Mad Giraffe

People ask why the name the Mad Giraffe?

My love of rugby is well-known. I travel with my son extensively every year to watch internationals. I used to love playing while I was in the forces (as brutal a game as ever was!) and it’s a passion of mine to watch whenever I can. Indeed, having met Doddie at a Rugby dinner I presented him with a very special bottle of whisky. A few months later I bumped into Doddie at Murrayfield during an England/Scotland match I attended with my son. This is where my thanks, generosity and journey towards helping Doddie began. The story can be found here: https://www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/2019-race-entrants/

Doddie Weir, capped 61 times for Scotland and a British and Irish Lion – a brilliant rugby career and someone flying the flag for the next generation, also received a notable accolade from the late and great sports commentator, Bill McLaren.

Known as the voice of rugby, Bill McLaren who is sadly no longer with us, coined this legendary “McLarenism” phrase to describe Doddie Weir’s charge during one rugby game: ‘when he goes like that he is like a mad giraffe’.

An indelible image for two rugby legends. Hence the only choice for my boat in support of Doddie and helping find a cure for MND is the Mad Giraffe. I also thought that it would be rather apt to cover it in Doddie Weir tartan. The good man himself is known for his larger than life tartan suits so it would feel rather rude not to pay homage to this in my journey as well.

Watch this mad kilted Scotsman row the waves in his tartan clad boat and feel free to throw some pennies (pounds?!) in after him to help the Foundation!