CLAIMING it is fed up with horse-related jibes, the equestrian-sounding Stable Services – actually a manufacturer and supplier of oilfield products – has decided to take the "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" attitude.
The Aberdeen company is spo
nsoring a two-and-a-half-mile hurdle race at tomorrow's meeting in Perth – the grandly titled "Stable Services Inaugural Claiming Hurdle Race".
Chief executive Rod Coffey says: "When I acquired the entire share capital of Stable Services, we restructured the business but the name was well known, and we were saddled with it. Having long suffered the equestrian analogies and the calls to our company from horsey folks looking for tack and livery, we decided to use it to our advantage.
Stable Services decides to horse around
"Stable aims to be first past the post in the supply of oilfield products and we are looking forward to being under starter's orders and presenting the prize to the first winner of the Stable Services Inaugural Claiming Hurdle Race."
Gazetteer believes there is neigh chance Stable will be anything other than the mane oil company in people's minds.
KILLER QUOTE"APRIL'S inflation figures must sound an alarm bell in government, alerting the Chancellor to the fact that the complex machinery of economic policy cannot be maintained solely by the simple tool of interest rate manipulation."
Liz Cameron, chief executive of Scottish Chambers of Commerce
GOOD DAY
Aberdeen Asset ManagementTHE fund manager has won the best website category in the Association of Investment Companies' 15th annual "Best Information to Shareholders Awards". It is the fourth year running that the website has impressed the judges.
BAD DAY
Airbus FURTHER delays in deliveries of the world's biggest passenger plane were announced yesterday by aircraft-maker Airbus. The firm said it was reducing the number of deliveries of the Airbus A380 this year and next as "time and resources needed … are higher than expected".
FACT OF THE DAY
22%CHINESE retail sales powered ahead in April, providing welcome evidence for policy makers that sturdy domestic demand is taking up slack in the economy left by softening exports.
Sales in the year to April rose 22 per cent, up from March's 21.5 per cent pace and well ahead of market expectations of 21.2 per cent. It was the fastest rise since the government started gathering monthly data in 1999.
The full article contains 398 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
