Old Brightonian Golf Autumn 2004

For the Halford Hewitt in April we journeyed to Kent with optimism - a reasonable draw and two new good young players to augment the usual band of pilgrims. With greater strength than usual we picked our order and placed our strengths where we thought it would do most good. Alas, St. Pauls placed their three strongest pairs (who'd won the Plate the previous year) where we were weakest so whilst our two strong pairs won easily, our other three came up against it and lost, match result 3-2!

In the ensuing Plate, we progressed through the first round (Liverpool) to a battle with old enemies Lancing which we gratifying won 2-1. The celebrations went on perhaps longer into the night in Deal than was good for the team (yes, there is nightlife in Deal) and it was a team a touch jaded that did battle with Rugby in the quarter-finals the following day, and lost. Thanks particularly to Julian Tate, Julian Hunt, James Bell, Robin Colbourne, Michael Mudie and Roland Ainsworth for this achievement but we know we have the ability to go further in both competitions.

In the Grafton Morrish we disappointingly failed to qualify. In the Cyril Grey, the team scored a resounding 1st Round win against City of London only to lose to a serious Fettes side in the 2nd Round. Once again, we hold our own with practically all the teams in this over-50s event and with a fair breeze could again get to the Final.

The Autumn Meeting was disappointingly attended this year given the level of support in recent years but this did not prevent seven players having a dry and very pleasant day at a Royal Ashdown Forest which was dressed in stunning autumnal colours. The Whitmore Bowl was won by the Hon. Sec, Chris Pett with 38 pts on a three hole countback from the defender Robin Colbourne. A foursomes after a superb lunch was won by Geoffrey Bush and Stuart Burns, making a welcome first appearance with us as master i/c golf at the College. We were also pleased to host Chris Cannon, who has just left the College but clearly is going to be a force to be reckoned with in a year or so.