Horsham top the Sussex Premier League after winning at Worthing thanks to outstanding contributions from Michael Munday and Sussex Academy prospect Devon Endersby.

Captain Craig Gallagher said: “This was a good win for us against a strong Worthing side, especially as we were without three of our top players.”

Roffey were put in to bat but pulled off an impressive victory against perennial contenders Preston Nomads.

Pick up your free copy of The Resident on Friday for details of both matches plus Horsham and Roffey’s National Cup games.

Four men walked the South Downs Way, from Winchester to Eastbourne, braving wind, rain and mud to raise money for charity.

Paul Allshire and Lee Holden, both from Horsham, joined Phil Hickson and Steve Hull, from London and Cardiff, on the demanding trek of just over 100 miles.

They were raising money for four charities, including the Myfanwy Townsend Melanoma Research Fund, based in East Grinstead, which raises awareness and funds for research into melanoma.

Mr Allshire, a 38-year-old travel writer, said: “I sadly lost my mum two years ago to melanoma, aged just 63. I wanted to try to do something positive so that some good could come out of our family’s tragic loss.

“None of us are particularly fit or had ever walked this kind of distance in such a short space of time, so it was a serious challenge.

“We battled wind, rain and mud, not to mention our own aches and pains, but we kept each other going knowing that it was all for a good cause.

“The feeling as the sun finally came out as we walked across the glorious Seven Sisters, knowing we were on the home straight, gave our challenge a fitting finale and is something I’ll never forget.”

Travel editor Mr Holden, 41, said: “It was a long and gruelling four days, but getting to know the South Downs was a real consolation.

“I was astounded by how beautiful, dramatic and sometimes remote parts of the Way were in what is supposed to be a crowded part of the country.

“I’d really recommend getting out and exploring the new national park, but perhaps not walking 26 miles a day.”

The event was organised by Horsham-based company South Downs Discovery.

To find out more and donate, visit www.southdownsdiscovery.com/fundraising.php

Cheesecake connoisseurs from Horsham district, Mid Sussex and beyond can enter a competition at the Half Moon, Warninglid, on Sunday, June 24.

Anyone who loves baking cheesecake can enter one for a charity donation of £5, while you can buy a slice for £1 and vote for your favourite.

The top 10 voted for by guests will be assessed by judges including James Hood, Business Editor of The Resident and Editor of The Resident Magazine.

He said: “I have felt for some time that I missed my calling in life and that I should in fact be a cheesecake taster. I absolutely love it, so I am thrilled to be invited to help judge the competition.

“I know my cheesecakes, so I’ll be looking for a very high standard of baking. There is a lot to consider – the consistency, the density of the cream cheese section, the ratio of topping to biscuit base and, of course, the flavour.

“The whole day sounds fantastic and is all to raise money for a great charity. I can’t wait to be a part of it.”

Other attractions will include a barbecue, band and ‘ice the biscuit’ competition.

Organiser Alice Chambers said: “The atmosphere is always sparkling. I watched last year and saw people having a great time, raising money for a great cause – and everyone loves cheesecake!”

All money raised will go to Shooting Star Chase, which provides hospice care for children and cares for about 600 families in west London, Surrey and West Sussex.

One baker will win £100 to spend at the Half Moon pub and restaurant, while prizes will also be awarded for those who finish second and third.

For more information, visit www.thehalfmoonwarninglid.co.uk

Billingshurst Scout Hut has been saved and is open again more than a year after closing.

A routine survey, carried out before planned refurbishment, unexpectedly uncovered white asbestos in two walls and the ceiling of the main hall in Lower Station Road.

No one’s health was endangered by the substance but the hut was closed while Scouts and Guides launched a fundraising campaign, Save Our Hut!

On Saturday, they took to the streets of the village in a show of thanks and to celebrate completion of renovation work.

Fundraising co-ordinator Glyn Pullen said: “Last spring, we held a show of strength here to mark the start of our Save Our Hut! campaign.

“At the time, raising the money we needed looked a daunting prospect. However, we have been overwhelmed by the support and generosity of the local community.

“We were very fortunate in securing grants from Horsham District Council and from the Biffa award scheme, both of which were crucial in allowing us to undertake the major structural works we needed.

“We have had fantastic support from individuals, businesses and community organisations from Billingshurst and from further afield, who have made donations to our campaign, helped us with our fundraising or organised events on our behalf.

“In total we have raised over £80,000. I’m delighted to say that after having been closed for over a year, the hut is open again and back in daily use – and it is a community facility, not just reserved for Scouts and Guides.

“Having the hut available again makes such a difference to us and it can now serve us well for many years to come.

