Sunday 1 January 2017

THE MIDDLEWICH CHARITY SHIELD - NEW YEAR'S DAY 2017 (ARCHIVED)


ARCHIVED




The Middlewich Charity Shield



Always the very first Middlewich Event of every year, the Annual Middlewich New Years Day Treasure Hunt is competed for every year by hung-over Middlewichians, and the prize, since 1992 at least,  has been  the much-coveted Middlewich Charity Shield.

Traditionally the team which wins the shield each year sets the questions for the following year but in 2017 things are a little different.

Melody Smith has volunteered - for one year only - to set the questions for the 2017 Treasure Hunt and would like to know a little more about the event, and in particular, its history.

The earliest date on the shield, which is  dedicated to the memory of Christina Wakefield, is 1992 when, as can be seen from the list of winners below, 'R&P Jackson' were the victors.

But did this epic New Year trawl around the town actually start before 1992? 

Both we at the Middlewich Diary and Melody Smith would love to hear more of the history of this cherished Middlewich Institution.

If you can help, please email us at:


or visit our new, dedicated, Facebook Group at

MIDDLEWICH CHARITY SHIELD FACEBOOK GROUP

(administered by MELODY SMITH)


The list of past winners makes interesting reading. 

The term 'usual suspects' springs to mind, with names like 'Poniznik + Bruce, 'S Bailey & T Hough' , 'Bic's Team', 'The Shaws', 'Stitched Up' and many others making up a virtual 'Who's Who' of the Great and Good in Middlewich.

If you were a member of one of these illustrious teams and have memories - happy or otherwise - of taking part in the Treasure Hunt, please don't hesitate to get in touch.


The chosen charities for 2017 are St Luke's Cheshire Hospice and St Michael & All Angels Church repair fund.


The Boar's Head Hotel in Kinderton Street - starting point for the Treasure Hunt every year


MIDDLEWICH CHARITY SHIELD WINNERS SINCE 1992

1992 R&P Jackson
1993 M&C Lowe, R&P Jackson
1994 Poniznik + Bruce
1995 Worthington family
1996 Wood 'n' Teas
1997 Worthington family
1998 S Bailey & T Hough
1999 Plonkers 2
2000 Year 2K
2001 Plonkers 2
2002 The Shaws
2003 Whott
2004 The Shaws
2005 The Young Ones
2006 Whott
2007 Hough & Bailey
2008 Middlewich Masons
2009 Stitched Up
2010 Otherwise Engaged
2011 Bics Team
2012 Dirty Monkeys
2013 Dave DE & Dozy Kids
2014 Chips
2015 DE & Dave
2016 (no name supplied)
2017 Chubby's Christmas Chickens

Dave Roberts
Editor

UPDATE (31st December 2016):


Prize list for the hunt and raffle:

Boars Head- Meal for 4
Narrowboat Inn – Meal for 4
The White Bear Middlewich – Meal for 4
The Big Lock Pub Middlewich - £10 Voucher (also doing soup at the end of the hunt at 3.30pm)
Andy Boyle Photography – £30 family portrait voucher
Willow Bell – 4 beautiful mugs
Tims Gents Hairshop – hair cut by Jenny
Tracey's gel-ous nails and beauty – voucher
Razor Sharp – voucher for gent’s hair cut.
Charlotte Rose Florist - voucher
Cups and Cakes – Lunch voucher
Temptations – Jar of sweets
Morrisons, Middlewich – Delicious hamper with prosecco

HISTORY OF THE EVENT

by Melody Smith

The New Year's Day Treasure Hunt, with its prize, the Middlewich Charity Shield, was started in 1992 by Terry and Christina Wakefield, who used to run a disco and catering company  and were actively raising funds for local causes and charities in Middlewich.

Tragically, in 1993, a year which proved to be very difficult for Terry and his family, Christine had a fatal fall in her home.

As a mark of respect, and a reflection of her work in the community, Terry dedicated the recently established shield to Christina's memory.

He continued to run the treasure hunt until 1998 when he left Middlewich and moved to the Wirral to enjoy a new life with his current wife.

I recently spoke to terry by telephone, and he was very pleased to hear that the tradition has stayed strong in Middlewich and that the annual event has continued to be an institution within the community.

He still has links here and visits occasionally.

His daughter has requested that, when the shield is full and needs replacing, she would like to keep it.

UPDATE (1st January 2017:

Here are the results and scores for the 2017 contest:

Chubby's Christmas Chickens 43
Red devils 41
Bayar Lederhosen  40
Jones and Riddell  40
Whot 40
Bet you…. 39
Chips 38
Jacob's Barmy army 38
Rab C and pals 38
Regan's rangers 38
3D-UK (Dee and Dave) 37.5
Fab Sam 37
Northern Soul 37
Hotspurs 36
Humphries clan 36
Descendants 35.5
Scraffey's Gang 33
The Cobblers 32
Hardy 32
Rolley's ramblers 32
Christina's Crusaders 31
Rocking dollies on tour 29
Chopp's champions 27
Morgan 27
Bunged up but breathing 25
Knights of old 23
Redheads 22
Brendan and Jack 18
losers 18

Middlewich Charity Shield 2018

First published 12th November 2016
Updated & re-published 30th November 2016, 5th December 2016
31st December 2016 and 1st  January 2017

1 comment:

  1. Margaret Poniznik13 November 2016 at 12:06

    I remember them well always bitterly cold ,in latter years the aim was to be second that way you didnt have to set the questions great fun always followed by a curry at was then called the cheshire curry house I believe in hightown

    ReplyDelete

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