Stars turn out for charity event

Television star Dennis Waterman and snooker ace and commentator Willie Thorne will head a celebrity line-up when the Chateau des Vigiers Pairs Challenge takes place in the south-west of France this summer.

Some of the top names in sport and showbusiness will gather at Chateau des Vigiers Hotel Golf and Country Club, situated in France’s Purple Perigord region, for the four-day charity event in aid of children’s charity SPARKS from June 25-28.

Hosting the event will be Waterman, one of the leading actors on the small screen over the last 30 years and star of top series including The Sweeney, Minder and New Tricks, and Thorne, known as snooker’s Mr Maximum having hit nearly two hundred maximum 147 breaks during his career in practice.

And golfers across the UK are being invited to join them in the 36-hole pairs tournament over Chateau des Vigiers’ 27-hole golf course, which is set amidst plum orchards, oak woods, lakes and vineyards and was designed by world-renowned architect Donald Steel.

The event, which costs £700 per pair to enter and is a two-ball better ball format, will include three nights’ bed and breakfast in four-star accommodation, welcome and presentation dinners including wine, two rounds of tournament golf and team and individual prizes.

In addition, the luxury resort is also offering unlimited golf to those guests that wish to play extra rounds during their stay.

Bernard Pétine, managing director at Chateau des Vigiers, said: “Last year’s event was a huge success for everyone involved and we’re delighted to be able to stage it again in aid of such a worthwhile cause.

“The format lends itself perfectly to the facilities and location that we have here at Chateau des Vigiers and we are hopeful that we can build on the success of 2009 and make this a regular event in our golfing calendar.”

Waterman and Thorne both played in the inaugural pairs challenge at Chateau des Vigiers last year when £15,000 was raised for SPARKS and Dan Smith, golf events manager for the charity, is optimistic they can beat that figure in June.

For further details on reserving a team in the event, contact Dan Smith on 020 7340 0685, or email him at dan@sparks.org.uk. For more information on the venue visit www.vigiers.com