Hog Roast & Race Night 2023

The biggest crowd in the history of this event filled Doddington Village Hall on Saturday 30th September for the Annual Hog Roast & Race Night.  A fantastic atmosphere was felt around the hall as race goers cheered their horse to the finish line throughout nine-race programme.  One big cheer was witnessed at the end of the evening as the total amount raised was announced.  The event which continues to support MAGPAS Ambulance raised a total of £1569.53

The lifesaving charity has recently moved to its new purpose-built headquarters at Alconbury Weald which was recently opened by HRH The Princess Royal.  The funds raised from this event will help the charity continue the lifesaving work they do 24/7.

The evening included a Hog Roast supplied by Andy Rose and his team and ‘Soar Valley Race Nights’ Dave Lines was MC for the Race Night itself.

The racing concluded with an auction race where ticket holders had the chance to bid on a horse to win the prize fund.  The winner of this race generously donated their prize to the charity funds.

Appreciation was echoed around the room throughout the night and by the organisers for the support of its sponsors, some of which return year after to year to contribute to this event.

Thank you to…

Jensten Insurance Brokers

SEWLO Embroidery

Focus Fasteners Ltd

Fields End Water

Next Level Property

Ian Gowler Consulting Ltd

The Three Tuns

Reflection – Beauty by Charlotte

Fen View Motors

Underwood the Jewellers

Bowls Bi-Us.

The raffle was well supported with several prizes donated including from Parkhall Garden Centre Somersham, March Quality Meats, The Barn Restaurant March.

The feedback following the event has been pleasing to hear and Doddington SMBC thanked everyone involved for their support. 

Some of those that attended said…

-‘we had a fabulous time and we would like to be there next year.  We really enjoyed it and I wasn’t expecting so much food, I thought it would be a hog roast roll, brilliant night’

-Great evening again thank you.  Glad to play a small part in raising such a fantastic sum.  Well done and thank you for your hard work.

-Fantastic night, thank you.

-Thank you for a really enjoyable evening with so much being raised for Magpas.  Look forward to next year!

-That’s awesome! Congratulations! Brilliant night and fantastic organisation and presentation. Well done!

-It was an excellent event, I really enjoyed it.  Well done to you and the bowls club.  Fantastic amount raised.

Hog Roast & Race Night 2022

Hog Roast and Race Night raises over 1.4k for charity.

This year see the return of the popular Hog Roast and Race Night when a sell-out crowd packed Doddington Village Hall on Saturday 25th June.  The evening, hosted by Doddington Short Mat Bowls Club, became an annual event following the success of the inaugural evening celebrating the clubs 30th Anniversary several years ago.  The pandemic had postponed this event for two years however it bounced back in style being as popular as ever attracting people from the village and local community. 

The chosen charity was once again MAGPAS – the emergency medical charity who provide lifesaving care by land and air.  Club Chairman, Rob Elmore, welcomed everyone following a powerful MAGPAS video that was played introducing the charity and giving viewers an insight into the amazing work they do.  An interval was held halfway through the race programme and all ticket holders enjoyed a Hog Roast provided by Andy Rose Hog Roast, BBQ’s and Carveries followed by a fun game of Stand-Up Bingo.

Dave Lines of ‘Soar Valley Race Nights’ was Race Night MC who provided a professional service once again.  A modern computerised tote system was used, and the setup allowed the event organisers to show their appreciation to the race sponsors referencing them on the screen throughout the night. Eight races plus a ninth auction race were scheduled.  Excitement from the crowd cheering on their chosen horse created a fantastic atmosphere throughout the night. 

Event sponsors were thanked, and appreciation was shown on the night for their support. 

Feedback and comments on social media have been pleasing to hear with two ticker holders saying…

It truly was a fantastic night, our first one and we loved it!  Also, a huge thanks to Pat and Alan from our table, we met as strangers but left as new friends.

Another said…

Was a great night.  Superb Hog Roast, fun races, and lovely community atmosphere and all for a well-deserved cause.  Big thanks to everyone involved in organising such a great event.

Rob Elmore said “the last two years have been hard for many people and to see everyone come together like they did was nice to see.  It was a risk organising this event not knowing if it would be supported to the extent it was prior to the pandemic and therefore could it warrant its place as an annual event.  We were therefore pleased it was a sell-out crowd.  My thanks on behalf of the club committee, go to every business who sponsored, all club members, to all those people who donated funds including ticket holders who returned their evenings winnings back to the charity, supporters from the local community who all did their bit to make this event possible and raise such an amazing amount of money for MAGPAS Air Ambulance”

The total amount raised was £1400 which will be presented to the charity over the coming weeks

Hog Roast & Race Night 2019

Doddington raised the stakes high and made it over the finish line on Saturday evening (31st August) when a packed Doddington Village Hall of over 100 people supported this year’s charity Hog Roast & Race Night.  Once again MAGPAS were the chosen charity for the event and two of their volunteers were welcomed as guests on the night.  The support from local businesses sponsoring and the local community attending the event made the evening a huge success.  The organisers are proud to report that a record £1207 was raised for the charity.  MAGPAS are a local charity who provide life saving care by land or air whose mission is to save lives and reduce disability by taking specialist emergency medical care to patients in their moment of need.

