This past weekend saw the 173rd running of the Grand National and while Rachael Blackmore’s historic victory made for some fantastic viewing, it was no comparison to the exciting scenes witnessed at our residential nursing home in Bognor Regis. Not content with letting Rachael and her colleagues have all of the fun, the residents at Apsley House Care Home decided to host their very own Grand National.

The original plan involved getting a hold of some real horses, however this was rebuffed by the care team’s unwavering refusal to clean up the inevitable mess they’d leave behind – so the residents had to settle for the next best thing instead! A number of hobby horses were given clever stands, allowing them to stay upright, artificial turf was procured, each horse was given a name and the stage was all set for a truly epic race.

The progress of each horse was decided by the roll of a giant foam dice, with each resident taking their turn to advance their chosen steed along the racecourse. It was a hard fought contest that remained neck and neck right until the final furlong when Hercules, a stunning specimen, bowed his head and claimed the victory.

Hercules may have taken first place however, in the Apsley House Grand National everybody’s a winner! There were plenty of prizes to go around, including chocolate treats and Easter eggs, so nobody was left empty-handed! It was such a fantastic event and the residents had so much fun cheering their horses home.