Charity poker

Sam Torrance OBE and Teddy Sheringham showed their skills outside their respective sports in a charity poker tournament at Fifty St James in London last night.

Sheringham finished just outside the money while Ryder Cup hero Torrance won the 6th place prize of £2,000.

When quizzed by Clare Balding in an interview before the event Torrance claimed poker was not his strong suit and that golf (predictably) was where he made his money betting.

But in a 72-strong field that included the great Willie Tann and Poker Million winner Rajesh Modha, Torrance can be well pleased with his performance.

England rugby star Tom Voyce also fared well, finishing 17th. Clare Balding, competing in her first ever poker event, made a creditable 37th place. Sports TV presenter Natalie Pinkham came 26th.

The Betfair.com Fifty Spring Festival was won by journalist and author Vicky Coren who donated half of the £12,000 winnings to the three charities supported by the event: Moorcroft, The Irish Youth Foundation and Cancer Research.

Coren also took home a trophy to sit alongside her European Poker Tour title that she won in London last year.

Including a charity auction and some generous donations from players more than £25,000 was raised for the three charities.