Grand effort from readers as they grab cash in 75th giveaway

Finalists of our Cash in a Flash competition stepped into the Telegraph's "cash grabber" for their chance to grab a grand.

As part of the Scunthorpe Telegraph's Cash in a Flash contest, 10 lucky readers were pitted against each other for the chance to win £1,000.

During the past four weeks, 75 readers have received a share of £5,625 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the paper.

The 10 finalists, who were chosen from the 75 winners, had already bagged themselves £75 as part of the competition.

They competed inside The Foundry Shopping Centre, Scunthorpe, on Saturday, October 6, where the winner got the chance to walk away with up to £1,000 and the other finalists received prizes.

The contestants all collected as much "money" as they could and the one who grabbed the most walked away with the cash equivalent.

Each finalist was also given a scratch card as they left the cash grabber – with a chance of winning up to £100,000.

Sadly, none of them scooped that prize, but one finalist who did walk away with the gold was Ashley Underwood.

He came first in our Grab a Grand competition and walked away with a full wallet – winning £460.

Mr Underwood, who was taking part on behalf of Steven Hammond, said he felt confident about his performance.

The 22-year-old, from Scunthorpe, said: "I watched a few other people before I went in and I think my game plan worked.

"I thought I would be the one to beat. I will use the money to buy my nine-month-old son some Christmas presents.

"I will also be giving half of the money to my friend Steven who entered the competition but couldn't compete on the day."

As the oldest contestant in the competition, Florence Humphries pulled a magnificent performance out of the bag and came joint second – grabbing 420.

The 82-year-old, from Messingham, said: "I was still trying to go for it after the machine had stopped. It was just a bit of fun. I spent the £75 on a pair of new specs."

Kathleen Ellwood was joint fourth in the competition, after grabbing 330.

The 49-year-old, from Althorpe, did not have a game plan. She said: "It is more difficult than it looks. You can just see it all floating in front of you. I gave my daughter the paper and she said look at the competition and I entered.

"I gave my daughter the £75 and she spent it on clothes."

Joanna Frost was also joint fourth in the competition, with 330.

The 35-year-old, from Amcotts, said: "I did this on behalf of John Glenn, as he could not be here today. It is quite difficult and it is harder than it looks. I was just doing it as a bit of fun."

Philip Gouldthorpe came last in the competition, after collecting 260 in our cash cube.

The 54-year-old, from Barton- Upon-Humber, said: "It was nervewracking. I did it on behalf of my wife Tracey."

Fellow Barton resident Shell Harper came fifth in the competition, grabbing a total of 320.

She said: "I was stressed out about it before it happened.

"You cannot really prepare for something like this.

"I just wanted to hurry up and do it."

Kerry Wilson was seventh after grabbing a total of 270.

The 36-year-old, from Westcliff in Scunthorpe, said: "It was harder than it looks. I didn't think it had gone very well.

"I spent the £75 on clothes."

Joint second placed grabber Denice Brocklesby grabbed 420.

The 53-year-old, from Ashby, said: "It was nervewracking but I just went with it. It was good fun."

David Sugden was also participating on behalf of someone else and he finished sixth, collecting a total of 300.

The 67-year-old, from Scunthorpe, said: "My glasses fell off at one point but it was all good fun."

Lynne Cowling, from Scunthorpe, came third in the competition, with 390.

She said: "I thought the cash grabber would be a lot bigger.

"I just went in and hoped for the best.

"I spent the £75 on clothes and I read the Scunthorpe Telegraph every week."

Members of the public were also encouraged to step foot into the cash grabber – and children who took part walked away with prizes.

Steve Allbones, sales relationship manager for the Grimsby and Scunthorpe Media Group, said: "We are giving something back to the community to celebrate our 75th anniversary.

"It was great to see the children take part as we try to encourage the community to be part of the Scunthorpe Telegraph.

"It was really well received and all the children who took part received prizes to take away."