Latest news with #RyanMitchell
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
MLB Draft Analyst Applauds Cardinals Day 1 Selections
MLB Draft Analyst Applauds Cardinals Day 1 Selections originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Highlighted by No. 5 overall pick LHP Liam Doyle out of Tennessee, the Cardinals made four selections on Day 1 of the MLB Draft. Advertisement After taking Doyle in the first round, St. Louis selected 18-year-old outfielder Ryan Mitchell at No. 55 overall. Just based on those two selections alone, Keith Law of The Athletic named the Cardinals as his favorite Day 1 class. Cardinals No. 55 overall pick Ryan MitchellStu Boyd II-The Commercial Appeal-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images "I think the St. Louis Cardinals had my favorite Day 1 group based on their top two picks," Law wrote. "They took my top pitcher, Liam Doyle, at No. 5. He has one of the best fastballs in the draft class, a deceptive delivery, and a second-plus pitch in the splitter. He dominated early against bad competition, then continued to perform well in the SEC." "The Cardinals followed up that pick with Ryan Mitchell at No. 55, getting what I thought was a first-round bat in need of a new position, a strong kid who makes excellent swing decisions and might come into some power." Advertisement St. Louis took another pitcher out of Tennessee with the 72nd pick, selecting RHP Tanner Franklin. In 38 2/3 innings pitched for the Vols in 2025, Franklin posted a 4.89 ERA with 52 strikeouts. His arsenal is highlighted by a fastball that can reach triple digits. The Cardinals rounded out day 1 by taking Jack Gurevitch at No. 89 overall. A 21-year-old first baseman from the University of San Diego, Gurevitch showcased a ton of power this past season, posting a 1.167 OPS with 17 homers and 35 extra-base hits. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
14-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Day 1 of the MLB Draft: Favorite classes, best available and other observations
With three rounds and the first day of the 2025 MLB Draft in the books, here are some of my overall thoughts on who did well and maybe not so well, along with a list of the best players still available. I provided pick-by-pick analysis through the end of the supplemental rounds on our live blog, and I'll do team-by-team draft recaps later this week, once the draft is over and I'm home, so if your team isn't mentioned here it isn't because I hate them. (Maybe.) I think the St. Louis Cardinals had my favorite Day 1 group, based on their top two picks. They took my top pitcher, Liam Doyle, with their first-round pick at No. 5. He has one of the best fastballs in the draft class, a deceptive delivery, and a second plus pitch in the splitter. He dominated early against bad competition, then continued to perform well in the SEC. They followed that pick up with Ryan Mitchell at No. 55, getting what I thought was a first-round bat in need of a new position, a strong kid who makes excellent swing decisions and might come into some power. Advertisement Right-hander Tanner Franklin was a little bit of a reach for me at pick 72, but he's hit triple-digits with the fastball, needing another pitch to profile as a good reliever. First baseman Jack Gurevitch, their third-rounder, was more of a fourth or fifth rounder, but he did have a tremendous year for the University of San Diego, hitting .371/.477/.681 with almost as many walks as strikeouts. The Orioles had a slew of picks, and ended up drafting several players many picks below where I had them ranked those players, although there are some mitigating factors with each. Ike Irish was in discussions to go in the top five given how strong his batted-ball data was; the Auburn catcher-turned-outfielder was fifth on my predraft board and they got him at the 19th spot, in part due to some late-breaking makeup concerns. Wehiwa Aloy, their second pick (No. 30), has power and the ability to play the left side of the infield, maybe staying at short. I had him 13th on my board, but he fell due to concerns about his swing decisions, which was also true of several of Baltimore's top picks from 2024. Slater de Brun was a first-round talent whom the Orioles nabbed at pick 37, who fell in part at least because he's undersized. The Oregon prep outfielder has excellent feel to hit and seems to have at least enough power/strength to keep the ability to hit for average up. They also took a pitcher, newsworthy in and of itself, taking funky Michigan State lefty Joseph Dzierwa with the No. 58 pick. Red Sox fans were desperate for the team to take pitching, and they did, with three of their four Day 1 picks being pitchers, including the top pick of the day if we're just going by the difference between my rankings and draft position in Anthony Eyanson (pick 87). The LSU right-hander started the game that clinched the College World Series for the Tigers, and his secondary stuff grades out extremely well for scouts and analysts. His fastball does not, playing well below its velocity, raising concerns about whether he can start. In the third round, though, I'm taking that chance all day long. Advertisement Their first-rounder, Kyson Witherspoon, was the top college righty on my board, and they also got great value with their comp pick for Nick Pivetta in second baseman Henry Godbout, a very high-contact hitter from UVA who is the perfect candidate for a swing change. They also selected Tennessee right-hander Marcus Phillips at pick 33, who projects as a reliever but has good arm strength. Finally, Kansas City had a great trio to start off their draft, with two big