Colonel Sandy Cramsie
1941-2008
Sandy Cramsie, as he was known, was a well above average soldier rider, riding in Sandown Park’s Grand Military Gold Cup eleven times between 1968 and 1983 and winning it on two occasions.
Alexander James Cramsie was born in Northumberland on May 31, 1941, the son of Lt. Col Alexander James Henry Cramsie and Gabrielle (Gay) Cramsie. Not long after the Second World War, his parents returned to the family home, O’Harabrook, near Ballymoney, Co Antrim, where his three sisters were born. Sandy started riding at an early age and would continue to do so for the rest of his life.
He was educated at Wellington College in Berkshire. He then attended Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. He joined the Queen's Royal Irish Hussars in 1961.and eventually progressed to the rank of Colonel.
He married Bridget Duke on September 11, 1965. They had two children, Rupert James (born July 2, 1966) and Alexander Toby (born July 14, 1969).
He was still plain ‘Mr’ Cramsie when he had his first ride under National Hunt rules on Burton’s Best in the 1968 Grand Military Gold Cup, coming home eighth of the nine finishers.
As Captain Cramsie, he dead-heated for second place in the 1972 Grand Military Gold Cup on Tashmar behind Lt. Col. Piers Bengough on Charles Dickens, who was winning the race for the third consecutive year.
It wasn’t until March 5, 1976 – by which time he had risen to the rank of Major – that he rode his first winner under NH rules, aboard Mister Tadpole, trained by Ian Dudgeon, in division one of the Burford Novices’ Chase at Newbury. Seven days later he rode 16-1 chance Lucky Edgar, owned and trained by Lord Ullswater of the Wessex Yeomanry, to win the Grand Military Gold Cup, getting up on the run-in to deny Adrian Pratt’s mount Number Engaged by two lengths.
On April 10 that year he finished second on Mister Tadpole in the Staffordshire Yeomanry Challenge Cup Chase at Uttoxeter, going down by just a neck to Ashendene, the mount of top professional jockey Ian Watkinson. Ten days later, Sandy and Mister Tadpole gained some compensation by winning the Valley Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase at Chepstow.
Back at Sandown in 1978, Sandy won the Past and Present Handicap Chase on Buckshell and finished second in the Grand Military Gold Cup on Carrigeen Hill. He then gained a far more notable success in that year’s Sun-sponsored Page Three Chase at Liverpool on Grand National Day aboard Dublin Express, returning to the winner’s enclosure just 45 minutes after Lucius and Bob Davies had entered it following their Grand National triumph.
At the 1979 and 1980 Grand Military meetings, Sandy won back-to-back renewals of the Past and Present Hurdle on the Ian Dudgeon-trained Siege King.
Two years as adjutant of the North Irish Horse were followed by postings in Cyprus, Germany and elsewhere, culminating in 1982 in command of the Queen’s Own Yeomanry.
His gained his second Grand Military Gold Cup victory on his final ride in the race in 1983, aboard Brigadier Roscoe Harvey’s popular chaser Burnt Oak, trained by David Nicholson. By then he had risen further up the military ranks to the status of Colonel.
After his two years' command of the Queen’s Own Yeomanry, Sandy returned to Northern Ireland with his wife and family in 1984, becoming a landowner in County Antrim. He immediately became immersed in local affairs.
He was a regional organiser for the Army Benevolent Fund for 20 years; became a deputy lieutenant for Co Antrim in 1988, high sheriff in 1989, and vice-lieutenant in 2004. He was vice-president of the Ballymoney branch of the British Legion; on the board of the Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ballymoney; a committee member of the Northern Ireland Gurkha Welfare Association; honorary colonel of 40th (Ulster) Signal Regiment (Volunteers) for 10 years until 2000; and president of the Coleraine and District group of Riding for the Disabled.
Colonel Alexander Cramsie died at O'Harabrook, Ballymoney, Co. Antrim on November 16, 2008, aged 67. He was survived by his wife Bridget, his two sons, and four grandchildren. His funeral service took place at St Patrick’s Parish Church, Ballymoney on November 25, followed by a private burial.
