THE GRAND NATIONAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 31 March 1930, Page 9

THE GRAND NATIONAL

WON BY SHAUN COLLIN AFTER CLOSE FINISH A PUNISHING RACE (United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyri gnt) LONDON, 28th March. Following is the result of the GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE, a sweepstakes of 100 sovs, with 5000 sovs added.. About four miles and 856 yards. W. H. Midwood's ch g Shaun Goflin sire's pedigree . unknown —Golden Day, lOvrs, 11.7 1 W. Wilson's bv m Melleray's Belle by Melleray—Mountain Lily liyrs, 10.0 2 J. IT. Whitney's Sir Lindsay, 9yrs, 10.6 3

There were forty-one starters. Won by a neck, with a, length and a half between second ond third horses. Only five of the forty-one finished the course. Shaun Goilin's astounding burst of speed enabled him to outpace the leaders in a desperate finish at the end of a punishing race, over the most .-difficult steeplechase course in the world. The race was run in the the unusually fast time of 9min 40 3-ssec, compared with the average of over ten minutes, and provided one of the most exciting Grand Nationals in history. It was also notable because five of the finishers, including Ballynan Wood, were bunched instead of the customary stringing out, b*ut the remainder of the field, the most of whom had either fallen or refused the earlier jumps, faded out of the picture in the last mile. This is the first time the Grand National has been won by a horse whose sire's pedigree is unknown, but the fact that he is Irish-bred, coming all the way from Tippcrary, caused thousands of Irishmen to favour his chances.

The owner, Mr W. IT. Midwood, was formerly a ehnmpion gentleman rider at Shanghai and Hong Kong, and is now a. Liverpool stockbroker, and is master of the Chesshire foxhounds. He never bets, but'told his friends that he was

confident and it had been liis lifelong ambition to carry off the Grand National. He had been trying for eight years, and paid 10,500 guineas for bitvio which was 'third in 1924. Ho gave much less for Shaun Goilin, which changed hands as a two-year-old for 22 guinea*. , The jockey, Cullman, an Irish examatonr, wall engaged to ride Easter Hero, Whoso lameness put him out of the race until Midwood offered him the mount. Cullinan says that it was an armchair journey, and ho knew lie could win when ho dashed over the iast fence. The Americans were disappointed. Sir Lindsay made a magnificent race of it, but Was unsuccessful, as also was bjie American-owned 'G;langcsia, dropping hack after leading for nearly threequarters of the course. In fact Glangesia was leading until over halfway in the second round, accompanied by" Morrivalp, Sandyhook, and Glakie. Towards Ihe end of the first circuit Melleray's /iolle and Sir Lindsay came up with the leaders and Shaun Goilin got even with them later. Shaun Goilin and Melleray's Belle jumped the last fence together a length ahead of the field and there was a terrific race in tlio straight which saw Shaun Goilin gain a narrow victory. Glangesia was fourth. Gregalach was pulled up at halfway and about twenty fell.