The Raging Bull, centrepiece of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony
The Raging Bull, renamed Ozzy, in his new home.
Video of Ozzy at games
Opening ceremony highlights
The mechanical bull that formed the centrepiece of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony has been named after one of the city’s most famous sons: Ozzy Osbourne.
The name of the Black Sabbath singer was chosen by a public poll, winning 70% of the votes to beat Brummie, Bostin and Boulton. Ozzy, who was originally destined for the scrapyard, but is now permanently on display at Birmingham New Street station.
“I’m absolutely blown away,” said Osbourne, who played at the Games’ closing ceremony. He told the BBC: “Thank you for all your votes. And Birmingham for ever.”
Network Rail agreed to salvage the beast – informally named Raging Bull until the poll – and find it a home at the station after a petition to save it attracted more than 15,000 signatures. It is housed under the station’s atrium.
In the first round of voting, members of the public were asked to suggest their own names. Network Rail said some of the more memorable included: Optimus Moo, Thumbullina and Cadbully, as well as Bully McBullface.
Network Rail and the local council did not allow Bully McBullface into the final round of voting. Instead, Osbourne faced competition from Bostin, a local slang term meaning brilliant, the 18th-century industrialist Matthew Boulton, and Brummie – the common name for someone from Birmingham.
The Network Rail chair, Peter Hendy, said: “Firstly, I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to at first send in their name suggestions and then vote for their favourite in final four – it truly shows how much affection people have for this star of the Commonwealth Games. It also proves to us how much of an honour it is for Network Rail to be the custodian of Ozzy the bull, and for New Street station to be its home.”
It was unveiled on the station concourse on Wednesday 26th July 2023 in time for the first anniversary of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The cache
As this is a railway station a cache cannot be placed here but I’m sure you will agree this magnificent structure warrants a cache placement.
This is an off-set multi cache, gather information from Ozzy to gain the final coordinates.
Look at Ozzy’s front feet, view from either side, but only count one side!
The two circular joints, how many bolts in total are there in the two circles? AB
How many rivets (Don’t count the bolt, but look closely!) are between the two circular joints? C
Now look at Ozzy’s rear feet, view from either side, but only count one side!
How many rivets (Don’t count the bolt!) are between the two circular joints? D
Now look at Ozzy’s Head.
How many vents are between and below his eyes? (Don't count the ones between the horns!) E
Checksum for numbers collected = 25
N52°28.(A+C) (C-B) D
W01°54. B (B-A) (E-B)
You can check your answers for this puzzle on
GeoChecker.com.