Wheelbarrow Race 1st January 2008

On Tuesday January 1, 2008 the streets of Sunninghill played host to the 12th annual Sunninghill Wheelbarrow race, organised by the Ascot Rotary Club and sponsored by Ascot Racecourse. Teams of up to four, in various stages of fancy dress (or undress in some cases), armed with nothing faster than a wheelbarrow, raced each other, from the School Road car park (where the start/finish line is), through the village streets for about one mile, before returning to the car park.

There are a number of compulsory pit stops at the village pubs. Of course, whilst the teams are ‘on the move’ one member must actually be IN the wheelbarrow! The rules say that half a pint of beer must be drunk at each pub along the route.

'The A Team' from the Dukes Head won in an astonishing time of 8m 11s - one of the fastest barrow pushers in recent times. The race concluded with a presentation by Chris Edwards, Chairman of the Ascot District Day Centre, to the Best Fancy Dress team. ‘Meals on Wheels’.

Afterwards the crowd congregated at the Carpenters Arms in Upper Village Road, for the raffle and auction. In total, including Ascot Racecourse’s generous sponsorship of £750, we raised well over £3,000 for the Day Centre from the race. Thanks are due to the many Rotarians who turned up on a cold January 1st to act as marshals or bucket collectors or raffle ticket sellers. This ensured the race was safe, fun and profitable.