A victory against all the odds

Even in the shadow of the Grand National winning post, Gerry Scott was not taking any chances. His face was a picture of concentration as Merryman II, a striking bay gelding, galloped remorselessly clear.

Four years previously, Devon Loch – ridden by Dick Francis, later a bestselling author – had come to grief on the run-in with the race at his mercy and Scott did not want to suffer a similar fate. "I just kept thinking of Devon Loch and Dick," he said.

Few people realised on the day that his date with destiny had hung in the balance. A badly broken collarbone suffered at Doncaster 12 days previously had put his National ride in jeopardy.

"If it had been today with health and safety, and if it had not been for the most loyal governor in the world, I would not be sitting here today as a Grand National-winning jockey." He added: " My shoulder was strapped up. I'm not one for fancy celebrations – but I just didn't want it to give way doing something stupid like waving my whip in the air like they do today."

This was a groundbreaking National – and not just from a Yorkshire perspective. After eight years of tortuous negotiations with Aintree's unpragmatic owner Miriam Topham, the BBC was showing the race live for the first time. It did not disappoint the viewing millions, capturing a story of bravery, luck and intrigue that has become the race's hallmark.

Merryman II was purchased as a five-year-old by his gallant owner, Miss Winifred Wallace, who personally tutored him in the art of jumping. After success on the Scottish point-to-point circuit he sent, at the suggestion of legendary commentator Sir Peter O'Sullevan, to Captain Neville Crump's famous stables at Warwick House, Middleham.

The white-faced nine-year-old was the freshest horse of the 26 warriors that went into battle for the 13,134 first prize. The same could not be said of his 22-year-old big race jockey, about to ride in his second National.

Born in Saltburn, and the son of a licensee, Gerry Scott admits that "school and I did not mix". He had learned to ride when he was three and won many prizes for his show jumping prowess. Uncertain about his future, it was his father who suggested horse racing – and he joined Captain Crump's yard on his 16th birthday in 1954 and had his first ride two years later. He lived in a room above Middleham's then Commercial Hotel run by Cliff and Florence Oldham, the parents of his future wife, Avril. "The first thing she said was 'are you good at washing up?'" recalled Scott.

"I always said I would only ride over hurdles because I was frightened of the big fences. It's funny, then, that I really enjoyed steeplechases. I had won the Scottish National at Bogside on Merryman; a big powerful horse. He was made for Aintree, but I thought the dream was over 12 days before the big race.

"The horse fell on me on the Monday at Doncaster, and I knew it was a bad one. A double fracture of the left collarbone. Mind, I didn't give up all hope. I started going to physio and on the Wednesday before the National I rode out at the yard. Fortunately, the Boss was away and it was agony. I told the head lad 'This is no good'.

"I went pack to the physio who said he hadn't strapped the shoulder in a way that I could ride. I needed to – money was tight. In 1954. I got five shillings a week and a riding fee was a tenner in those days."

Scott rode in two races at Aintree on the eve of the National. Again, his chances were in the balance – and he was forced to go before three doctors, with the trainer telling his young rider that he had "to be fair to the public, owner and me".

"The first doctor said I was fine. The second, an orthopaedic surgeon, said it was impossible. And the third – and this was in the unsaddling enclosure outside the famous old weighing room – turned and said 'Neville, two to one'. He never said whether it was in my favour."

On National morning, the newspapers were full of reports about the welfare of the horses – there was to be one fatality in the race – after four equine casualties on the meeting's first two days. "The most important National of all time," said the Yorkshire Post in its preview before tipping Merryman II, who went off the

13-2 favourite. Scott admits to having been tense beforehand – he had fallen at Becher's Book the previous year when travelling well. "A valet, Phil Taylor, told me 'Don't worry Gerry, someone has got to win it'." The intrepid rider was comforted, however, by his trainer's outlook. "You never had to make an excuse because the Boss always had a reason." The plan had been not to hit the front too soon. But Scott could feel Merryman II's confidence grow as they raced over the first of 30 fearsome fences, their white jumper with tartan stripe and red cap proving easy for race course spectators to spot. The obstacles in

those days were far more upright and the ditches much deeper. Scott admits that the race would not be taking place today if the course had been unmodified.

