An Ardrossan man has realised an ambition which he had held for over 30 years – to publish his own board game.

Gerry Grant, who has just celebrated his 82nd birthday, first had the bright idea for a new board game based on horse racing and betting in the 1980s.

He devised, designed and produced a prototype of the game, naming it Betawinna at the Races, and would host ‘race nights’ with his wife and four children.

On occasions when friends were visiting, he would bring out his prototype game just to see their reaction.

Gerry said: “It’s an unpredictable, fast moving, sometimes frustrating, family board game providing lots of hilarity, no waiting for a dice to be cast... it is a race after all.”

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald:

He said almost everyone who played were impressed, telling him he needed to get it published.

As the years rolled on, it was his Gerry’s six grandchildren and their friends who became the guinea pigs and the reaction was the same – they thought it was a great game.

He always believed that the game had the potential to be a commercial success and at one stage, he had his board design registered with The Intellectual Property Office and it was renewed every five years.

So when the last renewal was paid he made himself a promise: “I will publish this or forget it.”

Gerry’s 30 year project has now reached a conclusion with the game now on the market, having been manufactured at Kingscroft Logistics in Irvine.

Betawinna at the Races is not the only project the 82-year-old has left to his latter years to complete.

In 2017, Gerry wrote a book, Recalling The Past - While I Still Can, about his experiences of life in Airdrie during and after the war years in the 1940s.

Gerry said: “So, you’re never too old.

“But a triple heart bypass at age 78 gave new impetus for both of these projects to reach fruition. Yes, it was the stimulus I needed.”

Describing his game, Gerry said: “Betawinna at the Races is a traditional type of board game but with player interaction. The almost unique aspect is that there is no dice used.”

There is a Betawinna at the Races Facebook page giving you all the details and it has a video of a game in progress.