Grand National

Building the fences at Aintree

Long before before the horse’s line up at the Grand National starting tape work begins on the obstacles that makes the steeplechase such a challenge.

The 30 Aintree fences are built with over 60 tonnes of specially sourced spruce from Grizedale Forest in the Lake District.

Transporting the fence material, from the forest to Liverpool, takes up to 14 journeys for Mark Shaw of Landcare who is contracted to build the racecourses fences.

"It’s a challenging task to make sure the fences are in place in time for the big day," says Mark whose company is based in Aintree.

"A huge amount of work is put into making the Grand National course.

"I don’t think many people watching the race realise how much effort goes into ensuring the fences are perfect."

Jumping the Aintree fences

Each of the courses fences, which include the famous Bechers Brook and The Chair are made out of wood and then ‘dressed’ with the green branches of spruce brought from the Forestry Commission’s estate at Grizedale.

"It’s been a long-held tradition for Aintree racecourse to source branches from surplus trees in Grizedale Forest to construct the jumps in the Grand National and we’re only too happy to help out," explains Andy Bennett of the Forestry Commission.

"Many of the branches used at Aintree are from trees which have been felled by people having chainsaw assessments and training.

"Instead of going to waste, it’s a great opportunity for the branches to be recycled and play a big part in one of the world’s biggest horse races."

The largest fence on the four and a half mile course The Chair is five feet and two inches tall.

The race consists of almost two circuits of the course meaning that most of the fences are jumped twice by the 40 competitors.