For some years now the Life Education Trust Charity Golf Tournament has been one of the most popular and successful days on the calendar at Lansdowne, with this year being no exception. The three person Ambrose Event attracted a full field of 36 teams, with a waiting list of golfers unable to compete.
Life Education Trust is designed to help youngsters overcome peer pressures they may face in everyday life. There is a particular focus on Primary Schools with the distinctive vans and their "Horace the Giraffe" motif, a feature throughout the country. The Wairarapa van and its current educator, Suzy Beetham, manages to visit its 70 schools at least every second year, with the aid of Oldfields and Infracon Tararua.
As is usual there were heaps of prizes handed out, but astonishingly three teams tied in the contest, each with the unlikely net score of 58.16. Two were from the big group of visitors, namely "Frucor" and appropriately "Infracon". The third, the "Bloggs" were our own Brenda Blatchford and Jeff and Lola Ogg!
Back on 58.66 came "The Three Wise Men", while "Dreamers" posted 59.33. Nearest the pin prizes went to Simon Roseingrave (3rd hole), Fraser Mailman (8th), Brad Rowland (11th) and Blyth King (13th). Long drive awards went to Hugh Wilson (under 14 handicap), Vince Duckett and Rachel Monk.
Last Saturday the competition was a stableford for the Riverside Salver, the trophy which commemorates the old Riverside Golf Club, once situated in the Colombo Road area. In its day Riverside was an active, very social club, but that's another story.
Anyway, if Kevin Mackay, the new holder of the Trophy, has a good look at it he will note some famous names from the past. He certainly made no bones about his win, finishing on 41 points, a clear five ahead of his nearest rivals, Micahel Roseingrave and Tony Roseingrave, both on 36, while Innes Kennard posted 35.
Vicky Duffy did best in the women's event, while nearest the pin prizes went to Brian Mitchell (Alex McLeod 8th) and Liz Armstrong (All Teed Up 8th hole).
Next Saturday 8 August features a South African Stableford and a Markham's Shootout qualifier. Baker 4Ball matches are now underway so make sure you are up-to-date with those. I note that former holders of the trophy, Graeme Jones and Alex McLeod, have made a good start with a close fought 1 up victory over the rather formidable pairing of Geoff Masters and Gavin Harris.
Eighteen 9 holers finally came out of their burrows last week, with the weather allowing them to get out on the course. There was a stableford competition with Lorraine Jones announced as winner with 37 points.
Di Herbert and Errol Warren tied in the longest drive competition while Jill Cameron was nearest the pin.
In lovely conditions, near 40 Vets took part in their weekly stableford last Monday, with these results:
Women:
Brenda Perry 28 pts 1, Theresa Cameron 27 pts 2, Sylvia Howden 27 pts 3
Men Group 1:
Kevin Hooper 25 pts 1, Kelvin Biggs 24 pts 2, Keith Nelson 24 pts 3
Men Group 2:
David Brenkley 27 pts 1, Bob Hullena 25 pts 2, Bruce Hannon 19 pts 3
Nearest the pin prizes at the Fagan Ford 8th hole went to Brenda Perry and Geoff Davies.
On Tuesday the ladies started off with high hopes, but as the weather got colder and windier over half the field withdrew. However, in the par event Jeanette McNae took the overall Clarkes Jewellers prize, and the Silver Division with plus one, while the Bronze went to Julie-May Hamilton on minus one. Carol Morgan was nearest the pin at the Graeme Jones 8th hole.
On Monday the Bronze Pennants team played Shandon at Judgeford for 3rd and 4th position in their interclub competition.
They found the going down there pretty tough, with Trish Newcombe, who won her match and Ngaire Stevens who halved hers, the only ones to cope with the hills of Judgeford. However, 4th out of 19 teams was a good effort, so all those involved in that result are to be congratulated on their achievement.
OFF THE FAIRWAY
With the TRC Wairarapa Open Mixed Foursomes set down for Lansdowne early next month an opportunity to test your skills, and those of your partner, is coming up on Sunday 16 August. On that day Masterton will be staging the Club Mixed Foursomes over 18 holes. So there's a chance to get into action for the bigger event later by taking part in the preliminary contest.
