The first major ladies two day competition of the summer season, the Thomas Cup took place over the weekend of the 7th and 8th May.

This event, now in its seventh year and kindly sponsored by Paul and Liz Thomas, is run on the Stableford format. There are prizes on offer for best scores on each day and nearest the pin for Silver and Bronze Divisions; together with prizes for the best overall performances and a trophy for the winner. This is the competition to enter, especially for players with a higher handicap, because everyone has a good chance to win. Paul Thomas set up the competition specifically with this in mind. Once again, as has happened several times in the past, the worthy winner came from the Bronze Division.

Day One dawned bright and sunny, Paul Thomas was the competition starter and sent the 24 ladies, playing in groups of three, on their way with his good wishes for a successful round. Despite the promise of good weather, only three groups finished their rounds before a thunderstorm, described by Ladies Captain, Bobby Appleby, as being of “Biblical proportions” hit Farrington Park with torrential rain, lightning, thunder and whirl of a wind which sent everyone scurrying back to the clubhouse. Fairways and greens were underwater within minutes of the storm starting, but within half an hour, the sun re-emerged from behind the clouds and the players resumed their play. The temperature was balmy, but the standing water left after the storm meant that many shots were sadly short of their target, as balls hit the sodden ground and came to a complete halt. The CSS was 73, but only four ladies managed to score 36 points or higher, Kathy Shiells and Lesley Moore – both with 36 points, Liz Thomas, 37 and Sue Forshaw, with an excellent 40 points. Sue, starting the day on a handicap of 35, found she had reduced her handicap to 32.7 by the end.

Day Two’s round had the players going out in reverse order (best scores last), according to where they finished on Day One. The weather was excellent, bright and sunny with a light wind, but in spite of this, only four birdies were recorded, compared with eleven on Day One and twelve holes were playing up to and over a shot and a half over par. The CSS moved to 74, three ladies managed to score over 36 points: Claire Salter and Jacqui Gregory, 37 points each, but Sue Forshaw improved her score by one to 41 points, totalling a magnificent 81 points over the two days and reducing her handicap to 29.7. Sue was nine shots clear of her nearest rival for the overall prize, the largest winning margin so far in the history of the competition. Sue’s victory speech, after receiving the Thomas Cup from Bobby Appleby, thanked everyone involved in staging the competition, including the sponsors, green-keeping staff and ball spotters on the first hole over both days, Steve Ball, Dave Forshaw, Fred Grist and Steve Hobbs. She hoped that next year even more ladies from the Bronze Division would enter the competition, as she was proof that anyone can win, whatever the odds.

Full Results: Champion, Sue Forshaw, 40 + 41 = 81, second, Jacqui Gregory, 37 + 35 = 72, third, Liz Thomas, 37 + 32 = 69.

Day One: winner, Kathy Shiells, 36, second, Mandy Hobbs, 33, third, Suzanne Young, 31. Nearest the Pin: Margaret Seery and Lesley Moore. Two Spots: Kathy Shiells, Lesley Moore (2), Dawn Stacey, Gail Proctor, Jacqui Gregory, Margaret Seery.

Day Two: Winner, Clare Salter, 37, second, Issy Hansford, 33, third, Sue Stilwell, 32. Nearest the Pin: Jacqui Walker, Margaret Seery. Two Spots: Dawn Stacey, Issy Hansford, Margaret Seery.

Seniors

Incessant rain for the previous 24 hours was hardly conducive to low scoring in the Farrington Seniors Manor Course Championship. However, with typical British stoicism, they battled on in driving wind and rain, relentless in their search of the Holy Grail. Retired postman, David Metcalfe, secured the trophy for the best gross round with a fine score of 64 on countback from Jeff Bruton.

Winning the net competition was Kevin Gould on countback to Richard Collier, both scoring a net 46. Back in the bar, a certain Chris Liberty was celebrating a special birthday with a warming tot for those who had braved the elements.