By Nouse — February 2, 2012

With today being the last day of the January transfer window, it seems unfair that when looking at the runners and riders for the York Sport Presidency, I am unable to stand in front of a large plasma screen, complete with a countdown clock, screaming fervently that the President of one sport or another has thrown their hat into the ring.

Alas, it is only within the confines of this very column that I am able to run the rule over those jostling for position to replace Sam Asfahani as York’s sporting supremo.

Exactly who will put themselves up for election is unclear but a little bit of prediction, rumour and gossip never hurt anyone – unless those rumours turn out to be false and forever besmirch someone’s name but hey, take your sob stories to the Leveson Inquiry.

The best place to start is the York Sport Committee; the inner sanctum of Asfahani’s administration, his faithful cabal, similar in many ways to Blair’s ‘Sofa Government’ but less powerful. Two people who seem set to run for the position are College Sport Officer Charlotte Winter and
Tournament Secretary Ben McGladdery.

McGladdery has previous, he unsuccessfully challenged Asfahani last year before heavily implying he’d be back for another crack at the top job. Name recognition could be a big factor for the man who donned a Scooby Doo costume in the run-up to last year’s election (as you do…) but Winter will pose a significant challenge. A Lacrosse player, she will be able to count on significant club support and her role within College Sport has certainly added to her exposure.

If I was a betting man, and I am, I would be backing her for the role. Unfortunately when I nipped into William Hill, I was met with looks of bemusement when I asked the odds for the York Sport Presidential race – amateurs.

To predict who else might run is less clear-cut but equally as fun. Other members of the York Sport Committee could all be logical bets, Netball president, Shadyn Nikzad, perhaps the most likely, team-mate Kay Masterson could also be worth a punt. The man in charge of the money, Andreas Papadolambakis, may also decide to chance his arm but he would probably need to improve on the election message he used in his attempts to become treasurer; ‘being Greek’ and ‘good with money’ might not be enough to catapult him to victory here.

Another group of people who may become runners and riders are the Presidents of Sports Clubs. If the whispers are to be believed – which they rarely are – then Sam Morrison of the Rugby Club could be a name to consider.

To use a sporting cliché, it could be anyone’s.