THE million-pound question on almost everyone’s lips this weekend was who would scoop the island’s second Les Bourgs Hospice lottery.

As it turned out, and as our page one story today reveals, the top prize went to an amazed but delighted syndicate from Beau Sejour.

With each one picking up £50,000 on Saturday it seems that Christmas really did come early for Guernsey’s 20 luckiest islanders.

Congratulations to them all, as well as the winners of the four other hefty cash prizes for runner-up tickets. A great end to a well-run and worthy event.

It’s fair to say that draw organisers, Friends of Les Bourgs Hospice, must be feeling relieved today that all has gone to plan.

Back in September, with the recession beginning to bite, it become clear that – at £300 a shot – tickets were not selling as fast as originally hoped. Sales were certainly slower than the first Les Bourgs £1m. lottery, on Valentine’s Day this year.

But undeterred, fundraisers stuck to their guns and continued to work hard to ensure that the draw, so crucial to the hospice’s vital redevelopment plans, went ahead.

Postponing until December in the hope that more syndicates (such as the taxi driver winners of the first draw’s top prize) might come forward has clearly worked. And fitting then, that it was a group that eventually turned out to have the golden ticket.

The event has brought a lot of fun and excitement to many. But once the sound of popping champagne corks (from the winners) and resigned sighs (from the losers) finally eveaporate, it’s worth reflecting on the real winner in all of this – Les Bourgs Hospice.

The treasured island service received £380,000 from the February lottery and this time around stands to get £385,000.

That money will go towards realising the first-rate facilities that its residents deserve, changes that staff say would be, quite simply, a dream come true.

Whether another draw will go ahead is unclear at this stage, though it will probably come down to public demand.

But in the meantime, all eyes now turn to that other popular fundraiser for local causes, the Channel Islands Christmas Charity Draw.