April 2003
Before driving off to launch the 2003-04 season at the end of March, new captain Alf Selby said it was his hope that he could become known as Captain Heatwave in succession to Captain Sunshine, otherwise known as Brian Hope. And, so far, his ambition has been realised as a result of the hottest, driest, April on record. As part of his fund-raising activities in aid of the Macmillan Nurses and the club’s centenary fund, the captain invited members to stake a pound or two on the distance he would achieve with his drive-in.
In the event, he hit the ball 173 yards 10 inches, albeit finding the left-hand bunker – just two inches less than the winning forecast by Les Smith. The £146 raised was split equally between the winner and the joint charities.
The captain, partnered by his vice-captain, Kevin Roberts, went on to win the council’s comp. within a comp. with 42 Stableford points, two points better than John Yemm and Terry
Marner.
Winners of the competition proper were Mark Abbott and David Nield with a splendid 49pts, with the Slater brothers, Saul and Ivan, in second place with 47pts. They defeated Danny Wilkinson and Nigel Wareing on a card play-off.
The lady captain’s drive-in, normally staged on the following day, was postponed for a week to enable all the mums and their offspring to celebrate Mothering Sunday. The delay did not faze the new incumbant, Isabel Wright, however. As well as keeping her nerve for her ceremonial drive, she led her team to victory in the traditional competition which followed.
Brookdale captain Stuart Meakin and the Oldham vice-captain, Barry Cotton, were the winners on invitation day with 46 Stableford points.
On yet another glorious day, Meakin, a big-hitting eight handicapper, carded a level-par 68 despite going out of bounds on the ninth, but his partner, who plays off 24, also played a significant role in their triumph.
The next five prizewinners all scored 45pts and had to be separated on countbacks.
Terry Andrews and Dave Maloney (Oldham), were eventually awarded second place, followed by Curt Helme and his brother Carl (Farnworth and Great Lever).
In fourth place were Rick Dobrowolski and Glen McKenny (Brookdale), the fifth prize went to Tim Joyce and Paul Akin (Brookdale), and Adrian Brierley and Bill Archibald (Fleetwood), were sixth.
Dave Whaley and ex-Lancashire wicketkeeper John Stanworth (Castle Hawk), who won last season’s closing invitation day, were the day’s unluckiest pair. They also scored 45pts but failed to get among the prizes.
Ray Edwards took the Spring Meeting honours with 45pts in the full-handicap event.
The runner-up was his playing partner, Glyn Jones, despite being five points adrift. The over-70s prize went to Peter Waters with 38pts.
Werneth’s Lawrence Batley season got off to the best possible start with an 8-0 home victory over Bradley Park.
The council has agreed to open the bar all day on Fridays (12 noon to 11pm), for an experimental period. Now it’s up to members to decide if the open-all-hours arrangement is to become permanent. Cheers!
Bill and Sheila Waterhouse’s daughter, Mrs Jane Cheetham, was enjoying a drink with friends in The Living Room, the trendy haunt of celebrities in Deansgate, Manchester, when they spotted David Beckham and his wife Victoria among the customers.
This was too good an opportunity to miss and they soon got into conversation with the couple universally known as Posh and Becks.
Jane’s 11-year-old son, Jonathan, was playing football for his school, St. Joseph’s, Shaw, that day, and she decided to give him a call to see how he had gone on.
The England skipper and United ace then asked what position he played and suggested he had a word with the lad. Said Jane: “When I got through, I told Jonathan ‘You’ll never guess who I am with.’ And when I told him who it was he didn’t believe me until David went on the line.
“He asked Jonathan how he had gone on and, on being told that his team had won 7-1 and that, although he plays at the back, he had scored, David congratulated him and told him to keep up the good work.
“Then my 8-year-old daughter, Beth, insisted on having a word but she has no interest in football. All she asked David was where he was and was Posh with him.
“David said it was great that I was encouraging Jonathan and Victoria told me ‘It’s the best feeling in the world being a mum.’”
Before Sir Alex Ferguson gets hot under the colour, Jane pointed out that Beckham was drinking orange juice, and that he left the bar at 6pm because he was playing for United the following day.
So young Jonathan is a staunch United fan, then? “Afraid not,” said Jane. “He supports Latics.”
Werneth’s quartet were in fine form in the latest round of the Mail on Sunday knock-out competition, defeating a strong Ashton team by two and a half to one and a half.
Our winners were Lee Rowbotham and Peter Griffin, with Mike Fogo halving his match. Les Dooley lost on the 18th to a scratch player.
In a league match, our first team achieved a fine 6-2 away victory over Dukinfield – a rare success on that course.
Lady Captain Isabel Wright and her vice-captain, Joan Clark – with the able assistance of Joyce Bielby – carded a net 56 to win a three-ball Alliance at the section’s Spring meeting.
And Brenda Martin scored a fine double in a couple of Stableford events with scores of 43pts and 45pts.
The Lady Vice Captain was also among the prizes again when she won an LGU medal event with a score of 84-17-67.
The Scott Legatt Foursomes – a county run qualifier for the final, to be played at Swinton Park – resulted in victory for Angela Whaley and Jane Fletcher (85-15.5-69.5), with Brenda Kingham and Noreen Butterworth (104-27.5-76.5), in second place.
A well supported coffee evening in aid of the section’s funds raised a fine £442.
A Sunday fun comp. attracted 96 players in mixed quartets of men, women, seniors, and juniors, and raised £188 for the centenary fund – one of Captain Alf Selby’s charities.
The winners were David and Joyce Bielby, grandson Jonathan Wilde, and Sean Rattigan.
Ten-handicapper Phil Jones was the first division winner of the season’s opening monthly medal with a net score of 62.
The runner up was Terry Marner (72-9-63), which included an eagle on the fifth hole.
The second division title went to Steve Wild with a score of 76-17-59, with Dave Griffiths (75-14-61), in second place.
The afternoon session included an off-the-course drama when a helicopter landed on the spoil heaps adjacent to the ninth green to rescue a motor cyclist with a suspected broken ankle.
An earlier Pro’s comp. was won by Ian Mather with 41 Stableford points, defeating Nigel Wareing on a countback.