The Critchley Cup – 2018

After an absence of three years the Critchley Cup and its associated trophies returned in some style at Seascale Golf Club on Saturday, 7th July. Despite a number of late withdrawals a select field took to the bleached links at around 10.30 with the entire field completing the course in time to view England’s victory over Sweden! The golf was of the highest calibre. There was a tie for the top honour and the Critchley Cup, Scott Sharp pipping Cameron Wood, who won the Bill Fox Cup, with 20/19pts on the back nine, both amassing 39pts. Seascale being their home Club they can expect handicap reductions from 11 and 7 respectively, in the very near future. They are the youngest competitors ever to take part in this OSBGS event as they are both still in education! One of the anomalies of closure. The best golf of the day was played by John Berry (2) who scored a magnificent 37pts and won Farquahie’s Fortifier (a ’blessing’ in disguise!) and a wonderful bottle of malt whisky donated by Tim Morrison. Other trophy winners were Mike Stamper who won the superb Ken Case Tankard for seniors. Ben Wilson won the Dick Harrison Cup (over 12 Handicap) and Tom Wright our diligent Hon. Secretary won the Doman Salver for those under 25 (if we knew where it was – PLEASE SEARCH and let us know?). We were made very welcome and wonderfully well looked after by all at the Club. We have decided that the Critchley Cup, all being well, will return to Seascale next year, in either July or September (at a weekend) whichever proves the more popular date. Our grateful thanks go to Tom Wright our Hon. Secretary for his efforts in cajoling Old St Beghians’ to the start line (never easy – despite their ability to enjoy themselves hugely ‘on the day’), as well as his secretarial duties on the day – many thanks.

The following day The President, Hon. Secretary and the Society’s most ‘capped’ (and MVP…) Adrian Peckitt negotiated a delightful nine holes of the St Bees School golf course, now the St Bees Golf Club. During the round we bumped into Bill Douglas who has masterminded the saving of the Club and course during the last few difficult years and with a good deal of financial backing from the St Bees School Golf Foundation, to which so many members of the OSBGS subscribed. We can report that the Alec MacCaig Memorial bench is well used and in excellent order.

The course is in excellent order – but they still haven’t managed to get rid of all the sheep!