Mendip’s Club Championships took place over two days, and whilst the Ladies’ results produced no surprises, there was a major surprise in the Men’s event.

77 Men competed and it was a close-run affair on Day One, with Wayne Black, four-handicap, leading with a Gross-75, followed by Ben Cox, Tom Chapman and Stephen Rawlings on 77. However, on Day Two, when only four players were able to better 80, new member, Dani Annable Manzaneda, carded an outstanding 75 to go along with his first-round 78, giving him a Championship-winning total of 153. Ben Cox and Wayne Black finished on 156 with Ben in second place after countback. Dani, as a result, has seen his handicap reduced from twelve to seven!

In the Ladies’ Championship, as expected, Aimee Sawyer, two-handicap, romped to victory with two fine rounds of 76 and 78, totalling 154, which equalled the combined standard scratch score over the two days. A fine achievement. Thirteen-year-old Ellen Reakes, playing off nine, was runner-up, with Sarah James in third place. The net competition saw Sarah win with nine-year-old Ffion Richardson a very fine second, and Jean Padfield was third.

The Men’s mid-week stableford saw a large field of 65 compete. Division One was won by Richard Jeffrey with 40 points; Jack Hayes was second with 37 and George Hobbs third with 36 after countback. Division Two went to John Stembridge with a best-of-the-day 42 points; Alan O’Leary was second with 37 after a triple countback from Hugh Glandfield and Julian Redpath. Division Three was won by Freddie Lenihan with 41. Second place saw an outstanding round of 39 points from very longstanding member, past Captain and past Chairman, Les Kew; his first competitive round for a very long time.Welcome back, Les! Paul Drew was third with 36 points.

The Ladies held a 4bbb Stableford Ping qualifier. This was won by Elaine Richardson and Anne Collins with 41 points, after countback from Gina Howard and Allison Rumming. Jenny Merrett and Diane Stanton were third with 40 points.

The Ladies’ Alliance A Team recorded an excellent 12-2 win over Thornbury, with wins from Marian Speed, Jenny Merrett, Edwina Willis, Chris Olds, Anita Butcher and Lyn Cox.

The Ladies’ Inter-Club Team visited Bath and found a very strong team in good form. This resulted in a 1½-5½ defeat. A win came from Libby Bellew with Anita Butcher gaining a half.

Mendip held a very successful Seniors’ Open Bowmaker with 129 entrants, seven Mendip Teams and 36 Visitor Teams. The winning Visitor Team with 86 points came from Yeovil, an Oake Manor Team were second with 85 and a Henbury Team, supplemented by home player, Tony Williams, was third with 82. The winning Mendip Team were Rod Dyson, Nick Inskip and Adam Spragg with 82, with Norman Squire, Nigel Cheshire and Keith Gadsden second with 81.

The Seniors’ latest friendly match saw a very competitive affair when they played Burnham, with several matches being decided on the 17th or 18th holes. The final result went Burnham’s way, 4-3. Wins for Mendip came from Bryan Lewis and Kevin Carmody, Mike Lill and Andy Griffiths and Phil Butcher and Alan Evans Jones.

Tony Williams