Author: Julie Gingell

Could you dedicate just one office tea break to fundraising for a great charity?
As close friends of the Willow Foundation, SA Law is helping to promote their latest national fundraising initiative. And the concept couldn’t be easier! Simply schedule an office tea break to raise money. Staff could be asked to make a small donation to attend; cakes and biscuits could be sold; or you could simply hold a raffle. You could even charge a fee for each tea  bag - the more exotic the tea bag the higher the donation!

Author: Gary Dunger

I’m sure you have all been eagerly anticipating the report on the Willow Foundation 10K run and our runners’ performances!

In very testing conditions everybody put in a very good performance and despite survival being the main aim, some very creditable times were put in, especially considering that by the end of the race the surface was becoming somewhat slippery (being partly run on grass) and into driving rain, wind and hail.

A special mention must go to Nat Young whom it seems must have been training very hard over the last few months as he went off like the proverbial hare, only to be reeled in by Terence two-thirds of the way in with Terence coming in first of the SA Law runners. 

The finishing order on Sunday was:

Terence Ritchie       46.36
Gary Dunger           47.03
Nat Young              47.06
Rob Ryall                52.12
Chris Alexander     57.54
Simon Walsh          58.23
Tracy Lacey-Smith 59.09
Nikki Petken           65.36 

I am sure you will all join me in congratulating all those who participated, and many of whom are no doubt now saying “never again” after the experience. 

For a full (humorous) account by another participant of the challenges yesterday see the RunningAmok blog.

And it is not too late of course to sponsor the team, visit www.justgiving.com/SALaw, it would be great to reach £1000!

 Author: Chris Cook

SA Law won the toss and elected to bat - openers Satinder and the skipper got off to a lively start with some unexpected quick singles until Satinder was caught off a top edge.  Chris A joined the skipper at the crease, both batting well to retire after reaching 25.  Gary and Terence then formed a useful middle order partnership, both experiencing some good fortune as catches were spilled by the opposition.  Terrence T had
a rare failure with the bat after trying to force the pace in the last few overs.  The returning Simon then reminded the team of his “talents” from former years as he joined Terence at the end of the innings to lift the score to a respectable 104 from SA Law’s 16 overs.
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In reply, both Terrence and Satinder had tidy opening spells to keep the Rayner Essex openers below the required run rate, assisted by some enthusiastic fielding as always, most notably from the ever-exuberant
Nat and Terence.  Matthew had trouble finding a good line and length and was punished by some solid stroke play by a suspiciously Aussie-looking Shane Richards, although later improved and was rewarded with a wicket. 

Chris A also bowled well, his first ball clean bowling Rayner Essex’s opening batsman.  As the pressure mounted towards the end of the innings, SA Law’s fielding started to become suspect, as Gary, the usually dependable Terrence and Simon all spilled catches.  Terence was left to bowl the last over with Rayner Essex needing 8 runs to win, and with a streaky two through the slips, a dropped catch for which the batsmen ran two and a powerfully struck four from the third ball, Rayner Essex reached their target with three balls to spare to record their seventh straight win of the summer.
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The team will look to drown their sorrows from a season of defeats at the end of season curry night next month.

Author: Julie Gingell

On a hot July 1st, whilst Andy Murray was busy dispatching Juan Carlos Ferrero at Wimbledon, teams strode proudly onto Porters Park Golf Course in Shenley to face off in an equally prestigious event.

Well… almost equally prestigious. It was the SA Law Charity Golf Day.

This year, the intrepid players raised a stunning £1,000 for the Willow Foundation, the national charity that provides special days out for seriously ill 16 to 40 year-olds. Celebrating their tenth anniversary this year, this Hatfield-based charity was set up by Arsenal legend Bob Wilson and his wife in memory of their daughter Anna, who died of cancer aged just 31.

The Charity Golf Day 2009 individual winners were:

• First Place:  David Williams (CEO, the Willow Foundation)
• Second Place:  Clive Pearce (Fundraiser, the Willow Foundation)
• Third Place:  Anthony Kent (Maidment Judd)
• Longest Drive: Paul Smith (Handelsbanken)
• Nearest the Pin: Mark Stretton (ITV)

Winners of the team event were:

• Anthony Kent (Maidment Judd)
• Adam Norton (Welbeck Investments)
• Toby Murray (Strutt & Parker)
• Rob Storey (RBS/NatWest)

We are planning further fundraising events for the charity later in the year. The ‘Smart Alec’s’ Quiz Night 2009 will be held in the autumn, and an SA Law team will also be entering ‘The Willow 10K’ – a running event held in the majestic setting of Hatfield Park surrounding historic Hatfield House.

For more information on how you can raise funds for the Willow Foundation contact Caz Eagles on 01707 259777.