A big thank you must go to Andy Rose & his team for providing the Hog Roast Meal and to Dave Lines of Soar Valley Race Nights for bringing his expertise and hosting once again a fantastic night at the races

The support of the following local businesses contributed the success and a big thank you must go to each and every one of them:

Race Sponsors & Winners

Race 1 - East Coast Building & Maintenance Ltd – Winner: Stewart Finch

Race 2 - Fields End Water – Winner: Vera Layton

Race 3 – Coneywood Kennels – Winner: Bill Harrison

Race 4 – Ian Gowler Consulting Ltd – Winner: Alan Jacobs

Race 5 – Andy Rose BBQ’s & Hog Roasts – Winner: Sandra King

Race 6 – Bowls Bi-Us – Winner: Pauline Elmore

Race 7 – The Three Tuns – Winner: Jill Francis

Race 8 – Reflection Beauty by Charlotte – Winner: Joe Peters

Auction Race & Table Sponsor – S & L Ovens

Race Card Sponsor – West Norfolk Print & Signs

Main Sponsor – Doddington Fish Bar

Race Double Winners – Hazel Stevens & Emma Butler

The nine scheduled races brought excitement around the hall as punters placed a bet on their horse and cheering as they made way to the finish line.  The final auction race see one lucky owner walk away with £107 on the final race of the evening. 

Club chairman Rob Elmore said ‘its fantastic to be see so many people enjoying themselves year on year at this event, some people won a few races and some were not so lucky but the feedback received suggests everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves and of course the Hog Roast meal!  We really appreciate the support of our sponsors who along with everyone on the night helped us raise a fantastic amount of money for MAGPAS.  Thank you to everyone involved.’

Hog Roast & Race Night 2018

Doddington SMBC hosted its annual Hog Roast & Race Night on Saturday 1st September which attracted a sell-out crowd filling the Village Hall with over 120 racegoers.  Eight races were scheduled for punters to bet on their favourite horse.  As the bets were being placed the excitement was building around the hall waiting for the races to commence.  As the races approached the finishing line the crowd were on their feet cheering on their horse creating a fantastic atmosphere throughout the evening.  The special ninth and final race of the evening was an auction race where ticket holders had the chance to buy a horse.  One lucky winner walked away with £98.00 as the winning owner.

This year the DSMBC Committee & Members were all involved in selecting a local organisation and a charity for the home of this year’s proceeds.  Doddington Village Hall were the recipients of the community donation and MAGPAS were once again the charity of the year.   The committee are delighted to report that £1076 was raised on the evening and both mentioned organisations will benefit from these funds.  This is the most this event has raised so far.

The club Chairman said ‘the support and feedback this year has been fantastic, this was the best turnout we have ever had so on behalf of the club I would like to thank everyone who contributed in any way either by attending the evening, donating a raffle prize etc.  A special thanks must go to our race sponsors who helped make the evening possible.  Next year’s event is already in the planning stage so watch this space ready to get your hands on the tickets for Hog Roast & Race Night 2019.’

This year’s sponsors and winning owners were as follows:

Race 1 – Sponsor: The Three Tuns – Winning Owner: S King

Race 2 – Sponsor: Ian Gowler Consulting Ltd – Winning Owner: C Finch

Race 3 – Sponsor: Muddy Trotters – Winning Owner: K Missin

Race 4 – Sponsor: Fen View Motors – Winning Owner: B Elmore

Race 5 – Sponsor: Fields End Water – Winning Owner: K Bemment

Race 6 – Sponsor: MIBC President David Ford – Winning Owner: D Lowther

Race 7 – Sponsor: Brian Elmore Engineering – Winning Owner: M Rea

Race 8 – Sponsor: Reflection Beauty by Charlotte – Winning Owner: D G Warriner

Auction Race – Sponsor: Andy Rose BBQ’s & Hog Roasts

Race Double Winners: Race 4 – Bill Harrison & Race 6 – M Nobbs

A special thanks went to Andy Rose & his team on another enjoyable Hog Roast meal and to Soar Valley Race Nights for another professional evening of horse racing.

Hog Roast & Race Night 2017

A night at the races set the scene for another Hog Roast & Race Night on Saturday 23rd September 2017 .  Over 100 people attended the event which once again was all in aid of the MAGPAS emergency medical charity. 

Generous local businesses and locals sponsored the eight race evening along with the ninth which was an auction race that ended the evening and also sixty four individuals purchased the ownership of the horses for the evening.  The sponsorship and winning owners were as follows:

Race 1 – Sponsored by Fields End Water – Winning Owner – Susan Jolly

Race 2 – Sponsored by Doddington Village Hall – Winning Owner – Gary Cooke

Race 3 – Sponsored by David Ford – CIBA President – Winning Owner – Lynda Waple

Race 4 – Sponsored by Reflection – Beauty by Charlotte – Winning Owner – Alan Pollard (Race 4 Double Winner – Joe Peters)

Race 5 – Sponsored by Coneywood Kennels – Winning Owner – Judith Fox

Race 6 – Sponsored by Endersby Awards – Winning Owner – Martin Francis

Race 7 – Sponsored by The Three Tuns – Winning Owner – Sam Cameron

Race 8 – Sponsored by Ian Gowler Consulting Ltd – Winning Owner – Jill Francis

A big thank you to all the sponsors, ticket holders, horse owners and everyone who donated or contributed to the evening.  The club was delighted with the positive feedback received following an enjoyable evening.

The MC for the evening was Dave Lines of Soar Valley Race Nights who was thanked for running such a professional event.  Fully functional computerised tote systems and equipment along with a large display screen really created a fantastic atmosphere.  This year’s Hog Roast was once again supplied by Andy Rose and his team which was enjoyed by all.

MAGPAS Air Ambulance couldn’t provide the lifesaving care without events such as these which raises crucial funds for the charity.  Doddington SMBC are delighted to be able to hand over a cheque for £780 to the charity and a cheque presentation will be made at the Air Ambulance base shortly.  Upon receiving the news of how much was raised, the Events Officer at MAGPAS said “Wow, that’s amazing congratulations and thank you so very much”. 

Watch this space for another night of entertainment.