News Thrilling finale to RoR Racing to Cricket day

There was a dramatic finish to the RoR Racing to Cricket Trophy at Wormsley Cricket Ground on Sunday evening with victory clinched with the final ball of the day.

Eight racing teams came under starters’ orders in the limited overs knock out competition, with the final played out between leading trainer Mick Channon’s team and that of Paul Roy, Chairman of Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), the host charity.

Batting first, Mick Channon’s team posted a formidable total of 95 runs off the six allotted overs. Paul Roy’s team, captained by his son Michael, launched a gallant pursuit but still needed four more runs to win off the final ball of the match.

A fast, short-pitched delivery flew past the batsman, but alas, for the fielding team of Mick Channon, it was also too quick for the wicket keeper and the ball went for four byes, handing victory to Paul Roy’s team amid cheers of triumph and anguish from both players and spectators.

Under blue skies and in the beautiful setting of the Wormsley Estate in Buckinghamshire, over 240 guests attended the day in aid of Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), British racing’s official charity for the welfare of retired racehorses.

During the lunch break, charity auctioneer Martin Pope offered up five fantastic lots, including Centre Court seats at Wimbledon and the use of a private box at Ascot. In total, the event raised over £50,000, with top lot a quarter share in a yearling filly closely related to Group winner Dutch Connection, which went for £15,000.

The cricket was of a consistently high standard with all the matches being competitive, none more so than the clash between Nicky Henderson’s Seven Barrows team and that of Ben Pauling’s team, the former assistant trainer to Nicky Henderson. On this occasion the apprentice outdid the master, as victory for Ben Pauling’s team won them the Plate trophy, the play-off prize.

A hat-trick by Callum Creighton, playing for Warren Greatrex’s team, earned him the accolade of Player of the Tournament and there were notable performances across the board, which included teams representing trainers Charlie Hills, Richard Hannon and Ed Dunlop.

Di Arbuthnot, Chief Executive of RoR, said: “It was a wonderful day and we are so grateful to all those who supported it. We were blessed with the weather and the day was one not only of exciting cricket but also valuable fundraising.

“Such occasions do not happen without hard work and generosity on the part of many, and after what our Chairman, Paul Roy, put in to the day it was a fitting result that his team should win the RoR Racing to Cricket Trophy. Special mention should also be made of David Sumpter, who initiated the Racing to Cricket day three years ago and who organised the tournament around which the day was built.

“We are already looking forward to next year’s event.