Queen Elizabeth Coronation Schools Trophy


 We knew our match against Loretto would be a difficult affair on the golf course. They have a well established golf academy and regularly turn out scratch golfers. However we also knew it would be played in a convivial atmosphere as many of the team are old friends. Indeed the links go back to John Wykes (HM 51-63), headmaster to some of our more senior members, who was a Lorretonian himself.
Adrian Peckitt led from the front (does he know any other way?) with Andy Goodwin. He also found Torquil McInroy, an old adversary from university golf in opposition. This stimulation was not enough for the two As, who started the inward 9-2 down. A birdie 2 at the 13th and a winning 4 at the long 15th levelled the match. Unfortunately Lorreto eagled the 16th and a bunkered drive at the 17th by St Bees enabled the boys from Musselburgh to win 2 and 1.
Andy Crummy and John Currie, a pairing of youth, experience and many shades of colour (you needed to see John’s trousers) were next out. A high quality game saw Andy and John birdie the 9th to reach the turn 1 up. A birdie 2 at the 13th for Lorreto brought the match back to level. An errant drive from St Bees at the 15th followed by a Lorretonian eagle 3 at the 16th meant that a half in fours at the 17th saw us lose 2 and 1. However, John stole the show afterwards in his pre-war Old St Beghian blazer!
Mike Stamper and Charlie Crummey started poorly against a pair who took full advantage and were down 4 after 4 holes. Then, galvanised by thoughts of a whitewash, the Grindal and South combination produced a remarkable display of holing out from distance and found themselves level after 13 holes. A poor approach shot at the 14th lost us that hole and a drive that unluckily clipped a branch on the 17th cost us the match 2 and 1.
It was easy for us all to see how the Lorreto Golf Academy has benefited their golfers, and it won’t be long before they will be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Tonbridge and Charterhouse as a golfing force, to the future benefit of their school. Through the sterling efforts of Michael Coffey and Matthew Rigby, I hope that the St Bees Golf Academy will follow in their steps.
The tournament was won by Madras College, St Andrews, who beat Kelvinside Academy in the final.

Match result: Old St Beghians 0 Lorretonians 3


The St. Beghian Society, St. Bees School, St. Bees, Cumbria, CA27 0DS

tel: 01946 828093         
email: osb@st-bees-school.co.uk     www.st-beghian-society.co.uk