George Bunn
Article by Alan Trout
National Hunt jockey George Arthur Bunn rode eight winners over jumps in the years immediately following World War Two. Seven of them were owned and trained by Charles Nunn, who was based initially at Milford, in Surrey, and then at Clonegan House, Witley, again in Surrey.
George’s first win was achieved at Plumpton on September 30, 1946, when 20-1 shot Flame of Fire, owned and trained by Nunn, gained an easy six-length success in the Rottingdean Handicap Hurdle.
It was not until April 28, 1947 that he recorded his second victory when a horse named Bob Cole was an even easier winner of the Novices’ Hurdle (Division 2) at Wye. Bob Cole had been previously trained by Nunn and owned by Mr F. J. Latham. However, Latham was then granted a permit holder’s licence and took over as the horse’s trainer shortly before his success at Wye.
Flame of Fire won again at Plumpton, this time by a length in the September Handicap Hurdle, then became the fourth winner of George’s career when obliging in the Great Hall Selling Handicap Hurdle at Lingfield in January 1948, those being his only two wins of the season.
Juvenile hurdler Currabinny provided George with his next two victories, winning three-year-old hurdles at Fontwell in September and Wye in October 1948. However, Flame of Fire was not yet finished with, and George recorded the last two wins of his career when the eight-year-old won the New Chapel Selling Handicap Hurdle at Lingfield Park on December 18, 1948 and the Jamboree Handicap Hurdle at Wincanton on January 27, 1949.
He rode Flame of Fire for the final time when finishing fifth of 15 in the Hinchley Wood Handicap Hurdle at Sandown Park on November 25, 1949. Sadly, the horse died a few weeks later. George did not renew his licence beyond the 1949/50 season.
George Bunn’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Flame of Fire, Plumpton, September 30, 1946
2. Bob Cole, Wye, April 28, 1947
3. Flame of Fire, Plympton, September 29, 1947
4. Flame of Fire, Lingfield Park, January 17, 1948
5. Currabinny, Fontwell Park, September 21, 1948
6. Currabinny, Wye, October 4, 1948
7. Flame of Fire, Lingfield Park, December 18, 1948
8. Flame of Fire, Wincanton, January 27, 1949
