Crab Racing

Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Mon 6 Jul 2009 22:58
Crab Racing
 
 
We ended  the exploring part of our day at The Grenada Yacht Club, meeting up with Jim from Bees Knees for a beer or two, diet cokes for me but I didn't mind as I was in preparation for the best event EVER. Crab Racing at 21:00 Flamboyant Hotel. We had a great time catching up with Jim who declined our invite to come with us saying he would rather watch ice melt, undeterred I felt my excitement rising in anticipation.
 
We drove to Owl - the place of the night, the fun bit of www.flamboyant.com and settled ourselves on the seats around the racecourse.
 
 
 
 
 
Out came the crabs to be examined
 
 
 
 
 
 
Much discussion on form, bets of 2 EC or 50p placed and crabs ready in the "stalls"
 
 
 
 
 
 
Starters bowl, crabs chafing at the bit, under starters orders.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lady from the lively crowd chosen to start the race by lifting the bowl, quickest to the edge of the circle
 
 
 
 
 
 
Blurred picture due to the whippet-like speed of these fit creatures from the deep. The first race featured 1 Jamaica. 2 Canada. 3 UK (Bear's choice). 4 Grenada (I went with the local as I thought he would know the track). 5 Barbados and 6 Trinidad.
 
 
 
 
 
 
The victor representing Canada is gathered for the winners enclosure
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Our host and referee was called Barney, he told us the odds, swept the track and his decision was final.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Race Two was a little different, instead of being the first crab to cross the line the winner would be the last left on the track. 1 Canada. 2 UK. 3 Grenada. 4 USA. 5 Jamaica favourite at 2 to 1 and 6 Barbados
 
 
 
 
 
 
I had bet on number 4 USA as I fancied his chances of slow progress, we were well in the "lead" at the back in front of Jamaica
 
 
 
 
 
Then disaster - all of a sudden number four shot for the line leaving Jamaica to victory. The crowd was full of American medical students from the University of St Georges, the disappointment was palpable 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Race three we could select our own crab, walk it over to Barney who chalked his number and took the name you could choose for yourself. Bear choose the crab, I named him Herbert and he was given the number six. We would have preferred number seven but had to get over it. The runners were - 1 Larry. 2 Michael Jackson. 3 Nads (which was hilarious as the owner and his posse shouted "Go Nads") 4 Kuilly. 5 Central Eruption. 6 Our very own Herbert. 7. The Urban Destroyer. 8 Lawrence II. 9 Erwin. 10 Pineapple Express. 11 Herman. 12 Beer Out and 13 Yoshie. As I raised the bowl it was clear there was a bundle. Number four Kuilly steered clear as he was the smallest in the race
 
 
 
 
 
 
After quite some time the bundle was still very comfortable leaving the late entry number 13 Yoshie (top of picture) to win 45 EC for his delighted owner.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sadly it was time for the final race. 1 at ten to one was Pussy Willow. 2 at two to one was Slow Comfortable Screw. 3 (and as it contains Vodka was my choice) at two to one joint third favourite was Sex on the Beach. 4 also at two to one was Dirty Little B--tard. 5 at ten to one - the joint outsider - Virgin Kiss and lastly was Bear's choice at three to one Rum Punch. This being the Gold Cup some other crabs came in to cheer. The crowd went wild, but no-one was more ecstatic than me - the winner with Sex on the Beach. My winnings 4EC or £1. MARVELLOUS.
 
 
 
 
 
 
We went into the bar to tell Clovis all about it. Us being crab race virgins no more. He was impressed that we had done our research on his homeland but gave us some tips about his top three sites to visit
 
 
 
 
 
 
Leaving the bar we followed the 140 decibel shouts of this tiny little chap. Don't be fooled by his size, his lungs made up for it in spades.
 
 
ALL IN ALL I MAY NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN - ROLL ON NEXT MONDAY SO VERY EXCITING