“Although we’ve met our original goal, we will be continuing our fundraising efforts to continue the replacement of our equipment, most of which we lost due to the asbestos problem, and then eventually to allow us to make further improvements.

“On behalf of Billingshurst Scouts and Guides, I’d like to thank everyone who helped us save our hut.

“Without the help and support of so many people this would not have been possible.”

First it was the Beatles, then the Spice Girls, then more recently Adele and One Direction who made the Americans go crazy for musical talent from good old Blighty.

So, could Alice Ella be next? The Horsham singer and songwriter has been over to the US for a quick and rather fancy whizz around LA, having meetings and recording sessions with some of music’s big boys. Ooh, get her.

Alice flew over at the last minute after getting an invitation to the ASCAP Expo, a big music industry exhibition where people ‘in the biz’ get to network and chat to artists, A & R people and other record label reps.

Miss Ella told us: “It was very surreal looking out onto the Hollywood sign! It just looked like a painting or a backdrop! As well as the expo, I had a day of songwriting with Melinda Ortner – a singer songwriter who I stayed with. She’s very talented, having had songs featured in films like American Pie etc.

“I was also very lucky to meet one of my idols at an after party in Hollywood – Diane Warren – a golden globe and grammy award winning song writer! She has written hits such as Can’t Fight the Moonlight and I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing.”

As well as all the schmoozing, there was some work to be done as well. Alice did a few writing and recording sessions with Drew Harris and Savannah Lynne who make music for film and TV and also had a songwriting session with Nathaneal Boone from EMI.

Not exhausted yet, the young Sussex starlet had a meeting in Beverly Hills with Cutting Edge Group and Air-Edel, a pair of companies that works with the likes of Madonna, Miley Cirus, New Radicals, Anita Baker, Kid Rock, Uncle Kracker, Deep Purple, Jem, Ringo Star, Pink, Kelly Clarkson, Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears.

Alice added: “I also sang a few jazz standards backed by a jazz band, at The Dresden room in Hollywood and over the following week I performed at Harvelles, Santa Monica, for ‘BMI Coffee House’ – a great platform for new music.”

Next thing you know she’ll be at the Grammys! We’d like to say ‘Adele who?’ at this point but she’s only got one name so it doesn’t really work.

If your home, wardrobe or garage is in need of a clear-out, you can take any unwanted items to the Donation Station in the Swan Walk shopping centre until Sunday, May 27.

Centre manager Gill Buchanan said: “Swan Walk’s loyal customers have raised over £70,000 for Cancer Research UK over recent years. We are aiming to add another £10,000 in 2012.

“Donating could not be easier. Customers can collect a bag from the pick-up point in the centre, fill it up at home and pop it back to the drop-off point when they are next shopping in Horsham.

“What better reason could there be to have a good clear-out at home to make way for your new summer purchases?”

Cancer Research UK will be delighted to receive good-quality clothes, shoes, accessories, books, homewares, DVDs and CDs.

All donations will be used in the first instance to stock the charity’s shops in East Street and West Street, Horsham.

The Resident today asks councillors and all our other readers to support the ‘People’s Option’ for new leisure facilities.

Paul Kornycky, of the Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre joint user group, explains on Page 3 of today’s newspaper why £8.6 million should be spent on new facilities when the leisure centre is demolished.

It is a call that The Resident is more than happy to support as Horsham District Council continues its consultation on the future of leisure in the district.

Mr Kornycky and other users of the leisure centre were among about 80 people who attended a public meeting at The Capitol, Horsham, on Wednesday evening. Councillors and council officers came under fire for trying to focus the consultation on four options for new leisure facilities, costing between £1.81 million and £6 million, even though the land has been valued at £20 million.

Cllr Jonathan Chowen, council Cabinet member for leisure, told the meeting: “People seem to think it’s the council’s money. It’s your money and we have to be very sure about what we are spending it on.”

Cllr Chowen said he still had an open mind about the council’s decision, due on June 27, but stressed there were many pressures on its budget for leisure and other services. This view was endorsed by Cllr Roger Arthur, Cabinet member for efficiency and resources, who stressed that only continued careful stewardship of finances would allow the council to cope with big cuts in government grants.

Referring to the potential impact on Horsham of the financial crisis in parts of Europe, Cllr Chowen warned: “We might just be talking fairytales today if anything happens to Greece.” When the Cabinet member later admitted he was “absolutely terrified about what’s happening in Europe”, a man in the audience shouted: “You’ll have to downsize, Jonathan. Move to a bungalow!”

Members of Horsham Blue Star Harriers and Horsham Joggers expressed concern that the favoured option of consultants Strategic Leisure and FMG Consulting does not include an athletics track.

