Following last week’s Sunday afternoon in the cold at the Reindeer Parade, the cast of Winnie-the-Pooh took to the streets of the Birmingham once more as Tigger and mount Whinney-the-Pooh took part in this year’s Thomas Vale Pantomime Horse Grand National.
There was plenty of fun to be had ahead of the main race, and the team – sadly not in costume this time! – were again met with enthusiasm as they eagerly handed out flyers for the show.
Priced by Ladbroke’s at 10-1, our nag didn’t seem to be rated particularly highly amongst the field of 30-odd Colt runners, but Tigger’s alter-ego Pete Smith looked supremely confident as he lined up amongst the entrants from other local groups, all out to support a number of the Lord Mayor’s charities.
And they’re off!
Tigger stormed into an immediate lead, masterfully bouncing over the many hay bales that lay around the 500m course in Centerary Square – and managed to hold on until right near the end. With the cheers of his fellow cast members helping him along the way, it wasn’t until the very last turn that our Tigger was overtaken by the race’s eventual winner (cruelly denying me the “Winner-the-Pooh” headline I’d intended to use here).
A great second place made us justly proud, and ensured Pete took a thoroughly well-deserved place on the winners’ rostrum. Despite inevitable exhaustion, he again put himself out for the Pooh cause, and made sure that along with a wonderful trophy, one of Ian’s magnificently-made placards accompanied him in all the official (and unofficial) photographs…
Well done to everyone – and especially to Tigger and Whinney!
Well done! Brilliant pictures too.