Returning for a second year, Derek ‘Tommo’ Thompson will be hosting the Final Furlong Racing Dinner on Wednesday 28th June 2017. Tommo has been presenting and commentating racing on television for over 30 years. His career began in local radio at the age of 18, and two years later he was based in London working for BBC Radio Sport. His first break in television came at the age of 23, when he presented the Sports Today programme on Thames TV. In 1985, Tommo joined Channel Four Racing as a presenter, where he has been ever since. When Tommo is not working for Channel Four, he continues to attend race meetings across the country as a commentator and presenter for At The Races.
In addition to his television work, Tommo travels the globe regularly as a commentator and hosts various prestigious racing festivals and award ceremonies, including the Sheik Mansoor Festival and the Darley Awards – the American racing awards ceremony held in Hollywood each year.
Tommo lives in Newmarket and is therefore passionate about supporting local charities and charitable events. He said, “The Final Furlong dinner really is one of the best nights out of the year. We always have a lot of fun and it’s a great night out for everyone who comes along. Lots of money is raised during the charity auction, which always has the most superb items.”
Last year, the Final Furlong dinner, which was an intimate affair held in Quy Mill Hotel 2 AA Rosette restaurant, was completely sold out. Big names in the racing world, including Hayley Turner, Charlie Fellowes and Martin Smith all attended.
Also returning is local BBC radio personality, Chris Mann, who will be hosting the Sporting Heroes dinner on Thursday 14th September 2017. Chris has presented the 4-7pm Drivetime show on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire for the past five years and in 2016 hosted the successful Cambridge Roar ‘Sporting Heroes’ panel event and dinner.
During a 35-year career in broadcasting, Chris has been a presenter and reporter on BBC TV, Sky News, Channel 4 and CNN as well as holding senior editorial positions within ITN and publishing. His work has led to several awards including Investigative Journalist of the Year, the CRE ‘Race in the Media’ Award and a Gold in the New York Radio Awards. He has been a regular columnist and contributor to national newspapers and other publications.
Chris has also regularly hosted events and debates for the University of Cambridge at their prestigious Festival of Ideas and Science Festival. He has been a judge at the UK Press Awards and UK Regional Press Awards on multiple occasions as well as serving on the panel for the New York Radio Awards. He was previously a trustee of the Grace Theatre charity in London.
Chris lives just outside of Newmarket and, similarly to Tommo, is very keen to support local efforts to help charities. He commented, “After the outstanding success of last year’s Sporting Heroes dinner, I am looking forward to hosting the event again in 2017 – and assembling a top-class panel of sporting heroes to help raise much-needed funds for some superb local charities. It really is a top-notch evening!”
The 2016 Sporting Heroes dinner was a huge success with almost 200 diners in attendance. Whilst the panel boasted some of the big names from the sporting world, such as former Arsenal football player Perry Groves, Northampton Saints rugby club coach Jim Mallinder, and Luke Chadwick another professional footballer who has played alongside the likes of David Beckham, Roy Keane and Ryan Giggs among others.
One of the diners described the event as, “A fabulous evening... The panel of sporting greats were brilliant as was the hospitality and catering.”
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