Congratulations to a future King and his wife on the birth of the Royal baby who seemed to hang on as if waiting for a King's Ransom. Royal cheers to the baby girl - Charlotte Elizabeth Diana - who had the great fortune to be born about the same time as the race of the week at the Serpentine on Saturday morning... 8.34am. And cheers to Mr Ransom who had a handsome victory.
And one can confirm that Elizabeth was pleased when Geoff Ransom won the race with a strong finish. Naturally, one refers to Elizabeth Hurst. And Geoff who raced breastroke the whole way had the fortune to defeat the field which included some members from the far-flung corners of the Commonwealth. Recently, the Australian National breastroke champion, Kat Jungnickel demonstrated her racing class at Serps, but today all curtsey'd to Ransom's powers who elected to race breastroke against all the freestylers and butterfliers.
And as thoughts drifted towards Windsor we reflected on the tall posh chap who frequents social occasions on Saturday mornings sometimes dressed in tails and white tie, or occasionally a neatly pressed CS&PF suit when one's Windsor and Eton best is at the dry cleaners. Naturally, tall, posh, and lives near a house in Windsor, well that couldn't just be anyone from that neck of the woods. And one can tell news of Philip; well unusually his was not a visible presence this morning. Naturally one refers to Philip Challinor.
And what of that slightly wild chap who was occasionally called 'randy Andy' in those lurid tabloid headlines. Well, thankfully he's getting older now, and manfully gets on with things. He would doubtless have shared in the delight of a new addition to the Royal Family. Naturally and obviously, this bears no reflection on Andy at the Serpentine as he has thrown in the towel regarding any possible hazy days of yore.
Ranson Geoff, Campbell Fiona, Morony Matthew, Barron Mike, Challinor Felicity, Kelly Trish and Norton James all filled the top places.
The other places filled by the extended family but necessarily minor royals were as follows:
Hingley Sakura, Hatcher Chris, Talkenberg Herwarth, Ware Catherine, Mavra Boris, Latham Laure, Cleaver Anthony, Mavra Vanessa, Dale Jo, Cselko George, Gartland Alice, Deeley Andrew, Kelly Sean, Johnson Angela, Hieatt-Smith Ben, Adams Nick, Hungerford Nick, Jones Norman, Maeer Garath, Murray Teresa, Jungnickel Kat, Fischel-Bock Henry, Mitchell Alan, Hurst Elizabeth, Fischel-Bock Jaki, Ranson Matt, Ward Deirdre, Doyle Clare, Fuller Andrew, Turner Haydn, Bruno Mark, Young Ros, Wynn Michael, Gilbert Mary, Carter Eric, Hunter Robin, Collias Michelle
Congratulations to all.
[John Tierney]
