August 2000 Issue No. 6 Captain: Peter Griffin
He often prefers to go fishing than to play golf, but Les Dooley is usually the one who gets away when the Club Championship comes around.
And, once again, no one could catch sweet-swinging Les this year. With rounds of 71 and a magnificent three-under-par 65, for a total of 136, Les, who plays off a handicap of just two, triumphed for the 12th time since 1982 - a remarkable achievement.
Last year's champion, Paul Rowbotham, was runner-up, ten strokes adrift, beating Lee Murray on a card play-off.
Adrian Brierley had the best net score in the first round of the 36-hole event (69-7-62), but the two-round winner was 11-handicapper Glyn Sowerby with a score of 130.
Captain Peter Griffin was blessed with glorious weather for his big day - and he was wearing the sunniest of smiles when he handed the first prize to his brother-in-law, and immediate past captain, David Griffiths, following his 36-hole net score of 129.
Unsurprisingly, the best gross of 144 was posted by Paul Rowbotham. First division winners for rounds one and two were Andy Barlow and Adrian Buckley respectively, with the second division prizes going to Mike Fogo and Alan Baddeley.
Ten-handicapper Terry Marner has won his way into the semi-finals of the Lawrence Batley individual knockout competition for seniors with some stunning performances. In a ding-dong sectional quarter final, played at Werneth, he beat Richard Luddick (5), of Fixby, on the last green, and went on to win three and two in the semi-final, again played at home, against Bob Helley (12), of West Bradford.
And in the final, played at Meltham, he appeared to be cruising to victory when he won the first five holes against Marsden's Alf Wellens (14), who then won the next five to level the match. But Terry fought back to win by three and two, and now goes into the play-off between the winners of the four sections - with a prize guaranteed.
Geoff Whitehead is Werneth's latest champion - on the dance floor. He won the over-50s North West area title in Old Time and Modern Sequence section of the Medallist of the Year finals staged at the Forum, Wythenshawe.
His wife, Pauline, who is a year younger than her husband, then won the under-50s Modern Sequence competition.
Greens chairman David Bielby proved he knows every inch of the course when amassing 40 superb Stableford points on President's Day.
Norman Harrop was runner-up with 36 points, beating Joe Smith on a countback.
But the most remarkable performance of the day was perhaps Gordon Lockett’s capture of the prize for the over-70s. Despite scoring only 12 points on the first nine holes he eventually finished with 34.
In the Lawrence Batley League, our men scored a double over Silkstone with a 7-1 away victory but slipped up in two other away matches against Bradford Moor (2-6), and Marsden (0-8), both of whom have been walloped 8-0 at Werneth.
Lee Rowbotham, with a superb gross round of 76, became Werneth's Junior Millennium Champion over 18 holes.
In the over-14 section, Alan Palmer came first with a round of 83-18-65, beating Chris Cordwell (81-12-69), into second place.
The under-14 event was won by Jonathan Wilde (118-28-90), with yet another Rowbotham - young Aaron - runner up with 118-27-91.
Werneth's youngsters knocked out reigning champions Prestwich 3-2 in the first round of the Junior League Matchplay Championship - a splendid achievement.
Firefighter Danny Wilkinson won the first division of the rain-delayed monthly medal with a fine round of 73-11-62 to edge out young Paul Ashton (71-8-63), who, in turn relegated Phil Jones and John Booth to also-rans with a better back nine.
The second division winner was Chris Stringer (79-14-65), with Dave Wright (80-15-65), having to settle for second place on a CPO.
Sadly, Jim Blackshaw, ex-captain and doyen of the snooker room, died during the month, just five months after his wife, Alice. Other ex-captains formed a guard of honour at his funeral and his Manchester regiment war medals were displayed on the coffin.
Teenagers Paul Ashton and Chris Cordwell scored a remarkable 52 points in a 4-ball better-ball Stableford competition - the best score anyone at the club can remember.
Andy Stericker and Duncan Firth came second with a commendable 47.
But the same youngsters were relegated to second place in an earlier Stableford event by Joe Smith and Doug Owen - two men old enough to be their grandfathers.
Joined by Paul Hanley, the two young tigers also came second in a Texas scramble, a point adrift of Mel Robinson, Ian Turner and Dominic Grimes.
Paul Rowbotham and John Armstrong achieved a notable double in two other Stableford events.
And Paul also triumphed in an all-irons competition with a level par 68.
Lady captain, Madge Griffiths' 36-hole event, played over two days, was won by Jane Clark with a score of 173-36-137, with Sheila Whittingham (186-46-140), taking second place.
The best gross score of 166 was posted by Ann Fallows and the 1st and 2nd day winners were Jane Fletcher (73-7-66) and Brenda Kingham (91-23-68) respectively.
In a Lancs County Vets team event, Werneth's Vivien Leaver, Nadine McNamara, Irene Howes, and Sheila Whittingham gained fourth place.
Vivien also won the Handley Memorial trophy with a score of 89-22-67. Runner-up was Sylvia Haq (85-17-68).
Invitation day was won by Fiona Dooley partnered by North Manchester's Lynda Vipond.