In a magnificent effort by both the Somerset Inter-Club League (SICL) squad and the Bristol and District Alliance squad, both Ladies’ teams have gained promotion, with the Interleague Team winning their division.
The Interleague team for the last match against Tall Pines at home was Tina Davies, Team Captain, Jill Bocquet, Erica Klim, Janice White, Rose Hallett, Ladies’ Captain, Kathy Lane, and Sue Slade. Their opponents were hoping to gain 2.5 points to secure promotion but the Wells’ Ladies put paid to that with a resounding 6-1 victory.
The team for the final Alliance match versus Mendip was Glynis Slater, Philippa Gowen, Sandy Heath, Team Leader Tina Davies, Jill Bocquet, Cath Levell and Erica Klim, and again the final result was 6-1 to Wells.
The annual Hobby Horse match between teams from the Men’s and Women’s sections of the Club was played on a beautiful sunny and calm September day. The course was in most excellent condition and a close match was enjoyed by all. There was a narrow victory by 3½ to 2½, and the Ladies’ team retained the unique Hobby Horse Trophy after a hard-fought encounter.
Bill McCollum and John Slater won on the last hole to pip Cath Levell and Katrina Foote. Redoubtable veteran George Davis and the evergreen Eric Loxton beat Ros Beach and Linda Wright 3&2 and Mike Magrath and Chris Strickland managed an honourable half playing against Tina Davies and Kathy Lane.
For the Ladies, Gill Magrath and Sandy Heath had a comfortable victory against Steve Rowse and Andrew Boatswain by 4&2. Silvia Gibbon and Erica Klim triumphed against Steve Bocquet and Richard Perry by 3&1 and Phyl Lewison and Jenny Ead managed a creditable 2&1 victory against Colin Mantle and Dave Greenwood. So, the Men must wait another twelve months before they can try to replace the pink ribbons round the neck of the Hobby Horse with blue ones – they will have to do a lot better than this if they are to succeed!
Wells Club Captains played their annual Invitation Day on a lovely late September day, with partners coming from as far afield as North Devon and West Wales. In a very close competition, the winners were Clive Keene and his guest Bob Smallcome of The Mendip with 44 points. In second were Steve Bocquet and John Collinge (Orchardleigh) winning on countback from Erica Klim and Hamish Miln (Saunton). Both pairs had 43 points.
The Cowern Trophy is a mixed pairs event. The sunshine didn’t bless the competitors, but the rainfall was at a minimum which didn’t seem to be of any hindrance to the teams and the winners Catherine Levell and Mike Gee.
Erica Klim and Mike Metcalfe won the Mixed Summer Knockout for the fourth year in succession, with Jill and Steve Bocquet runners-up. Sandy Heath won the close-fought final of the Ladies Loxton Cup with Diane Ramsay, finishing on the 17th hole after a brush with the bunkers.
Janice White