Having safely negotiated a melee at Becher's Brook on the second circuit that claimed the 1958 winner Mr What, Scott was acutely aware that he could be sandwiched at the Canal Turn by stablemates Badanoch and Tea Friend. He took the brave route on the inside, where the bend is at its most acute, and found himself leading the National heading to Valentine's – far sooner than instructed.

"He was such a brilliant jumper but I couldn't hold him up because of my shoulder. I didn't feel the pain – not a thing – but I knew I hadn't the strength. We were well clear, we won by 15 lengths, but the only thing that went through my mind was Devon Loch. The lovely thing was that one of the first people to congratulate me was the doctor who had said 'no' to be riding. Wasn't that nice?"

In the winner's enclosure, Winifred Wallace was calmness personified as she smoked a cigarette while Captain Crump took the plaudits – and Scott's discomfort was neutralised by the adrenaline.

Shortly afterwards Merryman II travelled back to a hero's welcome at Captain Crump's stables which were synonymous with success.

Scott, however, returned that night to his parents' pub in Frosterley, County Durham, where the police cut short the celebrations at 10.15pm. "My mother was carrying a tray of drinks and offered one to the officer – it was unfortunate that the pub was next to the police house. I got some lovely telegrams – including one from the leader of Weardale Council who wrote, 'You've done more for Weardale than the council has done in the last 20 years'."

The next day, Scott, who was given 2,000 by the horse's grateful owner, was held aloft by friends and wellwishers outside the Commercial Hotel. The photo made the front page of the Yorkshire Post alongside a report on the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh returning to Buckingham Palace after a weekend at Windsor. This was still an era of deference.

Merryman II was to run in two future Nationals – in 1961 to Nicolaus Silver, the last grey to win the race, and 13th in 1962.

On both occasions, Scott – the most injury-prone of riders – was out of action, though he did finish third on Forest Prince in 1966.

His riding career came to an abrupt end when a passing car spooked the horse

he was riding through Middleham. He landed head first on the road, fractured his skull and was unconscious for 10 days. Skull caps immediately became mandatory for all jockeys riding out – not just in races. "My career started at the Commercial and ended just outside."

Scott estimates that he broke 30 bones in his career, excluding countless fingers. The last came three years ago when he fell from a ladder at his idyllic home, nestled in the Dales between Masham and Middleham, and broke a leg while taking down Christmas decorations.

He recalls, with pride, the exchange of letters with Captain Crump when he gave up riding. "As I found out in an unbroken association of 18 years, no jockey could wish for a more loyal, understanding and fair Guv'nor," he wrote at the time. The trainer's reply? "Talking about loyalty, what about Gerry himself? I have never had a more loyal friend and employee and if everyone behaved like him perhaps the world would not be in such a mess as it is today."

Without that bond of trust, Scott would not have ridden Merryman II in 1960. He admits, today, that a rider would have no chance if the circumstances were to be repeated, not even if the jockey was Tony McCoy, the 14-times champion and the iron man of the weighing room.

Scott subsequently enjoyed a distinguished career as a starter. In 1996, the race won by Rough Quest and Mick Fitzgerald, he became the only person to win a National and to start one. His many memories include "starting" Princess Anne at Redcar and a Buckingham

Palace garden party. The Queen told Scott that she'd pay particular attention to her future breeding to ensure her horses caused no difficulties in the starting stalls.

He retired in 2003 but is still on hand to offer his support to the official starter at Aintree. If a Yorkshire horse does not win this year, he'd like Paul Nicholls to be victorious – he's longstanding friends with the champion trainer's parents.

He's also a great supporter, and fundraiser, for the welfare of jockeys. He was the first ever entertainments secretary for the Northern National Hunt Jockeys Association which became the Professional Jockeys Association.

Scott, now 72, knows what past and present riders go through. He used to

run across the moors around Middleham in a sweat suit, pyjamas, tracksuit and scarf to lose weight.

A strongly-boned individual, he had to be that dedicated to succeed.

It was only on the Monday, 48 hours after the 1960 National, that Gerry Scott finally succumbed to the pain of his injury. He had five rides at Worcester,

all trained by Captain Crump and all favourites. The first fell, the second was pulled up and Scott promptly parted company from the third.

"I just couldn't go on. The shoulder was so sore that I could not go on.

"If, however, it had been the Grand National and Merryman II, I would have been fine – just grand."