FEATURES annual summer tour of Sussex and Kent .
Originally from Holme-on-Spalding-Moor , East Yorkshire , Marcus now lives in St Albans , Hertfordshire . His wife Jane and children Tom , 21 , and Alice , 19 , thought his jockey challenge was “ mad ” but are delighted he ’ s survived in one piece .
“ Everybody said it would prove infectious and I ’ ve definitely caught the bug ,” he says . “ I might even race again . Next year ’ s Newmarket Town Plate is a possibility because it ’ s unfinished business – but it ’ s a question of whether I can continue the early starts and devote the time to training . Plus , I haven ’ t discussed it with my wife yet !”
Marcus has very fond memories of his time at
Lyndhurst Prep , and then Pocklington . “ I made lots of friends , some of whom I ’ m still in touch with ,” he says . “ It was a great start in life for me .”
He captained the school football team at Lyndhurst and played 1st XI cricket for the Senior School , finishing as captain in his final year . He was also in the Senior School Rugby 1st XV team which achieved an unbeaten season in 1981 .
“ I remember we had a very dramatic last game of the season , when we made it across the line in the last minute and scored a try to beat Newcastle . We were coached by Malcolm Milne ( 55-62 and Former Staff 71-03 ) and David Parsons ( 73- 05 ). I still see Malcolm as he runs the Pixies . He ’ s been one of my inspirations : he has enthusiasm for everything and is a great doer , which is an attitude to life I ’ ve taken on board .”
Other influences include former first-class cricketer Guy Willatt ( Headmaster 66-80 ); Tony Pickering ( Headmaster 81-92 ) who went on to be a prominent member of the English Schools RFU , and David Nuttall ( 63-02 ), Marcus ’ s 1st XI cricket coach .
Marcus went on to take a Biochemistry and Nutrition degree at Nottingham University but was increasingly drawn towards sport and journalism . After much perseverance , he landed some sports commentating shifts at BBC Radio York , which fired the starting gun on his career .
EGGHEADS CHALLENGE
In March 2016 , intrepid OPs Neil Readman ( 74-76 ) and Billy Bartram ( 69-76 ) took on the formidable Eggheads in the well-known TV quiz show of the same name .
Team captain , Neil Readman , is a keen fan of Eggheads and decided to apply for the show as a bit of fun . He explained “ I didn ’ t expect to hear anything as I am sure they get hundreds of applications , so I was surprised but also delighted to get the call from 12 Yard Productions who make the programme , inviting us to take part .”
Neil and Billy were joined by Jonathan Laverack ( current parent ), Kevin Lane and Will Boulby for the Eggheads challenge . They are all members of Barmby Moor ’ s Boot and Slipper pub quiz team and regularly compete in a local quiz league . Neil also recruited his work colleague , Alan Hancock , who was on the subs bench for the team in case anyone became ill on the day or was unable to attend .
Jeremy Vine is the celebrity host of the popular show where every day a new team of challengers take on what is probably the greatest quiz team in Britain , made up of some of the country ’ s brainiest quizzers or ‘ Eggheads ’, so it really was the ultimate test for Neil and his team mates .
“ The filming is done in Glasgow so we had a very early start to get from York to Glasgow for around 11.30am . They record four episodes in a day and it was quite interesting to see how they do it and how much editing is involved . We were each asked to take four different shirts – typically for me , they chose the ‘ loudest ’ one for me to wear for the show !
“ There are eight Eggheads in total and the producers choose five at random for each episode and then rotate them . For my round , which was sport , I got Kevin who is the Eggheads ’ ‘ Brain of Britain ’, so I knew I had my work cut out . You are actually taken into a separate studio for your individual round although it doesn ’ t look like that to the viewer . I thought I did quite well with the questions , considering how difficult it is when you are in that situation , with the camera focused on you , but I managed to stay quite relaxed . It was three all after all the questions so it then went to sudden death . I answered the first couple of questions correctly , but got the next one wrong . Unfortunately , Kevin got his question right so that was that , but I was pleased with how it went .
In the end only Jonathan and Kevin made it through to the final round to take on the Eggheads . They did really well , going to sudden death but unfortunately got pipped at the post . Although we didn ’ t win , it was a fantastic day and we really enjoyed it .”
For those who missed the programme , it was episode 90 of series 16 .
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