Some of the biggest names in British sport descended on Ilkley Golf Club this week for the annual Yorkshire Invitational, raising a massive £23,361.70 for Martin House Children’s Hospice.
Hosted by Scottish golfing legend Colin Montgomerie OBE, the high-profile two-day event brought together professional golfers, celebrities, and sports stars to raise vital funds for the Boston Spa-based hospice, which provides specialist palliative care to children and young people with life-shortening conditions across West, North, and East Yorkshire.
Among the celebrities taking to the green were former England football manager Sir Gareth Southgate, rugby union star Jason Robinson, New Zealand rugby legend Zinzan Brooke, and former England cricketers and footballers including Steve Harmison, Lee Dixon, Andy Cole, and Dame Laura Davies.
Sir Gareth, who serves as a long-term ambassador for Martin House, admitted to feeling a bit of pressure on the course.
Gareth Southgate said:
I’d say my golf went from average to reasonably good! It was certainly nerve-wracking teeing off in front of a crowd at the start.
It’s been a brilliant event, and the fact that the money is going to Martin House is very special. It costs a lot to keep the hospice running each year, so events like today are great for raising both the charity’s profile and valuable funds.
More than 1,600 spectators registered to watch the action up close over the two days. The event culminated in a tense professional tournament, with Chris Hanson securing victory at two-under-par, finishing just one shot ahead of runner-up Oliver Fisher. The crowd also witnessed a spectacular hole-in-one on the 15th hole by amateur golfer Howard Rishton from Clitheroe Golf Club.
The funds come at an important time for the charity, which supports more than 550 local families every year across its hospice facility, in hospitals, and directly in families’ own homes. It costs approximately £13 million annually to keep the service running, with the vast majority relying entirely on voluntary donations and regional fundraising.
Michelle Ford, Regional and Events Team Manager at Martin House, said:
We’re incredibly grateful to everyone involved in the Yorkshire Invitational for choosing Martin House as its charity partner and helping to raise such a fantastic amount.
Every pound raised will help us continue providing specialist care and support to children and young people with life-shortening conditions, and their families, across Yorkshire.
The tournament was organised by SGH Sporting Events, giving local amateur golfers a rare opportunity to play alongside icons of professional sport for a vital local cause.