“Slowly away, pushed along in rear six out, strong headway to challenge inside the three, finished well, improve.”
If the Team Dunlop effort at the Racing Centre staff sports day on Sunday 12th was to be described in parlance we are all familiar with, it might me be something like the above.
A numerically strong turnout was mentally and physically diminished by our annual staff party the night before, and we were counting more bleary eyes than podium finishes as the early heats got underway.
However, there is nothing like a sterling secretary to put the supposed athletes in their place, and Hannah managed to get the ball rolling by landing her 100 metre heat in fine fashion. The bookies – had they existed on the cold, wet playing field of central Newmarket – were sure to have made her an odds-on chance for overall glory.
Less than half an hour later and Hannah had added a silver medal in the long jump to her tally, leaving the regular riders doubting their sporting capacity beyond the saddle and some, as the harsh reality of the competitive environment took its toll, their ability in the plate.
But that would soon change. Three smooth changeovers belied shaking hands in the 4 x 100m relay heat, and the sprint team (consisting of Harry, Luke, Eddie and Hannah) were able to reproduce such masterful skill in the final, forcing a dead-heat with Sir Michael Stoute’s merry men.
However, some work watchers have suggested the decision was reminiscent of those issued by former judge Dave Smith. We think they are just bitter.
Two of the relay side were coveted in glory of their own. Harry and Luke landed division one and two of the 100m heats respectively, setting up a tantalising final in which La Grange fielded both of the jokers but held all the aces too.
The clash we were all anticipating failed to materialise, with Harry careering away in the closing stages while Luke stopped quickly in the last 20m. The Boss ordered him to be routine tested.
And we were not done there. Tegan, having been pulled up in the 3000 metres and tailed off in the 1500 metres when looking like a set of blinkers might be in order, proved herself to have been running over the wrong trip dropped to 200m, coming with a sustained late surge to snatch silver on the line.
And, reminiscent of Royal Ascot just four weeks previous, Lauranne added an international flavour to proceedings by scooping the runner-up spot in the 400m.
The versatility continued as Robin, Tory, Alex and Chris – coming together to make one of the more peculiar tug of war teams in recent times – successfully navigated the first two rounds of the competition only to be out-battled by Cheveley Park in the final as the rain drove down and the crowds headed for the Wagon.
Quite fitting, then, that Chris – in the position of anchor – should finish the competition face first in the mud anchoring nothing but his team’s chances of winning. He has, however, been approached by numerous shipping companies over the past few days and is considering this career change carefully.
While he failed to scoop top honours across the afternoon, a special mention must go Australian jockey Anthony, who showed the resilience of Mark Johnston-trained horse by competing in just about every event possible. Slightly lame in the aftermath, he has returned to full fitness now and is a competitor to follow.
A glorious afternoon full of good fun and gold medals. And as the clock struck three, with evening stables in sight, not a hangover to be seen. The perfect result.