SCGB Centenary Dinner, 18th October 2003

By Norma Green

Over 300 skiers celebrated the Centenary of Adrenalin and Adventure with The Ski Club of Great Britain at the Lancashire Country Cricket Club. The venue looked very festive with tasteful décor and each table named after a ski resort - an inspired way for guests to spot where they were seated.

Guests were welcomed with a glass of champagne and invited to have their photographs taken. Guests were also invited to join in the fun of competing with each other on the ski simulator which emulates the White Gross race run in Flaine.

Ski Club of Great Britain honoured guests were Sally Cartwright - Chairman, Caroline Stuart-Taylor - Chief Executive, Caroline Boileau - Holiday Manager, Fiona Sweetman - Marketing Manager, and Simon Henwood - Reps Manager. Sally Cartwright gave an inspiring speech with particular regard to ecology of the mountains on which we ski; she acknowledged the SCGB founders in May 1903, and looked forward to the next 100 years of skiing!

There were many splendid raffle prizes, the first prize of £200 donated by BMIBaby.com and 2nd a pair of K2 Axis skis from Ellis Brigham. Over £1000 was collected for the charity UPHILL Ski Club. The prizes were presented by a trio of British Olympic skiers, Graham Bell, Martin Bell and Emma Carrick-Anderson. Our club supported the event by having two tables. Guests were treated to live music from a young foursome whose energy and enthusiasm really encouraged every guest to dance, all night long.

The Northern Ball was brilliantly planned, organised and co-ordinated by Bryce Cooper and John Poyner who were thanked for making the evening a great success. Many northern ski clubs were represented and everyone had a superb night, even requesting a similar event to be arranged in future years.

Thumbnails of the organisers and SCoM table (click on the picture for a larger image):