Martin ‘Usain’ Quinn (above obviously) was the Rajah of the Races, Star of the Show yet wore his Victor’s Laurels lightly!
The Gunmakers’ Team paraded early at 11am in glorious sunshine in the Guildhall Yard ready for the Poulters’ 21 st
Inter-Livery Pancake Race Championships at 12noon. (This weather was in stark contrast to last year, when ‘rain nearly stopped play’ as the organisers cunningly moved the event into the crypt in a modified form.)
The traditional format was followed with heats for the categories of Master, Liveryman, Lady Liveryman and Novelty races.
As one of our team unexpectedly ‘Failed to Appear’, Martin manfully volunteered to enter two categories: – Liveryman and Novelty. Little did we know that he was a dark-horse and in the end went onto win both these categories and thus the Victor Ludorum trophy too! Simply outstanding.
He is now the third member of the Gunmakers’ Pancake Race Blue Riband Club, joining Past Masters Stewart Urry, Champion in 2006 and Roddy Richmond-Watson, Champion in 2020. Stewart and Roddy won in the Masters’ category, but Martin leads with the three wins in total. (Though I understand he is not moving too quickly the morning after – but never mind, it was all for the glory of the Company!)
The Gunmakers’ Team was led by the Master, with Liveryman Martin Quinn fulfilling that category and Julie Steadman as our Lady Liveryman entry.
Julie came a wonderful second in her heat but was timed out for a place in the final. The Master, as expected, shot off like a real pro in his first heat and was leading on the return leg when his leg called time out and he nearly lost his pancake. Even so, with a pulled hamstring, he still limped over the line in second place.
The team was supported by Past Master Rowley McBeath and Rosemary McBeath, the Clerk, the Assistant Clerk and Liverymen Derek Stimpson as photographer and Paul Gluckman as a spectator. The Proof Master, badged and gowned, fired the cannon or starting pistol to start the races. David enjoyed his first Pancake Race Day and was, in fact, quite blown away by it.
Congratulations to all the team and supporters. Another really enjoyable and triumphant day for the Gunmakers!
