Elusive ace still in the race
Chase the Ace consolation prize awarded to Courtney Noseworthy of Bay Roberts
Courtney Noseworthy of Bay Roberts took home the Chase the Ace consolation prize Wednesday night — $172,368, since she did not draw the ace of spades.
The crowd in St. Kevins Parish, Goulds, cheered for Noseworthy, and for the fact that the draw will continue.
“I’m in shock,” said Noseworthy. “My fiancé is in Paris, so I have to let him know first. It can help with our wedding, but I also really need a new vehicle.”
The 29-year-old was sitting in the Bidgoods parking lot with a friend, when she realized the number being called was hers, and she started running towards the parish.
As she reached the stage to pick her card, she was shaking and holding back tears.
Noseworthy’s family was at a home nearby, when they realized their ticket numbers were the ones before and after hers.
“We knew she was the winner once we saw our numbers,” said Noseworthy’s father. “That’s when we saw her running down the road.”
Noseworthy is a legal assistant, who, like many others, had two stacks of tickets — one for herself, and one for her workplace.
“My coworkers are going to kill me,” laughed Noseworthy. “I only bought $20 worth of tickets for myself, and that’s the one that got drawn.”
Ralph Seaward of St. John’s was the winner of the 50/50, winning a prize of $226,612.
Chase the Ace participants at St. Kevins Parish, Goulds, have been patient for the past week, after last week’s draw was delayed due to duplicate ticket numbers.
Service NL completed its investigation, and everything was a go for Wednesday night.
Trina Kelly and Effie Strowbridge took the 3 ½ hour drive from Garnish each Wednesday for the past number of weeks for the Chase the Ace draw in Goulds.
“I had over $500 worth of tickets for a group of us,” said Kelly. “So I had to come back. It was a little disappointing last week, coming for nothing. But it’s a nice road trip either way.”
Strowbridge told The Telegram that if she is the winner, half the winnings would go to her daughter in Fort Mcmurray.
“If we win, we won’t be driving home tonight. We’ll get the nicest hotel in St. John’s,” laughed Strowbridge.
Busker Gerry Ryan moved from his regular spot on Water Street to St. Kevin’s Parish in Goulds.
“I got some money in on the 50/50, so I decided to come up and play some music for the crowd,” said Ryan. “I enjoy coming up. I don’t think I want the ace to be drawn tonight.”
Ryan got his wish, and the draw will continue Aug. 9.
The Chase the Ace draw will not go ahead next week, Aug. 2, as the Royal St. John’s Regatta will be taking place, weather permitting.
Chase the Ace organizer Carol O’brien says that by Aug. 9, the jackpot will reach $2 million.
“If you don’t like crowds, you’ll want to stay away for the next couple of weeks,” laughed O’brien.