upside plays in Sean Gamble at 23 (a slight reach for me, but because I think the probability is lower) and Josh Hammond at 28, followed by two-way player Michael Lombardi as a pitcher at 61. Gamble is a very fast center fielder who needs swing help to get the ball in the air more. Hammond was a two-way player as well who's going to be a shortstop or third baseman with power and feel to hit. Lombardi will benefit from focusing full-time on pitching, and the Tulane right-hander was getting a lot of attention late in the spring as it became clear he might be a starter in pro ball. Tate Southisene has his fans — scouts love the kid, as they did his brother, Ty, in last year's draft — but Atlanta's first-round pick was the biggest reach of the round for me. I don't think there's a plus tool here; he has a decent enough swing, but he has some swing-and-miss issues against breaking pitches and changeups, and I don't see great adjustability in his approach right now. He is a plus runner and could move to center, which would help his value, but I don't think there's enough hit tool probability or upside here for Atlanta to take him with the 21st pick. I've loved the Tigers' drafts the last couple of years, and those players' performances in pro ball to date have been outstanding, but I didn't like the Tigers' Day 1 at all this time around. Advertisement Their first-rounder, Jordan Yost, has no power and at best is a leadoff-type with speed and maybe a higher average/OBP because he makes a lot of contact. Catcher Michael Oliveto is an intriguing upside play, with power potential and the physical tools to stay back there, but he was more of a fourth round talent for me because he just has a long way to go and because high school catchers have such a high attrition rate. Second-rounder Malachi Witherspoon has a great arm and is an excellent athlete like his brother, Kyson, but he's a pure reliever and I wouldn't go that route in the second round. This is based strictly on my top 100 ranking heading into the draft. Mason Neville, OF, Oregon Henry Ford, 1B, Virginia (transferring to Tennessee if he doesn't turn pro) Matthew Fisher, RHP, Evansville (Ind.) Memorial HS Ty Harvey, C, Inspiration Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) Uli Fernsler, LHP, Novi (Mich.) HS Landon Beidelschies, LHP, Arkansas Brayden Jaksa, OF, Irvington HS (Fremont, Calif.) Landon Hodge, C, Crespi Carmelite HS (Encino, Ca.) Landon Schaefer, Fayetteville (Ark.) HS Alec Blair, OF, De La Salle HS (Concord, Calif.)
Globe and Mail
03-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Gold Stocks Ignore Gold's Rally, While Copper Likely Tops
After I posted today's early heads-up, gold price moved several dollars lower and now it's even clearer that the breakdown below the rising line was not invalidated. What's remarkable here is the lack of strength in mining stocks given gold's 1.46% rally. Not only is the GDXJ up by mere 0.22%, it's also the case that it moved lower since its open, creating a black reversal candlestick. You know, the one that we saw twice at the April highs and then at the mid-June top. GDXJ's weakness here is truly remarkable. That serves as a short-term bearish indication, but we've been getting medium-term ones from gold for weeks (Ryan Mitchell also agreed with the bearish setup for gold). Gold failed to rally despite new short-term lows in the USD Index, despite the Iran-Israel conflict, and despite multiple other chaotic things that happened. The Peak Chaos theory remains intact. And you know what else remains intact? The very bearish outlook for copper. I was reviewing the charts once again, and I realized something about the analogies that we have now (i.a. to 2008 and 2011). Namely, in both those years, copper topped almost right in the middle of the year – which is exactly where we are right now. I marked both cases with orange, dashed lines. Please focus on the left side of those lines in 2008 and 2011. What you see are big, remarkable rallies. If you try to ignore what happened next and focus just on those moments, you'll probably come to the conclusion that those rallies looked very encouraging at that time. Copper was after months of rallying and it was just rallying once again. Besides, the USD Index was after a medium-term decline. It looked like it could continue to decline. But the above is not what happened. The opposite did. Copper formed its final top (and the 2008 top was pretty much aligned with exceptional strength in platinum – exactly what we have right now). We have an obvious reason for copper to decline – tariff hikes are likely to lower world trade, and thus the economic development and thus lower the demand for commodities. And yet, the markets are ignoring that completely. Why? Emotional reasons – the technical patterns are playing out just as they did in the past. Did copper had a good reason to rally before its 2008 top? No, it had a good reason to decline, and it rallied, anyway. But it wasn't a good idea to bet on copper's rallies at that time, and I don't think it's a good idea to do that now. The opposite is likely to provide much greater gains in the following months, and quite possibly also weeks. After all, this is the time of the year, when the slides started in both: 2008 and 2011. And you know what happens when we have major declines in copper? The precious metals sector declines as well. This creates superb trading opportunities, but please be responsible about your trading position sizes. And speaking of position sizes, we just published a new tool called Golden Meadow® Trading Simulator. I was wondering what else can I do to make the concepts from the