Sun Shines on Sunninghill Wheelbarrow Race

The 16th New Year Fancy Dress Wheelbarrow Race took place in glorious sunshine, at noon on Monday January 2nd 2012. The Race is organised by the Rotary Club of Ascot and the local community, and is sponsored by Ascot Racecourse, to raise vital funds for the Ascot District Day Centre.

Fastest Mens team: The Swinley Pub in 9 mins.20 secs: Matt Love, James Staddon, Luke Roberts and Ian Roberts

A record number of entrants, 29 teams in all, competed for the coveted trophies for Fastest Time, Best Fancy Dress and Most Sponsorship Money Raised. The teams comprised groups of friends, neighbours, work colleagues, local organisations and dramatic societies such as the Sunningdale Savoy Chorus (promoting Annie Get Your Gun) and the Quince Players (promoting their forthcoming pantomime - Cinderella)

Joint Fastest Ladies Team: St Michael’s Angels in 13 mins 47 secs: Kim Smerden, Lucy Kenworthy, Sarah Robinson and Cicely Williams

Rotarian David Mear of the organising committee said “Now that the dust has settled from the Race I am delighted to tell you that it has been a great success from all points of view. With 29 teams actually starting of the 31 entered, compared with the previous best of 25 last year, it has been bigger and better than ever before. Sponsorship has been good, particularly from the teams and with the forthcoming Auction in February we should hopefully come close to last year’s total of c £9,000.”

Joint Fastest Ladies Team: Ascot Fillies in 13mins 47 secs: Kate Raymond, Samantha Dixon, Lisa Abbott and Jessica Raymond

The aim of the race was for teams of four (men, women or mixed) to push a wheelbarrow with one of their number in it, around the one mile course. Along the way there were six stopping points, including three pubs and three other ‘fuelling’ stations, where each member had to drink a ½ pint of beer, lager, soft drink or water.

Best Fancy Dress: Princess Leia’s Buns : Chris Searle, Ryan Thomas, Ben Thompson, Craig Lawson

RESULTS: The Fastest Men's Team was The Swinley Pub (sporting football strips and pub-owner face masks); second fastest was Grecian 2012 (dressed in togas with a superb chariot); third fastest were the Hairy Hooligans (who looked frightening with hairy beards and horns). There was a tie for the title of Fastest Women's Team with the St.Michael's Angels and the Ascot Fillies completing the course in 13 minutes 47 seconds. The Best Fancy Dress Title went to Princess Leia's Buns with their Star Wars Theme, runners up were The Lady Agas of The Slow Cookers and the Sunningdale Savoy Chorus with Annie Get Your Gun