Barlow's Beef: The Election Handicap Hurdle

BARLOWV2

They are under starters orders in the 2015 Election Handicap Hurdle...and they're off.

Leader of the Year is err... leading by two lengths from Demolish the Greenbelt, followed by Fifty Shades of Lyme Green and You Spent How Much and Who R U Kidding going neck and neck.

And as they come to the Adlington Road turn it's A. Travesty digging up ground on the stand side. Opposition is on the rails and heading for the water jump with Animosity and Political Manoeuvring.

And as they race towards obscurity Leader of the Year is coming under pressure from Tweetie Pie and Local Plan. Opposition is making up stories on the dark side with Who RU Kidding asking all the questions.

They are all safely over the newspapers and galloping towards Oblivion. Electorate is loosing out to Political Manoeuvring and Demolish the Greenbelt and we have a faller... Credibility is down. This could be the end of Credibilty, a rank outsider who simply had no chance.

Brownfield remains untouched as Demolish the Greenbelt blazes five acres ahead of Ombudsman and Doesn't Have a Clue trailing behind Reality.

They are into the final furlong with Leader of the Year leading by neck. All jockeys are using the whip. Tweetie Pie unseated his rider, Local Plan is fading fast with Opposition pulled up. It's a one horse race between err...one horse.

Leader of the Year is streaking towards the finishing line with Fifty Shades of Lyme Green making a last minute dash and at the line it's Leader of the Year from Fifty Shades at twenty-to one with Who RU Kidding at quarter-past-two.

Hold that result... Leader of the Year... is the subject of a Steward's Enquiry.

Following the recent announcement that the Wilmslow Express will shortly cease to exist, columnist Vic Barlow - who has been writing for the Wilmslow Express for over 16 years - approached us about continuing his column on wilmslow.co.uk. We are delighted to be publishing Barlow's Beef, as it would be a shame to lose the following he has built up over the past 16 years.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of wilmslow.co.uk.

Tags:
Barlow's Beef, Vic Barlow
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Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Nick Jones
Wednesday 25th February 2015 at 9:33 am
Strange but true !! entertaining as ever Vic....
Pete Taylor
Wednesday 25th February 2015 at 10:07 am
I look forward to cans of worms being opened, stones being turned and the drains being up on a regular basis. Welcome Vic.
Dave Cash
Wednesday 25th February 2015 at 11:02 am
Hopefully Vic's participation here will include his educational and entertaining 'Dogfather' column.
Kerry Louise Burgess
Wednesday 25th February 2015 at 11:27 am
Very good!!! Tweetie pie- that did make me laugh!!! Will look forward to reading more of these.
Derek Stevens
Wednesday 25th February 2015 at 11:48 am
A very warm welcome Vic. I look forward to reading your 'Barlow Beef'
Andrew Backhouse
Wednesday 25th February 2015 at 1:02 pm
Delighted to read this particular item on wilmslow.co.uk - well done Lisa. Leave out the dogfather though - it is the political (with a small p) that is really important to read. Meanwhile, have you sent this off to the radio and tv? In my home town, someone used to run a sweepstakes on who would win the town council election, giving everyone the sorts of names and descriptions that Vic has used, which really got people out to bet and vote! What about that in Cheshire East?!
Simon Worthington
Wednesday 25th February 2015 at 3:01 pm
Welcome to our Blog (moan) site Vic.
Clive Cooksey
Wednesday 25th February 2015 at 5:32 pm
Thank God Wilmslow Online has "rescued" Barlows Beef. He will be the Diamond amongst your already shining stars. We as the humble public depend on people like you and especially Mr Barlow for keeping a watchful eye on the Councils. With the demise of the Wilmslow Express (Shame on the Mirror group) the councillors must have rubbed their hands with joy, at the thought of passing stuff away from public knowledge. Now you and Barlow are our only watching eye link to carry the banner between the two. We depend on you all. Don't let us down.
Vic Barlow
Wednesday 25th February 2015 at 6:21 pm
You are all too kind...
Mrs B was looking forward to shopping in Wilmslow without having to wear a bag over her head, reverting to her maiden name or telling people she found me at Wilmslow Humane Society jumping up at the bars.

