Mascot Grand National
Encyclopedia
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
.
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.
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).
Hurdling
Hurdling is a type of track and field race.- Distances :There are sprint hurdle races and long hurdle races. The standard sprint hurdle race is 110 meters for men and 100 meters for women. The standard long hurdle race is 400 meters for both men and women...
between the mascots of various football and other sports teams. It is held at Huntingdon Racecourse
Huntingdon Racecourse
Huntingdon Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in The Stukeleys near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England.It is also the venue for the annual Mascot Grand National, a race between the mascots of various football and other sports teams....
in The Stukeleys
The Stukeleys
The Stukeleys is a civil parish in the district of Huntingdonshire, in Cambridgeshire, England, consisting of the villages of Great Stukeley and Little Stukeley. The two villages are just north-west of Huntingdon....
near Huntingdon
Huntingdon
Huntingdon is a market town in Cambridgeshire, England. The town was chartered by King John in 1205. It is the traditional county town of Huntingdonshire, and is currently the seat of the Huntingdonshire district council. It is known as the birthplace in 1599 of Oliver Cromwell.-History:Huntingdon...
, Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Public interest in the race began in 2000 when Harry the Hornet
Harry the Hornet
Harry the Hornet is the mascot of English football club, Watford F.C. He is decorated in the club colours of yellow, red and black. The club are nicknamed the Hornets....
, the mascot of Watford F.C.
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
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
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
.
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.
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).
List of winners
- 1999: Beau Brummie Bulldog — Birmingham City F.C.Birmingham City F.C.Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
- 2000: Harry the HornetHarry the HornetHarry the Hornet is the mascot of English football club, Watford F.C. He is decorated in the club colours of yellow, red and black. The club are nicknamed the Hornets....
— Watford F.C.Watford F.C.Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade... - 2001: Dazzler the Lion — Rushden & Diamonds F.C.Rushden & Diamonds F.C.Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of...
- 2002: Chaddy the OwlChaddy the OwlChaddy the Owl is the official mascot of Oldham Athletic—an association football club in Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. He was chosen as the official mascot of Oldham Athletic to reflect Oldham's historic heraldry and heritage, as the owl is a prominent feature on the Oldham coat of arms...
— Oldham Athletic A.F.C.Oldham Athletic A.F.C.Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league... - 2003: Chaddy the Owl — Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
- 2004: Graham the Gorilla — Finedon Volta F.C.
- 2005: Scoop Six Squirrel — The SunThe Sun (newspaper)The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
newspaper - 2006: Mickey the Monkey — Kick 4 LifeKick 4 LifeKick 4 Life is a registered UK charity which uses football as a tool for promoting health education and awareness in the developing world...
- 2007: Wacky Macky Bear — Saffron Walden Town F.C.
- 2008: Wacky Macky Bear — Saffron Walden Town F.C.Saffron Walden Town F.C.Saffron Walden Town F.C. is an English football club based in Saffron Walden, Essex. The club are currently without a league after withdrawing from the Eastern Counties League in August 2011. They play at Catons Lane.-History:...
- 2009: Stag — Huntingdon Rugby ClubHunts & Peterborough County Rugby UnionHunts and Peterborough County Rugby Union is an amalgamation of Rugby Union teams from around Peterborough and Huntingdonshire.It is a sub-county of East Midlands Rugby Union and holds its own county cup each season.- Member teams :* * * * * * *...
- 2010: Mr Bumble —Barnet F.C.Barnet F.C.Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....