HIGH stakes and long odds made it a night of big wins for members of Boscastle Chamber of Trade and Commerce (BCTC) recently.

One lucky punter walked away with more than £9,000. Not bad for a night's work, but winner Geoff Beszant would have trouble spending the cash even in wife Debbie's shop on Boscastle Harbour.

For it was only pretend and the amazing winnings the result of good guess work and incredible odds on the last race at the end of the chamber's annual get together, which this year took the form of a Race Night.

Organised by chairman Adrian Prescott, members turned out suitably dressed for a day or even a night at the races, with the 'course' transforming the Waterloo Restaurant at the Wellington Hotel.

Each member was given an imaginary pot of cash to stake and although most would have lost their shirts as well as the money, a few managed to end the night in profit — for most the result of luck rather than studying the form guide.

The night out marked the end of a successful year for BCTC; members are now hoping this year's food and craft festival, BosFest 2009, will be an even bigger event than 2008.

Work's already well underway to make it possible, dozens of Cornwall's best known food producers have signed up for a return to Boscastle on the weekend of October 3 and 4 and some of the area's top chefs will also be there.

With plans for a new website, logo and an increase in the number of events, the festival looks set to attract even more visitors than last year.

Mr Prescott said: "With such a varied programme planned there's obviously a lot of work to be done, and it would be great if we can increase membership and find more people willing to help out both with the organisation and on the weekend itself."