I'm REALLY excited to be working with Lisa and wilmslow.co.uk. Please keep sending me your emails and texts (07590-560012).
We are family...
Paul Halliday
Wednesday 25th February 2015 at 8:41 pm
Delighted to hear that Vic will now be contributing to this site. The
high spot of the Wilmslow Express has always been Vic's down to earth,
common sense perspective. How about a post or two on Dogs and Dog
ownership too? Vic's insight into dogs and their relationship with
their owners is truely inspirational and educational. I have learned so
much about myself and my dogs thanks to Vic. Let's not lose this
educational resource from the area. Well done Vic.
David Jefferay
Wednesday 25th February 2015 at 8:42 pm
Could Lisa and Vic do a paper version for those residents who aren't online?
...maybe call it the Express?
Diane Walker
Wednesday 25th February 2015 at 11:29 pm
Great race Vic! Good to see you won't be going down with the demise of the Wilmslow Express! As other comments seemed to show, you are our link to understanding what goes on in the Council. Long may it continue!
Dave Cash
Thursday 26th February 2015 at 4:11 am
Barlow's Beef horse racing references were amusing but how would Vic have written it as a Dogfather article?
Several different breeds in the CEC pack, all at diff levels in the pack pecking order, no overall electorate-nominated pack leader, only selected by majority breed. What advice/training would he offer to the various 'owners' of this disparate pack of 'dogs'?
Was Tally's retraining successful?
Manuel Golding
Thursday 26th February 2015 at 11:15 am
A great journalistic coupe, Lisa.
Congratulations to both you and Vic.
Like very many of your readers, and Vic's followers, I will be looking forward to his acerbic insights into the shenanigans that are conjured up by Cheshire East Council's "supreme Soviet" and apparatchicks.
Vic Barlow
Thursday 26th February 2015 at 12:37 pm
Wow!
You guys over here on wilmslow.co.uk are clever.
I didn't even know CEC had any appa…apparat…happyparrotchicks
Whose a cheeky boy then?
Manuel Golding
Thursday 26th February 2015 at 2:21 pm
When one has had dealings with both the Supreme Soviet of CEC and its underlings, sorry I mean apparatchicks, my Russian ancestry coming out here, and as you know they are the worst thought of of government employees for all sorts of reasons, one soon realises this is not a listening organisation.
Happiness they do not sow for the burghers of Wilmslow or Cheshire East.
Come on, you know full well the antics of that lot.
Julia Tanner
Thursday 26th February 2015 at 5:26 pm
So pleased that Vic has joined the Wilmslow.co.uk team!! looking forward to your usual insightful comments about Wilmslow and surrounding areas!!
Carole Harvey
Friday 27th February 2015 at 3:32 pm
Well done to Wilmslow .co.uk for bagging Vic Barlow to write for you!!! Get him while he is cheap.......London calls!!!!!!!!
Sally Hoare
Friday 27th February 2015 at 4:59 pm
Good news that Vic is writing here. There were only 2 things I was going to miss from the Wilmslow Express. Vic and the local messages such as deceased notices and personal acknowledgments.
Nigel Gunn
Friday 27th February 2015 at 11:34 pm
PLEASE include Vic ' s DogFather column too!

There are SO many dogs in the area who are off lead when the owners have ZERO control over the dog.

A livestock or child dog-bite, waiting to happen!

If the column saved ONE sheep or child from being bitten, it would be worth it!
Tregony Windsor
Saturday 28th February 2015 at 7:59 am
In view of the article on the sheep being injured and killed by loose dogs - I endorse the calls for the Dogfather column to be included here. We too have had sheep killed by a Japanese Akita living locally and the sight of the damage will haunt me for ever. Please do include Vic's sage advice, obviously popular with many!