Kai Laukkanen - is he Scottish?

[Deleted]

With the match tonight at Armadale being labelled 'Bravehearts v Kangaroos' the question is being asked about Kai Laukkanen's nationality and his eligibilty to ride for a 'Scottish' team. So is he indeed Scottish?

Well, of course he is. I'm surprised that there is any doubt!!

His Christian name is an abbreviation of 'Och Aye' which became Kai (or Kaj depending on what you believe).

'Laukkanen' again has changed over the years. It used to be part of the clan 'Buchanan' but, as with many clans, the full name became shortened over time particularly with the introduction of textspeak and mobile phones. So when Kai's branch of the family went into the manufacture and sale of ladies longerie - known's as 'Lou' - it became too much for his trade name to be 'Loubuchanan' so they removed the 'bu' to shorten it by a syllable.

This made it 'Louchanan' but with the need to boost sales in Scandinavia where there is a strong need for thermal longerie the name was spelled 'Laukkanen' to give it a more indigenous appearance.

So there you are - Ochaye Louchanan became Kai Laukkanen!

Incidentally Kalle Katajisto is also Scottish before you ask. Kalle is a shortened form of Caledonia and Katajisto.....well that's a long story! Some other time perhaps.

[admin]

Shouldn't the meeting tonight be Heathens versus Convicts?

[Deleted]

admin said:

Shouldn't the meeting tonight be Heathens versus Convicts?

Or just put on the programme - a meaningless meeting full of Tigers and Monarchs , who wont be going flat out , but come and give us your £12 anyway even though we couldn't put on a meaningful fixture .

[Deleted]

Actually this was a very entertaining fixture. It wasn't quite a mixture of Edinburgh and Glasgow riders as Paulco suggests though. (Indeed their were as many Newcastle riders as Glasgow riders.) The Bravehearts side had intended to include William Lawson and James Grieves but that plan had to be abandoned when Wolverhampton included Lawson in their match at Lakeside tonight. I don't know what happened to Grieves - he was certainly programmed to ride.

The riders included Sean Stoddart (Newcastle), James Wright (Workington), Kevin Doolan (Belle Vue), Shane Parker (Glasgow), Trent Leverington (Glasgow), Sam Dore (Newcastle), Arlo Bugeja (formerly Redcar).

There was some exciting racing as sometimes happens with these fixtures and, if the riders weren't supposed to be bothering much, then someone forgot to tell them. The crowd, although down on the usual numbers, was quite respectable for a nothing at stake match and I think most people there would say they got good value for thier money.