Having A Ball: Fund-Raising fun for two Atlantic Rowers

A ball race down Brown's Hill in Fowey on Saturday raised more than £1,100 to help the town's rowers Nick Histon and John Csehi compete in this year's Atlantic Challenge. The ball race was the latest in a series of fund-raising initiatives organised by Nick's mum, Gill.

She said: "It's been a magnificent couple of weeks. Thanks to the Galleon Inn, we held a barbecue on the last night of regatta week that raised around £800, and on Saturday, the race raised £1,100, thanks not least to the landlord of the Ship Inn, who donated the top prize of £100.

"Residents and visitors alike have been behind the boys. We really would like to thank everyone - whether they bought a burger, bought a ball for the race, or helped to make it possible."

For Saturday's ball race more than 1,100 numbered soft balls were released outside the Safe Harbour pub which then rolled across the street, down Brown's Hill, and along the path next to the church.

The winning prize went to J Jacobs and runners-up were K Murray and Roy Morcom.

Rowers Nick Histon and John Csehi are now in intensive training for the 2,500-mile Atlantic Challenge race, which begins on December 2 from the Canary Islands.

Competing against 40 other rowers, they hope to complete the gruelling trip to Antigua 50 to 60 days later.