Golden Meadow® Portfolio Strategy report 'stick'. I created the calculator for positions, but it's essentially a static tool – it shows you how much it might be a good idea to put in each part of the portfolio and in each asset class. But real life involves changes, different situations, and seeing something once might generate a respectful nod, but when life happens, it's easy to get back to the 'business as usual', also with regard to the position sizes. When I was pondering on the above, I recalled the quote from Benjamin Franklin: 'Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.' The answer arrived quickly – I should build something that will involve people in the trading decisions before they risk their own capital. Of course, you are already rising it, but this might still meaningfully speed-up gaining experience in a simulated environment instead of having to test everything with your hard-earned dollars. Consequently, I began working on the Golden Meadow® Trading Simulator last week and the version that I have right now I something that I'm happy to share. I plan to improve it further, so I'll appreciate your feedback in the comments below it. This is more complex than the previously published calculators (and quite likely, also more fun), so you might notice that some things are not intuitive. Please let me know below the tool – I'll be happy to improve that. Thank you for reading my today's analysis – I appreciate that you took the time to dig deeper and that you read the entire piece. If you'd like to get more (and extra details not available to 99% investors), I invite you to stay updated with our free analyses - sign up for our free gold newsletter now. Thank you. Przemyslaw K. Radomski, CFA Founder, Editor-in-chief
CTV News
17-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Saint John Energy partners to build province's largest solar farm
A few years after the opening of a wind farm on the city's west side, Saint John Energy is now getting into the solar game on the other side of town. The utility have partnered with Universal Kraft Renewables and Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation) for the creation of a 10 megawatt solar farm on Old Black River Road. The first nation and energy developer will build, own and operate the solar farm, with 100 per cent of the power generated going to Saint John Energy. Once operational, the solar farm is expected to produce enough energy to power around 1,200 homes and reduce carbon emissions by over 10,000 tonnes a year. 'The solar panels will be bifacial,' says Saint John Energy President & CEO, Ryan Mitchell. 'Which means when there is snow on the ground, there will be a reflection off of the snow that will also contribute to the production of electricity.' Mitchell says the solar panels will be able to tilt and follow the sun to allow for maximum energy production. The solar farm will be known as the Menahqwesk Kisuhs Energy Hub. The name blends the Wolastoqey word for Saint John with the word for sun. The partnership between the First Nation and energy developer is 51 per cent, 49 per cent in favour of Neqotkuk. The project will cost around $14 to $15 million. Universal Kraft Renewables specializes in several renewable energy projects from wind farms to battery storage, but this marks global companies first venture in New Brunswick. It's also the first time the company has partnered with an Indigenous group for a project of this scale says project manager, Jacob Roth. 'It's much more community focused which is important to us,' says Roth on the difference partnering with First Nations communities over private developers. 'It's a different lens on how they look at the community. They're helping out with the environmental aspects, they have a lot of pride in the area that the developing in, they care about how the project integrates the community as a whole, and that really aligns with our core values as a company.' Roth says the construction of the solar farm will required around 36 people, and once operations begin it will be a six person crew required to maintain the site. Roth is also aware Saint John can be rather foggy due to the Bay of Fundy. He says when fog is present the panels won't operate at peak capacity but will still be able to capture some of the suns energy. The solar farm will be the latest renewable energy project Tobique First Nation will have their hand in. The Indigenous community has also partnered with Saint John Energy for the Burchill Wind project and recently opened wind farm in Sussex. Chief Rob Perley says the project will help generate revenue that will go towards funding band initiatives to help meet the needs for his community. 'First Nations communities are funded from federal dollars and it's never enough,' points out Chief Perley. 'Foodbank not funded, so we got to find ways to fund that. Upkeep of elders homes and housing, no funding for that. We got to find ways to provide that service and meet that need for our community.' Construction of the project is expected to begin in spring of 2026 and be operational by the following summer. The solar farm initiative is the latest part of Saint John Energy's Zero30 plan to produce net-zero emissions by 2030. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
Daily Mail
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The Omaze curse? Inside the tales of the luxury home winners who have put their mansions on the market... and some for very tragic reasons
