A NUMBER of Somerset charities have walked off with more than £10,000 after a record-breaking Moonraker challenge.

Groups who took part in the night time orienteering event at Taunton Racecourse met this week to hear the final results and add up their sponsorship totals.

So much money had to be counted by the 250 competitors the results were delayed. The overall winners of the long route were “Otto's Crew” with “Are We There Yet?” in second and “Blagdon Hill Plus” in third place.

The “Tortoises” came first in the short route with “What No Compass” and “The High School Flyers taking second and third positions.

The event in October, organised by the Rotary Club of Taunton Vale, saw walkers start at the racecourse before following a series of clues which led them on various routes.

Nigel Birkett, president of Taunton Vale Rotary Club, thanked those who took part as well as the landowners whose lands were crossed.

He said: “Without the tremendous work put in by the organising team led by Rob Clasby, and the efforts of Rotary Club members and Inner Wheel, RayNet and First Care Ambulance, the event would not have been so successful.”

The team with the highest sponsorship of £2,300 was “Five Fantastically Fabulous Feline Friends”, still incognito, who were presented by Mark Backwell with a box at Taunton Racecourse to include dinner, given by Summerfield Developments.

Vouchers for Taunton Leisure were the prize for second highest sponsorship of £1,200 raised by “Tennis Trotters”, while “Game Set and Match” contributed £800.

Next year's Moonraker on October 3, will again be based at the racecourse, using new routes for the most part, and all this year's participants were invited to register early to receive updates at www.moonraker.org.uk