Five good causes in East Cambridgeshire will receive a share of £1,000 for Christmas – and we are looking for your nominations to decide which should benefit.

Ely Standard: Farmer Tony Lee from AL Lee & Sons hands over the cash after Ely potato race. Left: OJ (Oliver Scott), Adam Scott, Tony Lee, John Boutwood and Austen Dack.Farmer Tony Lee from AL Lee & Sons hands over the cash after Ely potato race. Left: OJ (Oliver Scott), Adam Scott, Tony Lee, John Boutwood and Austen Dack. (Image: Archant)

Isle of Ely Produce raised £2,000 with its potato race, held in Ely’s High Street in October.

Hundreds lined High Street for the race – some even hanging out of shop windows – to cheer on the teams as they sprinted the half-a-mile course each laden with a 20kg bag of spuds, all of which had been grown by farmers in the Fens surrounding the city.

The two-man Star Radio team of Oliver and Adam Scott were crowned champions, comfortably winning their heat before, in the final, powering away from runners-up Paradise Pool in a dash to the line.

Star Radio raced on behalf of AL Lee & Sons – and both received a £1,000 charity prize.

Star Radio will donate its prize to Hinchingbrooke’s special care unit but AL Lee & Sons wants to split its winnings between five good causes.

Tony Lee, of AL Lee & Sons, said: “To win the potato race was very special for the whole team here at the farm, and to donate our spoils to five local charities just before Christmas seemed to be the best way to share in our happiness.”

Teams from Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Fenn Direct also took part but were knocked out in the heats.

Austen Dack, of organisers Isle of Ely Produce, said: “It was a fantastic race and we look forward to welcoming everyone back again next year. To raise more than £2,000 for charity was fantastic, too.”

The event was put on by Isle of Ely Produce to celebrate the region’s potato growers and the harvest festival.

Also receiving £200 for its charity efforts will be the Rotary Club of Ely, which marshalled the streets.

To be in with a chance of receiving a share of the cash, e-mail austen@isleofely.co.uk or write to the Ely Standard at 38 Market Street, Ely, CB7 4LS, explaining why your charity of community group should receive a share of the cash. Closing date for nominations is Friday, December 13. The nominations will be considered by Ely Standard editor John Elworthy.