In addition to such luminaries we were also delighted to welcome former Wooden Spoon deputy CEO Tony Richards, former umpire Dickie Bird and Rob Burrow of Leeds Rhinos along with the Super League Trophy won last October at the Grand Final.

The whole event was under new management this year with former chairman Mich Dearman having stood down after involvement in all events since 1993. Stuart Watson and Adam Hirst are to be congratulated on this their first effort at organising the Yorkshire Spoon's flagship event. Thanks too to our first time main sponsors kcom and associate sponsors Marshall Wooldridge and The Baird Group. Our 1st XV are also to be commended for their support throughout the year and their presence in huge numbers on the day.

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters and their guest we have raised an initial unaudited figure of c £37,000 which any charity will tell you is a great return in such austere times. We all look forward to this year's event which will be held in the same place, same time on Friday 14th December 2012.

Spoon committee thanks all participants and we wish you a prosperous and healthy new year.

Anything Dickie can do Edward Jennings can do better!

L -R -Jack Berry, Dickie Bird, Richard Smith, Jason Leonard and Tony Richards enjoying good Spoon company

John Bentley, Tony Richards and Jason Leonard enjoy the pre-lunch aperitif

Top table line-up

Mich Dearman, David Knaggs and Jason Leonard in conversation