Steve Wilson, of Horsham Joggers, said it was not realistic to expect athletes to move en masse to train at the K2 in Crawley, adding: “It will be like the M25, not the K2. People use the track (at Broadbridge Heath) at peak times because they work during the day. Yes, the track is empty during the day, but so is Wembley Stadium.”

Another public meeting will be held at The Capitol on Monday (6pm).

Pick up your free copy of The Resident today for full details of the People’s Option.

Horsham Lions Club and Horsham Joggers will hold their annual children’s race prior to the main 10km race on Sunday.

All children are welcome to take part and compete over the one-mile course at Horsham Rugby Club, Hammerpond Road, from 10.15am. Each will receive a medal, while age-group winners (U8, U10, U12 and U14) will get trophies and £10 vouchers.

Mainly on public roads, with a section on a bridleway, the adult race starts at the rugby club at 11am. All runners will receive a medal, with a £50 Brooks voucher for the first man and woman to finish.

The organisers expect a field of more than 300, with profits distributed between St Catherine’s Hospice, the Motor Neurone Disease Association and Horsham Lions.

To enter, visit www.horshamjoggers.co.uk or complete a form on the day.

Horsham Ladies won the Sussex Cup, beating Worthing Ladies 7-0 in the final at Lewes.

Although Worthing won all 18 of their matches in the Sussex Premier Division, they could find no answer to Horsham’s relentlessly probing attacks. Heidi Menniss and Jess Dean scored two goals apiece, with Zeph Fisher, Fran Crossley and Steph Dent also on target.

Team manager Jane Denman said: “It’s been a long, hard season for us, but the girls can take great credit for their unflagging determination and team spirit. The league hasn’t been easy, but we battled through and have had an outstanding indoor campaign. Now we’ve carried off the cup again and can feel justifiably proud of our achievements.

“We’ll take a well-earned break, then develop our plans and strategy for next season”.

Police are asking the public to be vigilant after a spate of burglaries in Partridge Green, Henfield, Shermanbury and Cowfold since March.

They stopped a vehicle in High Street, Partridge Green, and arrested a 26-year-old man from Shermanbury, a 26-year-old man from Henfield and a 33-year-old woman from Henfield on suspicion of burglary. All were later bailed until May 28.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “Please can we ask all residents in these areas to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity on 999.”

Anyone with information can phone police on 101, quoting reference 623 of May 10, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Broadwood Morris Men celebrated their 40th anniversary by heading a Day of Dance in Horsham town centre.

Horsham Markets’ local produce market went medieval for the day, with food and stalls highlighting the long history of market trading in the town.

The Barns Green Half Marathon has won the Runners World award for the Most Improved Event in the UK.

Delighted race director Vernon Jennings said: “This is a huge honour for the Barns Green Half Marathon. We generally get excellent feedback on various websites from our runners, but to emerge as the most improved race in the UK is quite some accolade.

“It is particularly rewarding given the huge number of races that now take place in this country, most of which receive substantial financial help and other support from major councils and local authorities.

“Our race is organised and made possible by a large number of volunteers who have all done a wonderful job in making the event the great success that it is.”

The next event will take place on Sunday, September 30.

For more information, visit www.barnsgreen-half.org.uk

Rookwood Golf Club, Warnham Local Nature Reserve, will stage a fundraising event for the Mary How Trust on June 21.

The charity says readers can enjoy a great day of golf, a delicious lunch and generous prizes – with Pimm’s at the Halfway House and a fun contest to beat a golf professional on the 11th hole.

The last Mary How Trust Golf Day in 2010 raised £4,500 and golfers from across the South East are already snapping up tickets for this year’s stableford event. Tickets cost £40 per person and golfers of all levels are welcome.

Roanne Moore-Loizides, the charity’s marketing and fundraising manager, said: “The support we receive from Sussex businesses makes a lasting impact on our screening service and on the wellbeing of the local community.

“If you’d like to hear more about how you can promote your business and help us raise precious funds, please do get in touch.”

For more information about the golf day or to book your place, phone 01798 877641 or visit www.maryhowtrust.org

Horsham Blue Star’s Cadie Willis achieved a double in the County Championships at Crawley, winning the U20 Women’s 100m (12.1 seconds) and 200m (25.8).

Sophie Spinner also struck gold twice, taking the U17 Women 100m in 12.6 and the 200m in 26.8, while Ashley Gorton went close to a double – first in the U15 Boys 400m (55.4), second in the 200m (24.0).

