Golfing Society (OSBGS)

Old St Beghians’ Golfing Society Report 2018 2018 has been a flourishing year for the Society. This year’s participation in the stand-out events for Old Boys’ golf has not only shown that the OSBs are keen partakers in these events but are also competitors. Encouraging results and experimenting with and establishing new partnerships in these varied competitions have shown great promise on which the Society hopes to build during the 2019 calendar. The Halford Hewitt – Kent – 2018 The year began with a trip to Kent and the tropical climate of Sandwich. It was a fantastic week once again in the home from home accommodation at the Knowlton Court Lodge. We were drawn to play at Royal St George’s (our ‘home’ course) against Hurstpierpoint. We had an excellent team and with twenty minutes to go it looked as though we would win, following victories from the pairings of Adrian Peckitt and Andrew Deall, Gareth Edgar and Tom Wright. However, in two crucial games we were pipped at the 19th in one and robbed by an outrageous pitch-in from an impossible lie right off the 18th green in the other. A win would have been a great morale booster, however we will return next year all the more determined. We need everyone who is eligible to come and play or support the OSBGS. Next year’s event takes place from the 10th-14th April, 2019. The Cyril Gray – Surrey - 2018 The Cyril Gray (6 a side for the over 50s), was in some ways similar to the Hewitt and with too many of the same players making up the team! In the first round we lost to City of London in a match we should have won 2/1. In the Plate, a 16 team tournament in itself, we beat (on the same boiling hot afternoon) Framlingham in the deciding game at the 21st, around 8pm. The following day, with a late start, we overcame Eastbourne with the decider again going to the 20th; unfortunately, due to an injury, we could not progress further. There was some consolation in that Glenalmond, our practice-day dinner match opponents, whom we would have had to face on the Saturday morning, went on to win the Plate against Edinburgh Academy in a close final. The dates for 2019 are the 26th-29th June. The Cyril Gray takes place annually at Worplesdon in Surrey.

The ‘winning’ Cyril Gray team (l to r) Stephen Moss, Michael Coffey, Mike Stamper, Adrian Peckitt, Jeff Ellis, Andy Crummey.

We are still visible and still fighting our corner, however, we do need support and new blood. Even our Cyril Gray side’s age averaged over 60. Old Persons’ (or Old Pupils’) golf is not only played on the best courses, with in our case excellent accommodation on offer, but it is a chance to widen your horizons and meet interesting people from all over the globe, whilst at the same time representing St Bees and having a good time (especially when you win).

The Critchley Cup – Seascale – 2018 After an absence of three years, the Critchley Cup and its associated trophies returned in some style to Seascale Golf Club on Saturday, 7th July. Despite a number of late withdrawals, a select team took to the bleached links at around 10.30 with the entire field completing the course in time to view England’s victory over Sweden! The golf was of the highest calibre. There was a tie for the top honour and the Critchley Cup, Scott Sharp pipping Cameron Wood, who won the Bill Fox Cup, with 20/19pts on the back nine, both amassing 39pts. Seascale being their home Club they can expect handicap reductions from 11 and 7 respectively, in the very near future. They are the youngest competitors ever to take part in this OSBGS event as they are both still in education! One of the anomalies of the school’s closure.

Scott Sharp with the Critchley Cup with the backdrop of the Seascale 18th and Clubhouse.

The best golf of the day was played by John Berry (2) who scored a magnificent 37pts and won Farquahie’s Fortifier (a ’blessing’ in disguise’!) and a wonderful bottle of malt whisky donated by Tim Morrison. Other trophy winners were Mike Stamper, who won the superb Ken Case Tankard for seniors; Ben Wilson won the Dick Harrison Cup (over 12 Handicap), and Tom Wright our diligent Hon. Secretary, won the Doman Salver for those under 25 (if we knew where it was – PLEASE SEARCH and let us know?). We were made very welcome and wonderfully well looked after by all at the Club. We have decided that the Critchley Cup, all being well, will return to Seascale next year in July. Our grateful thanks go to Tom Wright our Hon. Secretary for his efforts in cajoling Old St Beghians to the start line (never easy – despite their ability to enjoy themselves hugely ‘on the day’), as well as for his secretarial duties on the day – many thanks.

