All sorts of sports in 1994

In the charts, Love is All Around by Wet Wet Wet hit the Number One spot – and then refused to give it up for 15 weeks. Many people were extremely happy when it was dethroned by Whigfield’s eternally bouncy Saturday Night!

They were less happy when ice dance virtuosos Jane Torvill and Christopher Dean only managed to win bronze at the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. The superstars had won the British ice-dancing championship at the Sheffield Arena with ease, but an illegal lift during their routine saw them lose points.

While ice skating was not on the agenda in Horsham, there were plenty of other sporting opportunities which townsfolk embraced.

At the Southwater fun run, Great Britain international Spencer Barden wiped one minute off the course record by storming through the four-miles in 20 minutes 21 seconds.

The Atlantis swimming club was riding the crest of a wave after victory in the Reigate swimming gala. The group won the Marlins Shield for girls and the James Blythe Trophy for boys.

The trophies were collected by Alison Owen, 13, and Aaron Corney, 14.

In the world of football, Lower Beeding FC were named one of the teams of the month in the Unijet West Sussex League in September and received a £50 cheque for their efforts.

The team, pictured, was made up of: Back row, from left, Derek Fry (manager), Simon Bentley, Chris Lovelock, Jason Woods, Dean Hamilton, Chris Pellent, Heath Russell, Paul Haggerstone, Barry Combellack (West Sussex League). Front row, Kevin Saunders, Mark Adams, Nick Simmonds, Gary Ansell, Charlie Catliff and Nick Fry.

The boys of Roffey Robins under 13s were also celebrating – because their manager’s love of a slap-up meal had secured them a new kit.

Andy Clark had been struggling to find the cash to buy shorts, shirts and socks for the team, a fact he mentioned in passing to Don Massimo, owner of the Roffey Griddle, where he was a regular customer.

Nice guy Don promptly agreed to sponsor the team – and proved to be something of a lucky charm as the boys beat Broadbridge Heath 6-0 in their first match.

It’s hockey next, and 1994 proved to be the year of the draws for Horsham Ladies. By October they had notched up 13 in 14 matches – and it was only the skill of their goalkeeper Paula Foster that ensured that 14th match wasn’t a loss.

During their game against Pressed Steel Fisher in Division 2 South of the Notts Sport’s Women’s League, Paula made a brilliant penalty save in the dying minutes to ensure a 0-0 result.

The team, pictured, were: Back row, from left, Chris Pettit, Nicola Barnard, Fran Malam, Lyne Jones, Justine Robertson, Andie Farmer, Juliet Starbuck. Front row, Jo Larter, Paula Foster, Lucy Clark, Kay Harris.

Horsham men weren’t performing at their best, losing their opening six matches in the Kent/Sussex League, including a 3-1 against Beckenham.

Captain Duncan Wood-Allum was optimistic, though, and said he was sure his side would stay up.

The team, pictured, were: front row, from left, Dave Smith, Mark Ansell, Chris Perkins, Nigel Evans, Andy Simmons, Nigel Dean. Front row, Andrew hartley, Ian Bond, Dave Nagy (keeper), Duncan Wood-Allum, Dominic Cohen and Eddie Humphreys.