello Steve Steve Payne
14 Impish Jude Jude Shearsby
15 Just Bruce Bruce Holland
16 Kicking King Tony King
17 Magical Morris William Morris
18 Mathew Matt Smiglarski
19 Mighty Mark Mark Page
20 Mr Johnson Mike Johnson
21 Mr Watson Roy Watson
22 Nicky Nutjob** Nick Mottram
23 Paul Superstar Paul Lam
24 Philip's Woody Phil Wood
25 Puffin' Billy Billy Fellowes
26 Sizing John John Ambler
27 Smart Teacher Andy Ward
28 Ukrainian Star Nick Fesenko
29 Webmaster Rod Webb
* This in no way implies any professional impropriety by our esteemed Chairman! If there had ever been a horse called Honest Accountant, I would obviously have chosen that instead.
** This in no way calls into question the mental stability of our esteemed Club Doctor! If there had ever been a horse called Nicky Completely Normal, I would have obviously have chosen that instead.
** This in no way calls into question the mental stability of our esteemed Club Doctor! If there had ever been a horse called Nicky Completely Normal, I would have obviously have chosen that instead.
The 29 runners are lined up on the start line. The tension is palpable. Place your bets and ……. watch this space for the race commentary and the result!
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