Carbine Club of London
President’s update
26 May 2024
Dear Carbiners,
As the British spring turns to summer – and finally we see some much-needed sunshine – the Carbine Club of London’s social season is in full swing.
Our annual race-night took place at Sandown Park on May 23, where 34 members and guests enjoyed drinks, dinner and outstanding views of the action in the Royal Box.
The evening featured a prize draw for all in attendance. First prize went to Nick Fahey, the guest of Deepam Patel, who won a £250 voucher to spend at the Oxo Tower restaurant. Second prize was six bottles of fine Yalumba wine. This went to John Yuille, who was the guest of Graham Frazer.
The feature race, the Brigadier Gerard Stakes, was landed by the hot favourite, Royal Rhyme. Elsewhere across the card, winners were less easy to find but this not did dampen the spirits of Carbine members, some of whom “batted on” late into the night at a local hostelry.
During the evening, Terry McCaughey, our honorary treasurer, announced that all 15 shares in CCL’s new syndicated racehorse had been taken up. The horse, a colt by Hello Youmzain, will be trained by Derby-winning trainer William Haggas at Newmarket. And I’m delighted to welcome William as a member of our club. Having taken over from Peter Jensen, our new “light-touch” syndicate manager is Lord (Christopher) Rathcreedan, who deserves plaudits for securing the horse at what seems to be (fingers crossed) a not unreasonable price. He and I will oversee a competition to name the horse; all syndicate members are invited to submit suggestions.
The day after Sandown Park, 20 Carbine members and guests gathered at Royal Mid-Surrey GC for the club’s annual golf event. Organised by Carbine member, Peter Cozens, a former RMS captain, we were blessed with beautiful late-May sunshine.
After all the recent rain, the rough was thick and juicy and the course played very long. That said, there were some excellent scores, including 31 points from young Eddie Fisher, son of CCL member Paul Fisher, who played off a handicap of just three.
Graham Frazer, another former RMS captain, won the members’ competition with 36 stableford points. Ron Foxon, my guest, won the guests’ competition with 34 points. The winners’ prizes, two bottles each of the Wine Society’s Exhibition Chateauneuf-du-Pape, were well received and seem unlikely to last very long.
The evening was topped off with our traditional curry supper in the club’s splendid clubhouse. My thanks go to Peter Cozens for his sterling work in organising a great day at a top-notch venue.
The club’s next event – our annual cricket lunch in the Long Room at Lord’s – takes place on July 1st. With the West Indies touring England this summer, our guest speakers will be Mark Butcher, who scored eight Test centuries for England and is highly regarded for his after dinner speaking. Joining Mark will be West Indies star Kemar Roach, who has played 81 tests taking 240 wickets at an average of 27.
Without our usual entourage of touring Australian Carbiners, (last year there were 37), there are still spaces available. To reserve a seat, contact Terry McCaughey on terrymccaughey@me.com. I look forward to seeing you all there.
Yours ever,
Jeff Randall
President
