Mike Cattermole chats to former Sporting Life journalist and 'Man On The Spot' Chris Gundry about his time with the newspaper.
For many readers of The Sporting Life, the Man On The Spot race-by-race preview pages were simply a must read.
Chris Gundry spent over 30 of his 37 "happy years" at The Life on the MOTS team, his well known initials (CKG) appearing at the bottom of countless tipping pieces.
He joined The Life as soon as he left school.
1. When did you first become aware of The Sporting Life?
My dad was a betting office manager for Heathorns and he would often bring home The Life from work. Dad knew I was totally nuts about racing, as did my mum who allowed me off school in the afternoon to watch the racing on TV if I carried out an errand to get her cigarettes from the corner shop. The job advert for “Messenger Boy” was in the Life and from then on I was off and running.
2. When did you join The Life and what was your first job?
I kid you not, my first day at The Sporting Life was on an Easter Sunday. My interview for the job had gone well enough with the editor's secretary, Len Sandys, and in those days it wasn't unusual for a youngster to turn up for an interview with one of his parents. I laugh now when I think of Len glancing at my mother's knee - I knew then the job was mine!
3. Did you have any ambitions to stay there and climb the ladder?
Like Mark Noble at West Ham, I'm a one-team man. It was a practise at the Life that all recruits learn as much about the running of the paper, so they spent time in various areas.
Even as a whipper-snapper, I had the ear of the Life's Associate Editor and inside-page design man, Norman Bardsley, especially after I told him my dad, being a settler as well as betting office manager, offered him advice on how to improve the marker sheet!
The answer to the question on whether I wanted to go further is no. When I was asked to join the Man On The Spot team, this was it and I didn't want to go anywhere else.
4. Any memories that stand out about experiences, personalities and or stories at the time?
There are computer databases now but in my day when I was working in the form room, we typed out every form line from the form book before the copy was sent to hot metal. It was a slog and we worked all hours over bank holidays with not one moan from anybody. It says a lot of our boss then, Alfie Richards, that the team would spend lunchtime with him. A fine and generous man, much missed.
5. Any funny moments you can recall?
We had symbols next to the jockey's name, such as two stars, which indicated the horse was blinkered for the first time (we had to look it up ourselves in those days).
Ron Allen, who took over from David Hedges as editor of “Turf Topics”, was the Life's master wit who could knock up a spoof article standing on his head. He came up with such a spoof delivered to the Man On The Spot desk in an internal envelope.
The instruction was from management that there were to be three stars alongside the jockey's name, indicating the horse was ridden for the first time by this jockey and on this particular course. Remember, there was no database in those days for a short-cut check.
Sensing a spoof, we all laughed, except for the eldest member of our racing desk who took it as gospel, went white and was off sick the following week!
6. Any stories or tips that you are particularly proud of, or not?!
You mean apart from winning the Sporting Life Naps Table 42 years ago!
What musketeers we were as “Form” - myself, Mick Connaughton and the late Steve Delve.
Our award ceremony was at a lunch at the Connaught Rooms in Holborn where our editor, Ossie Fletcher, just as we were finishing pudding, said to me "You know you are expected to say a few words Chris, don't you?" Gulp. I think I said something along the lines of I want to thank my agent, my wife and my parents. Only joking. Those I did thank were my very good friends Mick and Steve, who helped me to the finishing line in Jim Peters' Olympic style!
7. What was the best thing about working for The Life?
So many things. We worked together and played together. How many people stay together after work, play cards through the night and then visit London Zoo before work? This wasn't just one day, it was almost every day when we lived the life through to the early hours.
Our Pied Pipers have sadly left the party, David Cox and Ron Allen. We visited so many late-night clubs together after the pubs closed when the entrance fee was a first edition copy of tomorrow's Sporting Life. The staff couldn't wait to get their hands on it. Many a time I was served in an Austrian bar only to be told "I think you should just have a half, sir!"
8. Anything else you want to add? Kick on!
You wanted to know about significant tips and bets I've had. I had a beauty on 1988 Grand National day when I tipped 25-1 shot Prideaux Boy in the opener. I had £5 (£12 in today's money) on him and a £5 double with Durham Edition (20-1) who might well have won the National had Rhyme 'n' Reason not left him in front too soon with his mistake two out. The double would be over four grand in today's money!
Fun days were also held on numerous Sunday lunchtime sing-songs with the Life's starting price reporters Geoffrey Hamlyn and Doug Newton, to the accompaniment of the talented piano player and barman Reg in our local the White Hart. Wonderful memories.
Not many can say their job was their hobby, but I can.
