Another record year for whacky racers

It sounds like the start of a rather long Christmas cracker joke. It is, though, this year's record-breaking Pagham Pram Race.

The latest of the Boxing Day traditions attracted a record entry of 64 couples to take on the challenge of drinking pints of beer at each of three pubs while they complete a circuit around the parish with a pram or pram-like structure.

Those have remained the basic rules and they again provided plenty of scope for the imagination of the entrants. Some consisted of a pair and others up to eight individuals to put the total of those taking part at a probable 200 or so.

The subjects ranged from the out-of-this-world presence of Dr Who and a Dalek to a gang of Vikings looking to conquer the area to a pair of Del Boys and several references to the recession. Madoff with Millions Inc, with banknotes spilling out of a briefcase, was a particular barbed commentary on the current economic situation.

Also delighting the large crowd who turned out to enjoy an occasion staged under a bright blue sky were the Bob A Job entry of Aldwick and Pagham Sea Scouts, Ye Olde Sea Dogs, a Team GB cycling entry complete with Union flags, the Royal Mail with a numberplate of PAT 1 and a mini fire engine from Bognor Regis fire station.

Present as well was Scrooge, a nod towards London 2012, Batman and Robin couples as well as the seemingly-compulsory doctor and nurse entries.

Those who took part ranged from teenagers to pensioners and from first-timers like winners Alex Tonks and Andrew Deane to those with plenty of experience such as novelty winner Jeff Myers, from Storrington, who collected his fifth trophy. The final entrants home took some 40 minutes to complete the course at a stately pace and were crossing the finishing line after prizes to the fastest teams were being handed out. But the event is not just a simple dash from Nyetimber Mill to The Lamb via Pagham Road, Sea Lane, The Parade and Harbour View Road as the chairman of the race's organising committee, Tim Holland, explained.

He said: 'The race has gone really well. We've had what was probably a record number of entries and a large turnout of people watching.

'The imagination of those who take part each year always amazes me. But the event is about more than fancy dress. It's about bringing the community together.

'We've got the local church and the local parish council involved this year and that sort of community spirit is what we want to encourage even more in the future.

'There is also the fundraising side of the race. All the money we raise goes to local causes and we are grateful to the support we receive from everyone which helps to make that happen.'

Many of the race's winners this year donated back their cheques to either the race committee to add to the spectators' donations or promised to hand over the money to a particular good cause they wanted to back.

Debutant race-winners Alex Tonks (24) and Andrew Deane (25) were a typical example. The friends from Bognor scorched round the course in about 15 minutes as The A Team and Mr T, with Andrew pushing the pram. They immediately decided to put their winners' cheque to St Wilfrid's Hospice.

Alex explained: 'This is the first time we have ever taken part. Every year, we say we are going to do it, but have never got round to it. Andrew's granddad was looked after by St Wilfrid's just before he died.

'We said we wanted to do something for charity in his memory. That made us decide to enter the pram race this year.'

Even those who said goodbye to taking part in the event were determined to make the most of the occasion for good causes.

David and Di Crook handed in their race entry bibs for the final time but not before they had auctioned their pram '“ dedicated to saving the pound this year '“ among the competitors and spectators to put 50 more into the race committee's funds for handing out.

Aldwick man Mr Crook said: 'We've been doing the race for about six years, with a first, second and third place among our finishes. But it's getting harder and harder.'