The youngest ever person to scoop a luxury Omaze mansion has become the latest in a long line of winners of the property draw to decide to sell her prize. Lauren Keene, 24, had considered moving into her six-bedroom Hollywood-style home with her partner Ryan Mitchell after she won it last December, along with £250,000. But the full time nanny has now followed in the footsteps of the vast majority of winners by cashing in on the house in the Wirral, Merseyside, and putting it on the market for £2.5million, a discount of £500,000 on the original £3million valuation. Her father Daniel Keene revealed that the couple had spent only a few nights at the spectacular house due to them living and working almost 200 miles away in Gloucester. Like many other winners of Omaze's Grand Designs-style homes, Lauren is also said to have been put off by the expensive running costs of her new dream home. Instead she and her Ryan, a software engineer, are buying themselves a much smaller and more practical semi-detached home in Gloucester. MailOnline can now reveal that all, but a handful of the 39 winners of Omaze home draws in the UK, have sold or are planning to sell their multi-million pound prizes. Many have decided their new homes are too lavish or costly to maintain, as well as often being hundreds of miles away from family, friends and familiar surroundings Other winners have had to deal with planning consent issues or problems such as their homes being overlooked, which have not been revealed in the glossy pictures advertising Omaze draws that have raised £85million for charities in the UK since 2020. MailOnline can reveal a growing list of those who have given up keys to their prize homes in recent years in order to swap them for huge cash sums. The luxury home in the Scottish highlands Widowed grandmother Patricia Moule, 81, scooped a £4million contemporary four bedroom home on the shores of Loch Rannoch, Perthshire, and £250,000 in cash in April this year after buying an Omaze draw ticket for £25. But the former personnel manager from Southampton revealed when she was named as the winner that she planned to sell the house, describing it as offering her family 'a generational legacy' that would secure their future. The spectacular house offers spectacular views of the surrounding Scottish Highlands, including the Black Woods of Rannoch and the Southern Rannoch mountains, as well as its very own all-weather tennis court. But she revealed that she planned to enjoy the house for a family holiday with her daughter Sarah, 57, and granddaughter Louisa, 18, before putting it on the market. But the former personnel manager from Southampton revealed when she was named as the winner that she planned to sell the house, describing it as offering her family 'a generational legacy' that would secure their future Patricia said: 'It's breathtaking up here, it's like something from a film, come to think of it I must watch Braveheart now I own a home in Scotland! 'The house is enormous, it might take me a week to look around the place, I think I'll need a map! I can't believe I've got a loch at the end of my garden, it's just incredible. 'The scenery is spectacular, I've never seen anything so beautiful in all my life. 'I've been to Scotland before, as my late husband David was a golf fanatic, so we came up to play here. 'I know he'll be smiling down on us now, he'd have absolutely loved this place and everything that it will do for us. 'I gave him a kidney back in 2012, it meant I got to spend seven more years with my best friend. I wish he was still here to share this with me, but I know he'd be beyond happy for all of us. 'Thanks to the £250,000 I also got as part of my win, I could afford to stay here for years if I wanted to, but I will sell it as the huge amount of money from the sale is so transformational for the family, it's a generational legacy that means their future is now secure. 'We'll definitely come up for a big family holiday before we sell it though, and one of us may take a dip in the loch! 'My granddaughter loves painting and you can't get much more picturesque than this place, she'll be getting her easel up here in no time.' The stunning home in Exmouth, Devon Grandfather Tom Steenson, 63, won an amazing £2million four bedroom home including a gym, cinema and swimming pool along with £250,000 in cash in November last year. But less than two months later, it was revealed that he had put the property in Exmouth, Devon, on the market for £2.35million which is £350,000 more than the £2million valuation when he won it. Tom who was living with his wife Carole, 58, in a two bedroom house in Maidstone, Kent, more than 120 miles away from Exmouth, revealed as he was handed his prize that he had no plans to quit his job in the motor industry. Describing his good fortune, he said: 'This win means we'll never have to worry about money ever again - it's a dream come true. 'I could retire early, but my boss doesn't have to worry as I'll keep working for a while yet, I like to stay busy.' He added: 'We'll definitely enjoy the house for a bit, but we'll most likely sell it, maybe next year, as the money we'll get is life-changing for the entire family. 'Thanks to £250,000 we've pocketed as part of the win, we could afford to stay here for ten years if we wanted to. 'Selling and banking the cash would enable us to help all our children and grandchildren; it's a generational legacy for our family. 'We could help our kids get on the property ladder now. It's all very exciting!' It was revealed in January that Tom had seemingly brought forward his plans to sell the house by listing it for sale with estate agents Knight Frank. The description of the house states: 'The Hideout is a stunning modern detached home that offers circa than 4,200 square feet of immaculate luxury accommodation with plenty of natural light throughout, and magnificent views across the surrounding countryside.' It adds: 'Nestled in the picturesque coastal town of Exmouth, this contemporary masterpiece showcases luxury and functionality at its finest. 