2024 WHEELBARROW RACE ANNOUNCEMENT -Rotary Club of Ascot Sponsored Wheelbarrow Race in Sunninghill
For at least the last 25 years, the Rotary Club of Ascot has organised the fancy dress Wheelbarrow Race through Sunninghill. To stage this event takes many months of preparation by a group of people working together arranging such things as road closure, race teams, sponsorship, advertising etc. Sadly, this year, our club membership is not able to carry out all of these many and varied tasks for this year’s race. Hence, the Wheelbarrow Race will not be run on Monday 6th May the Bank Holiday.
We are keeping our options open for next year’s race, but it remains a considerable challenge for the membership and we cannot be sure we can run the race again.
Howard Smith, President, Rotary Club of Ascot
Pictured: 'A Day at The Races' by Spotlights Musical Theatre Group
The Dedworth Stage - A Day at the Races - Photo Courtesy of Chapmans Ironmongers
The 2023 Sunninghill Wheelbarrow was held on May 1st 2023, setting off from the School Road/Upper Village Road Car Park at noon. A hugely enjoyed community event, raising vital funds for the Ascot Day Centre, it is organised by the Rotary Club of Ascot. 18 teams took part
WHEELBARROW RACE TIMES RESULTS 2023
The trophies this year were Fastest Mens Team (Ghostbusters), the Fastest Mixed Team (Maya Sunninghill), Fastest Ladies (not awarded this year), Most Sponsorship raised (tbc) , Best Fancy Dress (Mossy Bottom Barrow) , Best Family Fancy Dress (Roarsome Runners).
The major sponsor this year is Ascot Racecourse , along with Berkeley Homes, Volker Highways, the Marist School , the Carpenters Arms and Duncan Yeardley, and the race raises vital funds for the Ascot District Day Centre.
The aim of the race is for teams of four (men, women, children or mixed) to push a wheelbarrow with one of their number in it, around the marshalled course of just 1 mile. Along the way there are four stopping points, including three pubs and one other ‘fuelling’ station, where each member drinks either a ½ pint of beer, soft drink or water.
Teams should be given a name and one member must be over 18. Anyone under 18 is only allowed to participate on the strict understanding that he or she is only allowed to drink soft drinks or water, and identification may be sought by the publicans or marshals.
This is a charity function, organised with the support of the Rotary Club of Ascot, with an entrance fee of only £30 per team , non-refundable – to go towards the sponsorship. Entrants are asked to obtain as much sponsorship as possible, which will form part of the donation to the Ascot District Day Centre.
Pictured Above Speedy Men from Maya Restaurant Sunninghill - Race Done in 9 m 28 secs
Pictured Above: Mossy Bottom (Shaun the Sheep) - Best Fancy Dress Winner
Pictured Above: Ghostbusters - Winners in the Fastest Time Competition
Pictured Above & Below: Finding Nemo
Pictured Above Speedy Men from Maya Restaurant Sunninghill - Receiving Cup
Pictured Above: Roarsome RUnners - Best Junior Fancy Dress
Pictured Above: The Volker Highways Barrow
Pictured Above: Bowden P Artists
Pictured Above: The Gunners
Pictured Above: The Litter Squad - Parish Councils
Thanks to very generous donations by local businesses, the following items were auctioned at the Sunninghill Comrades Club after the Wheelbarrow Race on May 1st, following the 'Silent Auction' raising a spectacular sum of money for the Ascot Day Centre (total to be confirmed).
2023 SILENT AUCTION
AUCTION PRIZES -1st May, 2023
SUNNINGDALE GOLF CLUB : Round of Golf for 4 on the New Course (value £1,200) Requested handicap of 18 or better for Men and 24 or better for Ladies
VENTURE PHOTOGRAPHY, ETON: Family Gift Experience photography (Value £550)
MILL RIDE GOLF CLUB: Round of Golf for 4 (value £200)
ASCOT RACECOURSE: Summer Mile Family Race Day – 4 Queen Anne Enclosure tickets (value £108)
GUINOT MARY COHR: Box of Beauty Products -value £300
BERYSTEDE HOTEL: Dinner for 2 plus Bottle of Wine
CARPENTERS ARMS: Dinner and Drinks to the value of £100.
DOG & PARTRIDGE: 3 Course Dinner for 2
COWORTH PARK HOTEL: Dorchester collection- 3 course Lunch or Dinner in the Barn for 2 (Value c £120)
VENTURE PHOTOGRAPHY, ETON: Family Gift Experience photography (Value £245)
THE THATCHED TAVERN : Voucher for £20
THE DUKE: Dinner for 2, plus bottle of wine.
MAJESTIC: 2 Bottles of Wine (Rioja & Malbec) C. £20
VIRGIN BALLOON FLIGHTS: 2 Morning or Evening flights.Val. £328 RESERVE £250