17.01.11 - THE GRAND NATIONAL

Aintree legend Lawson finally gets off his high horse

Ken Lawson retired from the Merseyside Police in 2010 after 31 years with the force, including 24 as part of the mounted section.

His long service involving Aintree Racecourse gained reward when he was selected as one of the first John Smith’s Grand National People’s Legends in April.

“I obviously considered becoming a John Smith’s Grand National People’s Legend a great honour,” commented Lawson. “I did every John Smith’s Grand National while I was with the force.

“I worked in the Sefton area and I did the first eight years on foot before I joined the mounted section - the first National I covered was when Ben Nevis won in 1980.

“The boss chose different officers each year to lead the winner in and I was lucky enough to do it three times. The first time was when Royal Athlete won in 1995 and then I did it again three years later with Earth Summit. I also led in Don’t Push It last year and the atmosphere was incredible.

“Around 20 mounted officers were used over the three-day meeting last year. They are not there for decoration at all and the only ceremonial aspect is when we lead the winner in.

“Even though we are in ceremonial dress, our review order, for that we have a serious job to do because we have to make sure that a horse who is tired from running four and a half miles gets into the winner’s enclosure safely.”

One of the most dramatic episodes in Aintree’s recent history came in 1997 when an IRA bomb alert meant the racecourse had to be evacuated and the Grand National was rescheduled for the Monday.

Lawson is proud of the fact that everyone drew together to ensure that the world’s greatest chase went ahead.

“The bomb scare was very difficult because we had to get everybody off the racecourse extremely quickly, but I found that there were many positives to take out of such a negative experience,” he continued.

“People rallied round those who were stranded - they invited strangers into their houses for food, drink and shelter. It was very difficult but everybody was so determined that the race would be run and it really moved me that so many heart-warming stories emerged.

“I was born and brought up in Sefton and I always went to watch the Grand National, so I know what an extraordinary event it is. There are loads of people in Liverpool who have no particular interest in horseracing but will go every year to see the Grand National.

“It’s obviously an event for the whole country but people in Liverpool see it as their race and hold it in great esteem.”

Despite having little equestrian knowledge before joining the police, Lawson went on to become one of the force’s most experienced mounted officers, helping train future generations of horses and riders.

“I had never really ridden a horse before I applied to the mounted section of the police but I had always wanted to ride as a child and never got the opportunity,” he explained.

“I thought that I had no chance of becoming a mounted officer because of my lack of experience but they gave me a riding and stable management course and I ended up getting into the department.

“Generally, the young horses start off with a trainer who will spend between six months and two years training the horse before passing them on to an experienced rider whose horse will go a slightly less experienced rider - it’s sort of like a domino effect.

“The natural instinct for horses is to run away from fear and the difficulty is getting rid of that natural urge. Horses who have basically spent their lives in a field have to get used to the traffic of Liverpool and football crowds. It takes a long time and a lot of training.

“I loved every minute of being involved in the whole experience of the John Smith’s Grand National - I even used to tape the coverage so that I could watch it all again on the TV when I got home!

“Hopefully, I will be going this year as a spectator, although it will feel a bit strange not seeing everything from the top of a horse.”

Details of the four men and one woman who were the first John Smith's Grand National People's Legends last year can be found at www.grandnationallegends.com