'The main residence features sleek architectural lines, large windows, and an open-concept design that seamlessly merges indoor and outdoor living.' The three-tiered home near Poole, Dorset Chris Milnes, 60, spent last Christmas with his family in a dream new-build house which he won in an Omaze draw last year. But it was revealed in January this year that he was putting the three-tiered home near Poole, Dorset, on the market for £2.3million so he could spend more time with his new grandchild in Australia. Chris and his wife Jules, 56, of Pudsey, West Yorks, said he hoped the sale would make him a multi-millionaire and give his children 'the start in life I never had'. He also admitted that he had found out after his win that his first grandchild was due to arrive Down Under, and he wanted to be able to visit them. Chris said: 'Winning a multi-million-pound house still feels like a dream, it takes a while for something of that magnitude to sink in. 'Since winning, we've really enjoyed spending time as a family at the house particularly at Christmas. Dorset is such a lovely part of country, and the house is a dream home on every level. 'The money we also got as part of my big win means if we wanted to, we could stay here for years and never have to worry about any costs - but we love where we live now, so have decided to sell up and bank the cash. 'Selling means we can find our forever home where we currently live, and still have enough money left to retire on as well as give our kids the boost they all deserve, so the entire family has gained from this, not just me. 'Since the win I've learned that I will become a grandad next year, but my son lives in Australia, so this also means we have the time and money to go spend time with our first grandchild which is absolutely wonderful. 'Entering Omaze is the best decision we ever made - if it can happen to me, it really can happen to anyone!' The opulent bungalow near Farnham, Surrey Scottish mother-of-three Rachael Reid, 54, spent several months staying with her husband Darren, 56, in the luxury bungalow which she won in an Omaze draw in July last year. But the couple who have been married for 30 years decided to sell the stunning building which boasts a 40ft heated indoor pool, a gym and sauna near Farnham, Surrey, so they could move back to Scotland and be closer to friends and family. It was revealed in December that their prize home was on the market for £2.95million. The stunning property came mortgage free, with all stamp duty and legal fees covered Mrs Reid, a childcare worker, told how the money from the sale would 'change everything for the entire family'. She said: 'I still can't believe it really happened to us - winning a multi-million pound house in Surrey has changed our lives forever. 'We've really enjoyed spending time at the house - it's been magical and the whole family has loved it. All the locals have been lovely and welcoming - it's a fantastic area.' She added: 'The money I also got as part of my big win means if we wanted to, we could stay here for years and never have to worry about any costs - but we love where we live now, so we've decided to sell up and cash in so we can buy an amazing house a bit closer to all our family and friends in Scotland. 'The money from the sale will change everything for the entire family, it's just incredible.' The Cornwall house June Smith, 74, won an amazing £4.5million six bedroom Omaze home overlooking the estuary in Fowey, Cornwall, and named Pieds Dans L Eau, in February 2023 The widowed mother-of-three and grandmother from Essex, was initially overjoyed and thanked her late husband Ron who 'made it happen'. But the open-plan home with floor to ceiling windows, a yoga studio and private jetty, ultimately failed to live up to her hopes. June said that it felt far too big after she and her daughter were left rattling around it following one glorious summer holiday with all her extended family. Describing her decision to sell up, she said: 'Winning this house has been an incredible experience, I still can't believe it all actually happened to me, it still feels so surreal. 'I wanted to enjoy at least one family holiday here before I put it on the market. We all came and stayed together and absolutely love the house and Cornwall - and my six grandchildren have certainly made the most of it.' Locals also jealously compared the house to being 'like a goldfish bowl' with passengers on nearby passing ferries being able to peer in through bedroom windows. A diner at a nearby café, joked: 'I hope whoever buys that place has enough money left over for a set of curtains.' After selling her prize for £4,350,000, June reportedly paid off her three children's mortgages, but didn't bother upgrading her old Nissan Micra. She instead bought a £750,000 bungalow in the Fowey area which she and her daughter moved into. The Lake District farmhouse Charity worker Grant Carson, 58, from Glasgow described himself as 'one of the luckiest men in Scotland' after winning a five-bedroom, 18th-century farmhouse in an Omaze draw in January 2023. Grant who was diagnosed with arthritis as a child won his dream home after buying 850 entries for the draw for £100 just a month after giving up his disability charity job of 27 years to become a freelance consultant. But it appears he changed his mind, and it was revealed in July 2023 that he had put the house on the market for £2.75million At the