Island Life Magazine Ltd April/May 2008 | Page 80

life EQUESTRIAN - Sponsored by Brickfields and Froghill Tack Clemmie Seely riding Dixie Stargazer An auction of promises raises £6,000 for the Ashey Scurry. Howard Johnson [the auctioneer & Scurry commentator] Gaynor Oliver & Jenny Boswell Glamorous promises including a private helicopter flight over London to dine at the Stapleford Park Country House, raised over £6,000 Over £6,000 was raised at the Auction of Promises for the Creasey Biles and King Isle of Wight Grand National & Ashey Scurry. Over ninety guests attended the auction, held at the Priory Bay Hotel on Saturday 1st March 2008, travelling from the mainland and all over the island. Bidding for the glittering list of ten Promises began at 10pm, following a delicious three-course meal made with island produce. Howard Johnson, one of the longstanding and amusing commentators at the Scurry, was Auctioneer for the night. 80 As each of the items came up, hopeful bidders endeavoured to secure their desired Promises. But the competition was great and all the lots reached high prices. Mike Thompson, who has a holiday home in Seaview, generously donated the star promise, a return helicopter ride from the island to lunch at Stapleford Park in Leicestershire. Mike has been a long-standing supporter of the Scurry. Racing was originally held on the old Ashey ground from the Victorians in the mid 19th century until it ceased, following a fire in the Left: Nick & Lizzie Ward, Fraser & Emily Jones, Andrew Palmer, William Smith Island Life - www.isleofwight. net