The Hon. Secretary Tom Wright and the Society’s most capped player Adrian Peckitt on the 9th green at St Bees.

The following day; The President, Hon. Secretary, and the Society’s most ‘capped’ (and MVP…) Adrian Peckitt negotiated a delightful nine holes of the St Bees School golf course, now the St Bees Golf Club. During the round we bumped into Bill Douglas, who has masterminded the saving of the club and course during the last few difficult years. And in addition, of course, there was a good deal of financial backing from the St Bees School Golf Foundation, to which so many members of the OSBGS subscribed. We can report that the Alec MacCaig Memorial bench is well used and in excellent order.

The St Bees course which is in excellent order following the golden summer of 2018 – but they still haven’t managed to get rid of all the sheep!

The QE Coronation Schools Tournament – Edinburgh – 2018 We looked a strong team for the QE and certainly deserved our Quarter final berth. The introduction of Cameron Wood paired with Tom Wright proved a strong combination (MoliWood-esque) following a solid opening victory (6 and 5) in the first round against the ‘Old Aloysians’. All pairings comfortably won their opening matches, resulting in a safe passage into the second round facing the ‘Old Oundelians’ on the Sunday morning.

The 2 W’s, the 2 J’s and the 2 A’s completing the 3 pairings fielded for the QE 2018.

The third pairing of the ‘two Andy’s’, Goodwin and Crummey, comfortably won their second round match 8 and 6 whilst the two games ahead were evenly matched. Wright and Wood squandered the chance to win the game on the 18th, resulting in a 19th hole sudden death. A great drive from Wood, dissecting the fairway, put Wright in the ideal opportunity to attack the flag with a pitching wedge. The result left Wood with a 6ft birdie putt to win the game and with a slight left to right break, Wood walked the putt in with a Ryder-Cup styled fist pump. Hopefully the first of many fist pumps for Wood, sealing the overall victory for St Bees, 2-1. This resulted in an Old St Beghians quarter final afternoon appearance (for the first time in 20 years) against Stewarts Melville. Perhaps a little fatigued, the team showed great OSB spirit against their ‘aggressive’ opponents. Wright and Wood battled against plus-handicapped golfers, eventually falling short 3 and 1, alongside the 2 A’s falling short also. The ‘two John’s’, Currie and Berry, were still in their game at all square after 15, where a concessionary half was declared. 2.5-0.5. The modesty within our victories definitely reflected our dignity in our afternoon defeat, a learning curve for us all! Greater satisfaction followed when Stewarts Melville won the overall event for the fourth time in a row. It was a fantastic weekend, organised by Captain Andrew Goodwin, fitting the team out with great accommodation at the Braids Hotel. The support of Rodney Atkinson, Charlie Crummey, Nigel Costeloe and Ben Wilson showed the St Bees’ spirit off superbly within the clubhouse. With some well-known faces missing as well, the results were looked upon as a great success. Although the golf is the main priority, the evening entertainment in Edinburgh City Centre was thoroughly enjoyable once again; it was a perfectly balanced weekend of socialising and competition.

Key Dates for 2019 Halford Hewitt, Sandwich, Kent - 10-14th April. Cyril Gray, (over 50’s), Worplesdon, Surrey - 26-29th June. Critchley Cup, Seascale, Cumbria - 6th July. QE Coronation Schools Tournament, Royal Burgess, Edinburgh - 28th- 30th Sep. Players of all abilities are encouraged to attend these events, especially the Critchley Cup. For the other competitions, fielding our strongest side is preferred; however, having a good squad is better than a good team.

Contact Details: Michael Coffey, President –Michael@golfclubsec.co.uk. Tom Wright, Secretary –tomosbgolf@hotmail.com.

 

Home

The St Beghian Society    
St Bees School,    St Bees,    Cumbria,    CA27 0DS.

         Tel: (01946) 828093      Email: osb@stbeesschool.co.uk      Web: www.st-beghian-society.co.uk