time of his win, he talked of moving to the house set in eight acres of land and a short drive from Lake Windermere, and also possibly buying a dog. But it appears he changed his mind, and it was revealed in July 2023 that he had put the house on the market for £2.75million. And, in January last year, the house was put 'under offer' after the price was reduced to £2.35million, according to reports. Describing his delight when he scooped his prize, Grant said: 'It's a truly life-changing win for me.' The Gleneagles mansion An Omaze winner named only as Jon from Berkshire won a mansion overlooking Gleneagles golf course in 2023 – but sold it six months later to a businessman from the south of England for £4,210,000. The awesome seven bedroom property near Auchterarder, Perthshire, which features an entertainment room, leisure suite, cinema room, hot tub, guest annexe and golf simulator was the first property from Scotland to be entered into an Omaze draw. Jon, a regular entrant to Omaze's charity raffles, described winning it as 'a dream come true'. The awesome seven bedroom property near Auchterarder, Perthshire, which features an entertainment room, leisure suite, cinema room, hot tub, guest annexe and golf simulator was the first property from Scotland to be entered into an Omaze draw But he decided to put it on the market with sales particulars describing it as a 'luxurious contemporary home with guest apartment in one of Scotland's most exclusive addresses'. The Chelsea townhouse Mature student Oceanne Belle, 49, won a three bedroom Chelsea townhouse with three bathrooms and worth an estimated £5million in an Omaze draw in December, 2023. She and her partner Didine initially moved into the Grade II listed house in one of London's most fashionable neighbourhoods. Oceanne briefly enjoyed 'waking up in luxury' in her luxurious prize home after previously being forced out of her flat in Barking, East London, by a rent increase and spending weeks sofa-surfing with friends. But she ultimately decided to follow previous winners by deciding to sell up to secure her financial future and help her achieve her dream of becoming a paediatric nurse. Oceanne who is originally from the Seychelles said she 'enjoyed every second' of her lavish Chelsea lifestyle while living in the house But she told MailOnline: 'We decided to cash in and move a bit closer to our friends and family - and also release the huge amount of money from the sale so we can help our loved ones and enjoy the rest our lives worry free'. Oceanne was studying at the University of Sunderland in London when she won the Georgian townhouse close to the King's Road in the exclusive borough. The Omaze draw that she won was the third that she had entered and also raised £2.6m for NHS charities. The Devon cottage Father-of-two Simon Williams hosted family get-togethers for Christmas and Easter in the stunning five-bedroom property in Devon which he won in an Omaze draw in October, 2023. But it was revealed last October that he had sold the £2million property after just six months of ownership, and used the cash to buy a dream home in Sussex where he previously lived. He joked that he had sold the property to a friend so is still 'allowed to see it on the weekends'. The main house has five bedrooms - the master boasts built-in storage, a panelled rear wall, four large windows overlooking the gardens below and a spacious en suite shower room. The other four double bedrooms provide plenty of space for family and friends Reflecting on his life-changing Omaze experience, Simon recounted how winning the house was a 'very close second' to the best days of his life when his children were born. Describing the excitement of his win, he told MailOnline: 'I can still remember my rollercoaster of emotions on the day I found out'… I was laughing, crying, staring into the abyss - it was so surreal. 'Believe it or not, one of my highlights of the house was the ride-on lawnmower that came with it! I'd happily spend hours on that thing!' The Cornwall Estuary House Uttam Parmar, 58, from Leicestershire, won a stunning house with panoramic views of the Camel Estuary in Cornwall in August 2022. He put it on the market for £4 million in October the same year in the hope of making a profit of £3,999,975 after deduction of the cost of his £25 winning ticket. But the four-bed, four-bath property, which had superstar chef Gordon Ramsay as a near-neighbour, was ultimately reduced to £3.5million. He put it on the market for £4 million in October the same year in the hope of making a profit of £3,999,975 after deduction of the cost of his £25 winning ticket The house commands views of outstanding natural beauty in the surrounding countryside in Wadebridge Uttam said he and wife Raki, 53, decided to sell the prize property because they couldn't afford the upkeep. He said: 'It is a fantastic house in a beautiful Cornish location but the price of it comes with a price to keep it and we can't afford to. We are selling it and not keeping it as a holiday home. 'If we could afford to keep it we would. It is beautiful. But we are looking to buy some land or a smaller property instead. 