01 December 2009 Ran Morgan calls it a day (again!)
by Carolyn Tanner
For the second successive season Ran Morgan has announced his retirement, but this time, he stressed, it's final, citing a combination of work, family, and age!
"If I was 9½ stone, I'd still be doing it," he pointed out, "but I haven't got the time to commit to it." He is now a partner in a company called The Buying Solution, which sources and purchases prime residential properties on behalf of clients.
He hopes to still ride out occasionally during the season, and continues to have an involvement with the sport, being on the Heythrop's Point-to-Point committee.
Ran partnered 83 winners between the flags and 13 under Rules, with his first success coming at Tranwell in 1996 on Lindon Run. He was national novice champion in 2000 - "Two years after Joe Tizzard, and as you can see I've followed in his footsteps!" - and Northern area champion in 2004. Bow Tie, Coomakista and Eskimo Jack are the three horses he had no hesitation in nominating as the ones who brought him most enjoyment.
He has lived near Cheltenham for the past few years, but until three seasons ago still went hammering up the M6 to ride in his original local area. "It took me ten years to realise that I could probably have picked up some rides closer to home," he grinned.
Ran's younger brother Luke, whose own tally of winners is not too far short of his sibling's, will be in action again this season, and Ran is looking forward to his own son Billy landing the championship, although not in the immediate future, as he is just ten months old!
As was featured in this column very recently, another former Northern champion, Tom Oates, has also decided to take up the status of ex-rider, but it is Ran who has the last word. "Oates," he declared, "should have retired years ago!!"
