A large field contested the annual running of the Anniversary Cup at Mendip. Difficult conditions resulted in the CSS rising the maximum of three shots to 75. Only two players had sub par scores. Division One was settled after a three-way tie on net 73, with a win going to Simon Messenger, with Wayne Black keeping up his remarkably consistent run in second place and Tom Lowe, third.

Division Two saw another win for Paul Apfelstedt with 73 and he was followed by David Golledge, 75 and Martin Honeybun, 76.

Division Three saw a fine seventy from Glynn Haddock, with Paul Wood second, with 71, beating Geoff Collard on countback. However, the Cup was won by Division One player, Kevin Mattock, who also recorded seventy, but won on countback.

The Men’s Avalon A Team recorded a 4½–½ win against Tall Pines and this victory confirmed that Mendip were the title holders of Division Four and thus are promoted. A very well done to Paul Reakes and his team. Wins in the latest victory came from Ian Fairclough and Chris Lindley, Wayne Black and Wayne Srawley, Alan Fussell and Danny Middle, Jordan Vaughan and Rick Kefford with Jamie Phillips and Dan Allen gaining a half.

Mendip also obtained an excellent result when winning the Somerset County event, the Trounson Trophy, held this year at Orchardleigh. This is a handicap event, with teams of four, from which the best three scores are taken. 24 teams from fifteen clubs competed. Mendip’s winning team was led by Malcolm Srawley and also contained Scott

Butland, Spencer Pocock and Tom Chapman.

The Ladies’ Challenge Cup took place and was won with an excellent net 74 by Gill Brown with Sarah James second, with 76, and Lulu Carolan third, with 78. The Ladies also held their monthly stableford event.

Division One was won by Jenny Merrett, with a splendid 37 points well clear of Jinhee Page and Gill Brown who both recorded 32 points. Division Two was won by Nichola Croft, with 36 points on countback from Chris Williams with Di Stanton third. Division Three was won by Eileen Masters, followed by Caroline Simper and Caroline Laws.

The Ladies Alliance A team visited Bath and came away with an excellent 7–7 draw. Wins for Mendip came from Aimee Sawyer, Patricia Rawlins and Jan Fukuyama, with Fran Davies gaining a half. The Alliance B Team were not so fortunate and went down to a heavy defeat against Clevedon, with only Chris Olds gaining a half. This result leaves them with a real possibility of relegation this year.

The Ladies Inter League team gained a fine win over Oake Manor, 4½–2½ with wins for Jean Padfield, Liz Rose, Mary Ainsworth and Di Stanton with Libby Bellew gaining a half. The Ladies Friendly Team entertained Kingsdown and went down to a 2–3 defeat. There were wins for Carol Mosley and Alison Rumming and May Curtis and Pauline Williams.

The Ladies Past Captain’s Day was held with fifteen Past Captains playing and they were joined by a further four for the dinner afterwards. Always a good social occasion, the Ladies do play for a Trophy and this year it was won by Linda Brobson.

The Mendip Seniors Vase Open Competition attracted almost 150 entrants, including eighty visitors. Moving the event this year to a Friday and into September proved popular and will establish a position in the diary going forward. However, the weather Gods did not look kindly on the change and the conditions worsened as the day progressed. Early starters home player, Ian Perkins, handicap four, and Alistair Johnstone, three handicap from Taunton and Pickeridge, returned good scores of 37 points, but the Vase was won by Richard Gould, of Wells, another early starter playing off fourteen who scored 38 points. Of the later starters, bearing in mind the worsening weather, good scores were recorded by Mark Jones, of Long Ashton, 35 points and Mendip’s Michael Gardiner, with 34. The over 70’s prize went to Mendip’s John Whyman with 33 points and Roger Wickett retained the over-80’s cup. The best visitor’s prize went to Peter Evans, of Clevedon, with 33 points.

The Senior’s team have been busy of late. Firstly, losing 2½–3½ when home to a strong Yeovil side with wins for Mike Snaith and Merlyn Saunders and Alan Evans-Jones and John Brooksbank with a half gained by Seniors Captain, David Pilbeam and Adam Spragg, coming from four down with four to play. Next up was the local derby with near neighbours, Wells. There were many close battles and the match finally went Mendip’s way, 3½–2½.

The Seniors also visited Bristol and Clifton, resulting in a halved match, 3–3, then they entertained Knowle, losing 3½–2½. And finally, they visited Kingsdown. There was an hours’ delay when, whilst the opposing Captains were playing the seventh hole, they witnessed a nasty road accident on the adjacent road. Eventually play continued and the end result was a 4–2 win for Mendip.

Tony Williams