'We considered moving there and staying there but with all the costs etcetera, it was a lot, so we decided to sell it'. One neighbour laughed: 'I can't believe they wanted £4million because the way prices are dropping they would be lucky to get half that'. The Kent clifftop house An Omaze winner named as Jade from the West Midlands scooped a spectacular seaside home – likened to a James Bond lair and valued at £2.5million – in October, 2022. The stunning home, just 90ft from the edge of a cliff with spectacular views of the sea, was named The Gunnery, due to having been built on the site of a World War Two gun emplacement at Kingsdown near Deal, Kent. The ultra-modern new 9,000 sq ft home boasted eye-catching features, including a tunnel at the base of the cliff leading to a glass lift to access the property. Jade, who also scooped £50,000 in cash, described the win as 'life-changing' in interviews at the time. But within month, the house was back on the market for £2.5 million. The unique designer home has an outdoor terrace with far-reaching views along the Kent coastline. Locals told MailOnline they believe a mystery celebrity had put in an offer for the property and planned to plant trees around the edge of the grounds to keep it hidden from prying eyes The ultra-modern new 9,000 sq ft home boasted eye-catching features, including a tunnel at the base of the cliff leading to a glass lift to access the property. Jade, who also scooped £50,000 in cash, described the win as 'life-changing' in interviews at the time. But within month, the house, which boasts unrivalled views of the English Channel, was back on the market for £2.5 million. Locals told MailOnline they believe a mystery celebrity had put in an offer for the property and planned to plant trees around the edge of the grounds to keep it hidden from prying eyes. But estate agents Strutt & Parker said that sale fell through and the property had been relisted for sale. Nick Ansell, 34, who works as a maintenance manager at Kingsdown Holiday Park next door to the property, said: 'I'd heard it was being sold to a celebrity who wanted to try and keep it a secret.' He added that the glass-fronted property was much bigger than it appeared from the outside as large parts of it were underground. Hollywood star Tom Hardy reportedly rented the property as a holiday home before it became an Omaze prize. The dream home in Devon Foundry worker Glen Elmy from Walsall, West Midlands, won a stunning £3million home in Devon with an infinity pool and breath-taking sea views in October 2021. But he and his family spent only three days at the property overlooking Combe Martin Bay, Devon, before concerns about coastal erosion reportedly influenced their decision to leave. Foundry worker Glen Elmy from Walsall, West Midlands, won a stunning £3million home in Devon with an infinity pool and breath-taking sea views in October 2021. Pictured: Glen with his family, left to right: son Sam and his fiancé Emily, Glen, wife Debbie and son Luke But he and his family spent only three days at the property overlooking Combe Martin Bay, Devon, before concerns about coastal erosion reportedly influenced their decision to leave Read More Father-of-five foundry worker, 54, who's only ever scooped '£3 at a Bingo night' wins £3million Devon Bond-style clifftop home from a £25 draw He was said to have returned the keys to Omaze and requested the cash equivalent to the property's £3 million value instead When discussing his win at the time, overjoyed Glen said: 'I'm totally gobsmacked. The only thing we've ever won before was three pounds at a Bingo night on holiday. 'We absolutely love the house. If I could have designed one from scratch, it would look just like this-it's like something from a Bond film. 'We will be keeping it as there's no other house like it in the country - so why would we want to sell it? 'My wife Debbie lost her father to Covid this year, and our youngest son was made redundant last week, so winning this house is just what the family needed - it's life-changing for all of us.' But after Glen left the property, a local neighbour stated anonymously: 'I never see anybody going in or out since the win. 'There is all sorts of speculation that it can't be insured because of how close it's been built to the sea and on the cliff edge. There is a problem with coastal erosion all along the coast here. There are signs around the beach warning about falling rocks.' He was said to have returned the keys to Omaze and requested the cash equivalent to the property's £3 million value instead The gorgeous infinity pool (pictured) looks out to sea and shows off the bright patio that is perfect for summer evenings The Mirror also reported a neighbour saying: 'It could just be local rumours, but the person who originally built the building was told it was too close to the edge, and mortgage and insurance might be a problem. 'When I moved in five years ago, it was on the market for £2.5 million, but nobody wanted it. When the competition was running, we saw cars coming and going, but soon after the winner was announced, that stopped, and there's been nothing since.' Omaze strongly denied reports that the property was at risk of coastal erosion. Georgian country house near Chipping Norton IT consultant Darren Wordon, 48, from Bath won a stunning Georgian country pile reportedly worth £2.5million in an Omaze draw in June 2021. He and his wife Mandy and their two children initially moved into the five-bedroom country pile near Chipping Norton in the Cotswolds, despite fears of flooding in the area. IT consultant Darren Wordon, 48, from Bath won a stunning Georgian country pile reportedly worth £2.5million in an Omaze draw in June 2021. He and his wife Mandy and their two children initially moved into the five-bedroom country pile near Chipping Norton in the Cotswolds, despite fears of flooding in the area They moved out and the house eventually sold for £2.15 million in December 2023, almost half a million pounds less than the price originally advertised by Omaze. The home features an outdoor dining area and a cosy seating area complete with an open burning fire pit and fairy