Cleaning up
Sweepstake time in our place last week, in anticipation of last Saturday's John Smith's Grand National (not quite as classy as it used to be, is it?)

Now, my problem with sweepstakes is the fact that I never win. I always blindly give away my money and promptly draw two clapped out old nags who already have one hoof in the glue factory yard, so it was with some hope that I drew Innox and Royal Auclair (both of which were valued at 25-1 or better, so in my mind were certainties to win).

Trusting to the fickle finger of fate, I hauled myself away from an incredibly hectic weekend of DIY to see how my horses faired. Once the false start was out of the way, they were off, and on the long charge towards the first fence. Over went the leaders, and the following pack.

Apart from Royal Auclair and Innox, who both contrived to fall over. Now I could accept one of them going (valiantly at Beacher's Brook on the second circuit, provided the other went on to win), but both falling at the first? It's just not cricket, such sporting failure hasn't been seen since we last tried to pass a baton in a men's sprint relay event, and even they normally wait till the final changeover to drop the bloody thing.

So the office sweepstake went to someone else.

Happily the £1 each way bet I had on the winner, and the horse that finished third, meant the afternoon wasn't a total disaster...

Incidently, fans of office sweepstakes, crime fighting and half-man half-bear unicyclists might enjoy this post by Jonathan.
- posted by Paul @ 3:08 pm