- Mascot Grand National
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The Mascot Grand National is an annual race over hurdles between the mascots of various football and other sports teams. It is held at Huntingdon Racecourse in The Stukeleys near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England.[1]
Public interest in the race began in 2000 when Harry the Hornet, the mascot of Watford F.C. won the second race. His co-mascot Harriet came second in 2001.
Since then it has expanded to include mascots from other sports and even non-sport mascots, the winners in 2005 and 2006 representing Kick 4 Life and The Sun newspaper respectively. It has its own page on Facebook.
In 2010, many mascots, especially those from professional football clubs, boycotted the race over the way it was organised and the fact that mascots from any field could enter even if they were not 'day in-day out' performers.[2]
The Mascot Grand National is moving to Kempton Park racecourse. The race of up to 100 mascots, which was first contested in 1999, will be held at the venue in Sunbury, Surrey, for the first time next May (2012).[3]
List of winners
- 1999: Beau Brummie Bulldog — Birmingham City F.C.
- 2000: Harry the Hornet — Watford F.C.
- 2001: Dazzler the Lion — Rushden & Diamonds F.C.
- 2002: Chaddy the Owl — Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
- 2003: Chaddy the Owl — Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
- 2004: Graham the Gorilla — Finedon Volta F.C.
- 2005: Scoop Six Squirrel — The Sun newspaper
- 2006: Mickey the Monkey — Kick 4 Life
- 2007: Wacky Macky Bear — Saffron Walden Town F.C.[4]
- 2008: Wacky Macky Bear — Saffron Walden Town F.C.[4]
- 2009: Stag — Huntingdon Rugby Club
- 2010: Mr Bumble —Barnet F.C.
References
- ^ "Huntingdon Racecourse". http://www.huntingdon-racecourse.co.uk. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
- ^ Copping, Jasper (2 October 2010). "Mascot Grand National hit by boycott". London: The Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/8038720/Mascot-Grand-National-hit-by-boycott.html. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
- ^ "Mascot Grand National moves to Kempton Park". BBC News. 19 August 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-14589559. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- ^ a b "Wacky Bear's webpage". http://www.saffronwaldentownfc.com/Wacky.htm. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
External links
Categories:- Sport in Cambridgeshire
- Association football mascots
- English sport stubs
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