Cocktail connoisseurs left shaken and stirred

Networking organisation Leicester Young Professionals marked its last event of the year with a cocktail and canapes evening, held in the austere surroundings of the City Rooms.

It was jointly held with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors' RICS matrics Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland, and prompted a big turnout with more than 80 guests from a broad cross-section of the region's main professional services firms descending on the venue for the night.

The evening was rounded off with a cocktail creation competition as participants were invited to become mixers and serve up their own creations. Judges selected Sally Burford, of Macintyre Hudson, as top-performer thanks to her creation named Cider House. She walked away with a cocktail shaker and martini glass set. Brian West, of Harvey Ingram, clinched second spot with Lyppy Riccy, while Ryan Holden, of MDA Consulting, and Tom Whybrow, of Grant Thornton, were runners up.

Organisers also laid on the traditional business card prize draw won by Tom Whybrow, who was handed an iPod shuffle. Rachel Priestley, of Torr Wakefield, clinched second spot and came away with a bottle of champagne and an ice bucket. Runner-up Rupi Kaur, of LDJ Solicitors, won a party cook book and Helen Leach, of Cooper Parry, won a cocktail shaker.

LYP membership has grown rapidly during the past 12 months and looks set to increase even further. As a result, more events are now in the pipeline. For regular updates on the LYP, joining details and forthcoming events, simply click on the organisation's website at LYP.