Other winners included Alex Best (U20 Men 400m, 50.6), Max Patterson (U17 Men javelin, 42.55m), Kat Baj (U17 Women 300m hurdles, 46.4), Jade Brewster (U17 Women pole vault, 3.30m), Jack Milnthorpe (U15 Boys high jump, 1.60m) and Andrew Price (U15 Boys long jump, 4.86m).

A Horsham athlete had the honour of being one of the first people to compete in the 80,000-seat Olympic Stadium, London. Rebecca Jennings reached the semi-finals of the 100m hurdles after qualifying from her heat in the British Universities and Colleges Championships.

The 21-year-old, a student at Brunel University, has been training at Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre and competing for Horsham Blue Star Harriers since 2001.

Dad Paul Jennings said: “Despite the disappointment of not making the final, Rebecca had a fantastic day and the experience of a lifetime.”

Jennings followed up with two second-place finishes in the County Championships, clocking 12.6 seconds in the 100m and 14.5 in the 100m hurdles.

Kieran Vernon will make a surprise return to the Protyre Formula Renault BARC Championship this weekend.

The 22-year-old from West Chiltington will race at Rockingham after agreeing a late deal to join 2010 champion team Hillspeed. Vernon tested with Richard Ollerenshaw’s squad at Silverstone this month and was immediately on the pace – an impressive performance from a driver who last piloted a Renault 2.0 in July last year.

Ollerenshaw said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have agreed a deal with Kieran. We’ve held him in very high regard for a long time. It’s long been apparent he’s an exceptionally talented driver and he’ll add another facet to what’s turning into a fascinating championship this year.

“During the test run at Silverstone, Kieran was right among the front runners from the off and was one of the true pace-setters, even though he’d not been in a Formula Renault for almost a year. We’re confident he’s going to be a real contender at Rockingham.”

After winning a Porsche Carrera Cup scholarship at the end of 2010, Vernon’s move into the sportscar category was delayed due to budget limitations so he turned his attention to the Renault series last year and won his third race.

The former Steyning Grammar School pupil started competing in the Carrera Cup last summer in the Nationwide Motorbase car vacated by champion Tim Harvey and soon became a consistent top-10 finisher, achieving  a best result of fifth at Brands Hatch. But he was again held back by financial constraints at the beginning of 2012 and has been on the sidelines since.

Vernon, pictured here at FrenchFest in Piries Place last July, said: “It’s almost a year since I was last in a BARC car, but it all went well (in the test) and we were one of the quickest out there. Hillspeed were great and the aim is to get them back at the front.

“I’m hoping we can be in contention for the podium, but having got used to the Porsche, which is quite different to drive, it might take me a weekend to properly get used to the Renault again.”

Horsham’s Old Town Hall will be turned into a restaurant, councillors decided yesterday evening.

The district council will get almost £1.2 million in rent – £30,000 in the first year, £60,000 in each of the subsequent 19 years – by leasing the Grade II listed building to Bill’s Produce Store.

The council-owned building, in Market Square, was used by the council until 1988 but has been vacant since September 2009.

Pick up your free copy of The Resident on Friday for the full story.

Staff members at Horsham’s Lifestyle Europe have helped raise over £10,000 for charity by taking part in a marathon.

Employees from the dealership on the Bishopric joined others from branches across Sussex, Surrey and Kent in the Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon and donated the cash they raised to the Pickering Cancer Drop in Centre.

Marc Matthew, chairman of Lifestyle Europe, said: “As a company based across Sussex, Kent and Surrey, we are pleased to be supporting a local charity. We have spent the last six weeks since the Half Marathon collecting sponsorship and, it is amazing to see the substantial sum that has been generated for this very worthy cause. We would like to thank all of our staff, customers, colleagues and friends who have supported us in these efforts.”

Polly Taylor is a volunteer at the Pickering Centre, which provides a place for people affected by cancer to go and chat to others in a similar situation. Polly said: “I was very touched by the generosity. I would like to say a massive thank you to everybody at Lifestyle Europe and especially to Paul Murrells who organised the team.

“We are blessed that the special people who work at Lifestyle support us. As bosses of such a large company, I feel very humbled by Marc and Peter’s friendship and their love for the Centre. I cannot thank them enough.

“The money will be put to good use straightaway. It will enable us to keep our facilities running and will buy us some much needed equipment for our therapy and treatment rooms.”

Entering a team into the race for the second year, Lifestyle enlisted 30 runners this year. The determined team, made up of staff, friends and family, met regularly for training, ensuring that everyone was prepared for the race and that there was a good team atmosphere. From Horsham’s Lifestyle Ford, James Maciejewski, (new car sales manager) and Craig Tarrant (sales executive) both completed the race in under two hours.