lights to brighten the dark evenings The property boasts a beautiful open plan setting, with a kitchen complete with a breakfast bar and an adjoining dining room. The flagstone flooring is a feature throughout the property, as as the big and open bay windows. A neighbour Julia Boardman, who had lived in the secluded hamlet since 1968, claimed that the house had flooded twice previously. Another resident said that the winning family 'were keen to make a go of it', but had concerns about future floods. They moved out and the house eventually sold for £2.15 million in December 2023, almost half a million pounds less than the price originally advertised by Omaze. The Fulham townhouse Marilyn Pratt, 70, won her £2.9million house in Fulham, south-west London, in an Omaze drawn in April 2021. The house boasted a stunning contemporary minimalist design, with four bedrooms, a gym, a study and a high end kitchen, but the pensioner sold up just eight months later. Marilyn Pratt, 70, won her £2.9million house in Fulham, south-west London, in an Omaze drawn in April 2021 The house boasted a stunning contemporary minimalist design, with four bedrooms, a gym, a study and a high end kitchen, but the pensioner sold up just eight months later Marilyn eventually sold the lavish townhouse for £2.8million at £100,000 under the asking price, so she could use the proceeds to help her two daughters and grandchildren financially. She decided to remain with husband David in the two-bedroom house they had lived in for 40 years in south-east London. The Hamptons-style house in north Norfolk Ex-Miss Wales finalist Vicky Curtis-Cresswell, 38, became the owner of the most expensive home ever offered in a UK prize draw in February this year. When Vicky was named as the winner, she admitted that she planned to put the house on the market and buy another place closer to home. But there have since been warnings that she could struggle to sell the £6million house in Blakeney, Norfolk, due to alleged planning breaches. The stunning three-bedroom house overlooking the coast was built to resemble the exclusive homes of the Hamptons area of Long Island in the US. Ex-Miss Wales finalist Vicky Curtis-Cresswell, 38, became the owner of the most expensive home ever offered in a UK prize draw in February this year When Vicky was named as the winner, she admitted that she planned to put the house on the market and buy another place closer to home But there have since been warnings that she could struggle to sell the £6million house in Blakeney, Norfolk, due to alleged planning breaches A member of the public tipped off council chiefs after the property was listed as a prize in an Omaze draw. The issues allegedly included floor plans that appeared to differ from what was approved, as well as additional outbuildings, a tennis court and a swimming pool that were said to have been added without planning permission. North Norfolk District Council concluded the property had 'not been completed in accordance with the approved plans' after an investigation which including a visit from officers. A series of undisclosed recommendations were made to Omaze to resolve the situation. Omaze has stated that it will guarantee the winner of the home will not 'ever have to incur any costs whatsoever to remedy any historical planning issue'. Jamie Minors, managing director of local estate agents Minors and Brady, said: 'This will massively affect the chance of sale, as some people will be put off and will not want to buy it. It could also affect the value. 'Selling it will definitely be more difficult and challenging, as solicitors will definitely advise against it.' he stunning three-bedroom house overlooking the coast was built to resemble the exclusive homes of the Hamptons area of Long Island in the US The home comes with unrivalled views of the North Norfolk coastline The home features its own all-weather astroturf tennis court outside, that backs onto the countryside However, he added the high-end property market also attracted wealthy people who would 'try and find a way to resolve any problem'. Ms Curtis-Cresswell, who bought her winning ticket for just £10, has never owned her own home before. Only a handful of Omaze winners are believed to be still living in their prize homes. Read More Beauty queen wins Omaze's biggest-ever prize - a £6m mansion that comes with £250,000 One of the few who decided to stay is Becca Pott, 32, who was on maternity leave after the birth of her first child when she won a £3.5million five-bedroom house near Ascot, Berkshire, in February 2022. Becca who was previously living in a two-bedroom flat in Leyton, east London, still lives in her prize house with her husband Ben and their baby Ava. She told The Sunday Times: 'We always knew we were going to move in and enjoy it for at least that first summer, just to experience living in a place like this as a family, but after a few weeks we realised we didn't want to leave so decided we should keep it.' The other two winners to move into their incredible homes were in Wimbledon and Islington - two expensive areas of London. A spokesperson for Omaze said: 'All Omaze winners are free to decide if they live in their new house, rent it out for a supplementary income, or sell it whenever they wish to become a cash multi-millionaire – they can put it on the market the day they get the keys - the choice is entirely theirs. 'Whatever their circumstances, all Omaze winners have several fantastic life changing options available to them. 'Omaze is immensely proud to have created 38 millionaires whilst also raising more than £93 million for good causes in the UK since it launched here.'
