Fun night a racing certainty

From the enthusiasm displayed, anyone would have thought that this was Epsom or Ascot.

But the scene was the functions suite at The Mermaid. The horses might have been on screen but the fun and the atmosphere was real.

And it will not be the bookies who benefit but Town Mayor Cllr Stuart Earl's two chosen mayoral charities. Sackville freeholder Malcolm Mitcheson was "clerk of the course" and Stuart the jovial commentator for a race night last Thursday which raised 1,833 for 1066 Specials football club and Hastings and Rother Crossroads.

A hundred supporters had gathered to enjoy an evening combining fun, excitement and an excellent chicken and rice supper.

Ahead of them lay ten races, each sponsored by local supporters. Part of the fun was in the names chosen for both the races and the runners.

Thus, the Chris Campbell Canter was replete with estate agency terminology; Under Offer romping home ahead of a field which included Early Completion and Sole Agent.

The other part was the commentator's off-the-cuff race-by-race wit, working through the runners. The Earl's Bakery Bunfight was to see Belgian Bun beat a field which included Simon The Pieman and Early Riser.

Volunteers running the Tote were kept busy as punters put their money on a succession of exotically-titled races, from the Sackville Hotel Sweepstake to Foster's Furlong Frolic - where Planning Permission showed uncharacteristic swiftness to beat the field - to Malcolm Mitcheson's Serpollet Steamer race which saw the likes of League of Friends trounced when Malcolm's Liverpool For The Cup confounded the form-book.

Tony Mansi's Early Breakfast dominated the Park Lodge "Andy Cap" and Round The Bend Tork Builders' Tork's Champions Chase.

Summary Judgment was served on The Gaby Hardwicke Medium Rare Stakes.

Climax of the evening was Stuart's Charity Sweepstakes. A pre-race auction gave punters the opportunity to open their wallets wide and bid at auction for ownership of a horse.

Bidding ranged from 50 for 1066 Special to the 120 with which Ian Standley, sponsor of Dray's Uphill Dash, secured the eventual victor, Crossroads - proving that Ian's always on a winner with anything associated with television.

Thanking his generous supporters, the Mayor told them as Malcolm Mitcheson retired the nags to their stables: "I hope you have had a great fun evening - and that you have enjoyed it as much as I have."