The Pickering Centre is a self-funding registered charity and was established by a group of cancer patients who recognised that anybody affected by the disease needed somewhere to go, to relax and talk to others who are in a similar situation. Marc Matthew and Lifestyle’s Managing Director Peter Isted have long been supporters of the Pickering Centre and encourage their staff to take part in fundraising events.

Marc added: “The Pickering Centre is an independent charity that is run entirely by volunteers. They receive no funding from the NHS even though a number of individual consultants and GPs refer their patients to the centre. They rely solely on individuals or businesses like Lifestyle to try and raise as much money as possible so that they can keep on going. As Chairman of a local business, I believe in doing our utmost to support such a good cause.”

Three members of the Crawley and Horsham hunt have been found guilty of illegal fox hunting, the first such convictions in Sussex.

Joint-master Neil Millard, of Dragons Lane, Shipley, secretary Rachel Holdsworth, of Rock Road, Washington, and former huntsman Andrew Phillis, of Halwell, Totnes, were convicted at Mid Sussex Magistrates’ Court, Haywards Heath. Charges against joint-master Jamie Hawksfield, of Bines Road, Partridge Green, were dropped during a seven-day trial.

Video footage showed hounds chasing a fox at Marlpost Wood, Southwater, on January 18 last year and Shermanbury Place a week later. The hunt claimed members were legitimately trail hunting, but district judge Stephen Nicholls disagreed.

Millard and Holdsworth were each fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £2,500 in costs. Phillis will be sentenced later.

It was the ninth such prosecution under the Hunting Act 2004 since the ban came into force in 2005.

Four businesses from the Horsham district have been awarded the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise 2012 this year.

The Queen’s Awards recognise outstanding achievement by UK organisations and there are three categories; Innovation, International Trade and Sustainable Development. In addition, The Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion is awarded to individuals.

Mind Tools (trading as MindTools.com) in Pulborough provides practical, online training in leadership, management and personal effectiveness to individual and corporate clients and was one of the winners in the International Trade category.

The company, which was established in 1996 and has its UK base in West Sussex, picked up the prize for continuous improvement over the last six years.

Thomas Keating in Billingshurst picked up the International Trade award for the first time this year for an outstanding achievement in generating 193 per cent growth in overseas earnings over three years.

The company started in the 1780s making flea powder and moved into precision toolmaking at the beginning of World War II. Nowadays they design and manufacture scientific instruments.

Turbosound in Partridge Green, which manufactures high quality loudspeaker systems, won an Innovation Award this year as well as Metricell, based in Horsham.

Dr Steve Mockford, managing director of Metricell, said: “We design and deliver first class software solutions for mobile operators… We are working with the major UK operators who play testament to this fact, and we have exciting plans which include international growth in the future. We recognise the value of this coveted award, for it is given to only the most innovative and successful businesses”

Metricell  develops software that analyses data about mobile networks and the software is supplied to all UK mobile phone operators and many overseas.

Horsham District Council’s Cabinet member for the Local Economy, Councillor Roger Paterson, said: “Many congratulations to all the winners of this year’s Queen’s Enterprise Awards, and especially to those four of the six in West Sussex who are based in Horsham District.

“The Council is both extremely proud of their achievements and also grateful for enhancing the reputation for outstanding success that they have brought to our local economy.”

The closing date for 2013 award entries is 28 September 2012. For more information, visit the Business Link website www.businesslink.gov.uk

Horsham ABC’s Harry Orsini is celebrating his first title.

The 14-year-old from Southwater won the 67-70kg Southern Area novice championship in style, stopping Margate ABC’s Paul Cummings at the Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone.

Orsini dominated from the off, using his superior jab and slight height advantage to great effect. He looked to have his opponent in trouble from round one, taking the centre of the ring and picking off Cummings to score obvious points.

The Tanbridge House School pupil continued well in the second, showing great fitness, control and composure to take the round despite good shots in reply. In the final round, a flurry of shots rocked back Cummings’ head and the referee stepped in to end the contest.

Orsini, who has won his last three fights, is trained by Dan Purchase and the youngster’s grandfather, former professional boxer John Essex.

He told The Resident: “I didn’t know much about my opponent, but I was quite confident because I had trained every day for a month, doing a lot of technique work and fitness work. He dropped his hands when I hit him with a body punch, then I hit him with continuous punches to the head and the referee stopped it.

“My friends at school were really happy and started shouting ‘Champion!’, and I was introduced at training as Southern Area champion.”

Delighted Purchase said: “All at the club congratulate Harry on his win. He has worked really hard recently, making the weight and working daily with John Essex. He has really shown promise and I hope he can go on from this next season.”