Edward McMorran
Edward McMorran
Edward McMorran
1900 - 1989
1900 - 1989
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
Edward Brown McMorran was one of the first jockeys to start their career as an amateur and then turn professional, riding 20 winners altogether, 10 of them in the paid ranks.
Edward Brown McMorran was one of the first jockeys to start their career as an amateur and then turn professional, riding 20 winners altogether, 10 of them in the paid ranks.
Born in 1900, he had his first success in the Woore Chase at that Shropshire venue on April 15, 1920. His mount, Oppidan, owned and trained like most of his winners by Sam McMorran (relationship unknown but presumably Edward’s father), won by 30 lengths but then changed owners, hence Edward had to wait almost a year for another win.
Born in 1900, he had his first success in the Woore Chase at that Shropshire venue on April 15, 1920. His mount, Oppidan, owned and trained like most of his winners by Sam McMorran (relationship unknown but presumably Edward’s father), won by 30 lengths but then changed owners, hence Edward had to wait almost a year for another win.
His second success came when Upper Rathduff landed the Tarporley Hunt Cup at that course on March 30, 1921. He added three more victories before the end of the season, then did even better in the 1922 calendar year with six wins. This included four wins in two days at Carlisle’s Easter meeting, three provided by the eight-year-old Snow Man. It was some performance by the horse, which ran in two races on both days.
His second success came when Upper Rathduff landed the Tarporley Hunt Cup at that course on March 30, 1921. He added three more victories before the end of the season, then did even better in the 1922 calendar year with six wins. This included four wins in two days at Carlisle’s Easter meeting, three provided by the eight-year-old Snow Man. It was some performance by the horse, which ran in two races on both days.
Edward McMorran won twice on the same horse at Carlisle in 1922
Edward's second won on Snowman which defeated the odds-on Watt Tyler
Edward's second won on Snowman which defeated the odds-on Watt Tyler
On the Saturday, they won the first race of the day, the Cummersdale Selling Handicap Hurdle, by a length. At the end of the afternoon came a match for the Eden Chase, in which Edward and Snow Man beat their sole rival Watt Tyler by two lengths. On Easter Monday the pair again won the opening race, the Dalston Selling Chase, this time by six lengths. Later in the afternoon, Edward rode a winner for leading northern amateur jockey George Sanday when Pride Of Manister won the Easter Handicap Chase. However, Edward was not yet finished with Snow Man which was turned out again for the last race of the two-day meeting, the Wetheral National Hunt Flat Race. George Sanday won it on Dibbinsdale, who turned out to be his last winner as a jockey, while Snow Man finished third.
On the Saturday, they won the first race of the day, the Cummersdale Selling Handicap Hurdle, by a length. At the end of the afternoon came a match for the Eden Chase, in which Edward and Snow Man beat their sole rival Watt Tyler by two lengths. On Easter Monday the pair again won the opening race, the Dalston Selling Chase, this time by six lengths. Later in the afternoon, Edward rode a winner for leading northern amateur jockey George Sanday when Pride Of Manister won the Easter Handicap Chase. However, Edward was not yet finished with Snow Man which was turned out again for the last race of the two-day meeting, the Wetheral National Hunt Flat Race. George Sanday won it on Dibbinsdale, who turned out to be his last winner as a jockey, while Snow Man finished third.
Edward turned professional in October of that year and had his first win in the paid ranks on the 21st of that month when Signum finished alone in a match for the Barton Court Handicap Chase at Colwall Park, their only rival, Joyce’s Choice, having fallen.
Edward turned professional in October of that year and had his first win in the paid ranks on the 21st of that month when Signum finished alone in a match for the Barton Court Handicap Chase at Colwall Park, their only rival, Joyce’s Choice, having fallen.
He had three wins in both 1923 and 1924. He only had one in 1925, although he did have rides in two big races when Spinney Hill contested the Imperial Cup at Sandown and the Liverpool Hurdle, but the five-year-old was unplaced in both.
He had three wins in both 1923 and 1924. He only had one in 1925, although he did have rides in two big races when Spinney Hill contested the Imperial Cup at Sandown and the Liverpool Hurdle, but the five-year-old was unplaced in both.
Edwad’s last winner was Chatillon, again owned and trained by Sam McMorran, in the Dee Selling Handicap Chase at Bangor-on-Dee by four lengths on April 8, 1927. Chatillon was also his final ride when falling in the Broughton Selling Handicap Chase at Cartmel on Whit Monday, June 6, 1927. He had two brief spells as a trainer between 1926 and 1931.
Edwad’s last winner was Chatillon, again owned and trained by Sam McMorran, in the Dee Selling Handicap Chase at Bangor-on-Dee by four lengths on April 8, 1927. Chatillon was also his final ride when falling in the Broughton Selling Handicap Chase at Cartmel on Whit Monday, June 6, 1927. He had two brief spells as a trainer between 1926 and 1931.
Edward McMorran’s winners were, in chronological order:
Edward McMorran’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Oppidan, Woore, April 15, 1920
1. Oppidan, Woore, April 15, 1920
2. Upper Rathduff, Tarporley, March 30, 1921
2. Upper Rathduff, Tarporley, March 30, 1921
3. Dilwyn, Bangor-on-Dee, April 1, 1921
3. Dilwyn, Bangor-on-Dee, April 1, 1921
4. Rattan, Wenlock Hunt, May 6, 1921
4. Rattan, Wenlock Hunt, May 6, 1921
5. Dilwyn, Cartmel, May 16, 1921
5. Dilwyn, Cartmel, May 16, 1921
6. Snow Man, Carlisle, April 15, 1922
6. Snow Man, Carlisle, April 15, 1922
7. Snow Man, Carlisle, April 15, 1922
7. Snow Man, Carlisle, April 15, 1922
8. Snow Man, Carlisle, April 17, 1922
8. Snow Man, Carlisle, April 17, 1922
9. Pride of Manister, Carlisle, April 17, 1922
9. Pride of Manister, Carlisle, April 17, 1922
10. Pastures New, Bangor-on-Dee, April 21, 1922
10. Pastures New, Bangor-on-Dee, April 21, 1922
11. Signum, Colwall Park, October 21, 1922
11. Signum, Colwall Park, October 21, 1922
12. Signum, Wolverhampton, March 13, 1922
12. Signum, Wolverhampton, March 13, 1922
13. Dilwyn, Tarporley, April 4, 1923
13. Dilwyn, Tarporley, April 4, 1923
14. Panic Move, Wenlock Hunt, May 11, 1923
14. Panic Move, Wenlock Hunt, May 11, 1923
15. Snow Man, Haydock Park, February 2, 1924
15. Snow Man, Haydock Park, February 2, 1924
16. Village Lad, Wolverhampton, March 18, 1924
16. Village Lad, Wolverhampton, March 18, 1924
17. Silent Sands, Carlisle, April 20, 1924
17. Silent Sands, Carlisle, April 20, 1924
18. F.R., Shirley Park, May 25, 1925
18. F.R., Shirley Park, May 25, 1925
19. Milewater, Hexham, October 7, 1906
19. Milewater, Hexham, October 7, 1906
20. Chatillon, Bangor-on-Dee, April 8, 1927
20. Chatillon, Bangor-on-Dee, April 8, 1927