Off-racenights and bank holidays have disrupted my rhythm this week.
Normally, I sit down to pen these words on a Thursday, with the previous night’s decisive victory (or agonizing defeat) fresh in the mind. That is unless I forget, and I get a panicked message from Rob the programme editor on Friday and I have to pretend I’ve forgot to send it again, and crash out in a hurry. Either way, I can say a few words about the what happened the previous night, tell you all if there were any unclaimed raffle prizes, maybe plug a barbecue, remind you to variously buy raffle tickets, join the Supporters Club, and book seats on the coach to Cardiff, before saying a few rousing words about tonight’s meeting and declare with blind faith we’ll win tonight, as if there was any doubt.
However, because of the Bank Holiday weekend and the fact we’re riding on a Tuesday this week, I’m actually writing this on Sunday, 21st of May. Yesterday’s Bank Holiday is a week tomorrow, and tonight’s meeting won’t happen for another nine days. In fact, I only wrote last week’s programme notes (for the Chargers vs Colts meeting) the day before yesterday (sorry Rob, late again). If you think this is confusing, spare a thought for poor Rob, who had to explain this to me last Wednesday (which is actually a fortnight ago now) without the use of diagrams or finger puppets.
So I can’t say how well (or otherwise) the Colts meeting went. I can’t say if we were gracious in victory, or if we were robbed at the last minute. I can’t say if all of the raffle prizes got claimed, and I can’t tell you how well we did collecting for Jordan last week (in three days time). However, I can return to type and say we’ll be doing the Raceday Jackpot again tonight, with cash prizes, a centregreen experience trip and a ticket to the SGP BBQ this weekend (at least, it’ll be this weekend by the time you read this).
We’ve had some new faces at the SGP BBQs this year, making the most of their OSSC memberships (still available in the Champs Bar), but you don’t have to be a member to come along and join the fun. Entry is only £10 for adults, and I defy anyone else to match us for quality and quantity at that price. Get yourselves to the Ampleforth from 17:30 on Saturday and you’ll be fed before the tapes go up. Come once and you’ll turn into a regular without realizing it.
One thing that’s far enough away not to confuse me is the British SGP at Cardiff, which early deadlines won’t affect and remains on 2nd September. We’re running our coach again this year, and if you want to get to the Principality with the minimum of stress and fuss, come and book some seats with us. We’ll be aiming to arrive in Cardiff for lunch, and we normally arrive in Oxford just after midnight. If you want to join us, come and see us in the Champs Bar and get your name on the list, and maybe pick up a membership pack while you’re at it.
So onto tonight (or what will be tonight in a week and a bit). Our old friends the Pirates are back in town, this time in the Knockout Cup. We don’t need reminding how the first pair of fixtures against the Pirates went this year, but I have a feeling this week’s fixtures (by which I mean next week’s fixtures) will be closer now the Cheetah are finding their form. I would say more, but I’m sure Rob will be on the phone any minute, so I’ll sign off the usual way and go for a lie down in a darkened room for a bit.
Go Cheetahs