Ninfield pram race glory

If you can look at a portaloo trolley and see how it might be transformed into a red and white sports car, then Ninfield pram race was the perfect event for you.

This happened to be, on Sunday, the triumphant vehicle in the Fancy Dress competition which showcased Team 118 118 boys Jack White and Harrison Poole running and pushing their way into local legend during an afternoon of hectic village fun.

The Ninfield pram race, organised by Robin Fookes of Ninfield Carnival Committee with chairman James Parker, has become a hugely popular local annual event.

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The race starts from the car park of the Blacksmiths Pub as competitors hurtle up Manchester Road on home-made go-karts assembled specially for the day. Adults go as far as Marlpits Lane where they refuel with a swift half-pint of Harveys before making the return trip, while children go halfway and pit-stop at London House to snaffle some squash before heading home.

Cash prizes were on offer for the four different category races. The primary school winners were the Troublesome Trikers, James Kildea and Jonathon Masters, while the secondary school age group was won by Team Stupid, also known as Dan Cannon and Ben Gaffney.

The adult race was won by Troublesome Trikers Dads, who were Danny Kildea and Steve Masters, and the fun mixed race was Team Stupid again, aka Dan Cannon and Ben Gaffney.

Ninfield Parish Council sponsored its own challenge which was a race against the Speed Identification Device, SID, which was set at 17 mph - the Troublesome Trikers again proved victorious as father and son Steve and Jonathon Masters blasted through 100 yards in just six seconds.

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"Steve was quite a star," said Ninfield Carnival Association spokesman Sam Guard.

"He gave his prize money back to the charity, which was very nice, and other people did as well."

There were approximately seven carts in each race, all handmade for the occasion, all cheered enthusiastically by spectators.

Sam said: "There was a hell of a lot of support. Because so much happens over Bank Holiday weekend we thought we would try the pram race out on Sunday, instead of Monday, and it was still very well supported - and fortunately the weather was kind."

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The charity supported by Ninfield Carnival this year is the Alzheimers Society which is close to the heart of Joy Hughes, Sam's mum and former Town Mayor of Bexhill.

"The Carnival committee chose it as the charity of the year - it is important to me and a few other people. Mum and I did it as the charity for her Mayor's year, and I have to say at that time it was not such a sexy charity, for want of a better word, but recently the writer Terry Pratchett has gone public about having Alzheimers, so it has become more in the public eye.

"Last year Ninfield Carnival committee raised money for a chidren's charity, Demelza House, so we thought we would go to the other side this time and raise money for Alzheimers. It something that affects everybody, or someone in their family, at some time. So we thought - lets raise its profile, and raise as much money as we can for it this time. It affects so many people."

She thanked sponsors of the event who were Ninfield Parish Council, Parker & Sons Builders, Chip Basket in Sidley, Warehouse Light & Sound, and Carters Eggs, Mark Saunders who provided free sausages, John Matthews ran betting for all races, volunteers at the barbecue who were "constantly on the go all day", Kitty at the tuck shop, Joy Hughes in charge of the raffle, Dennis Isaacs who lent bundles of hay for people to sit down on,and the newly formed Ninfield Bonfire Society.