John O'Gaunt Golf Club Seniors Section: Christmas Fayre and Baz Backhouse Trophy December 19 2023

Jonathan Lean, Seniors Captain, presents Clive Bassindale with the Baz Backhouse Trophy

The final Senior Section competition of the year will be remembered for the weather if nothing else.

A field of 72 braved the pouring rain for a chance to win one of the many prizes on offer, including cuts of meat, spirits, wine and beer.

One disappointed entrant joked half way round that he had phoned his wife to ask her to go to M&S for a turkey “because I certainly won’t be winning one the way I am playing!”

But by the time we had all dried out in the bar the atmosphere was suitably festive and the trials of the waterlogged John O’Gaunt course a fading memory.

The presentation began with a few awards to winners who had been unable to attend the Presentation Evening earlier in the month.

These were to Rob Bage for 4th place in the Golfer of the Year Competition, Steve Collins, Runner-Up in the Green Tilley Knockout Competition and Richard Herbert, winner of the Jubilee Cup awarded to the best player with a handicap of 21 and over on the day of the John Freedman Annual Medal Trophy.

The Christmas Fayre itself was won by Clive Bassindale with 36 points, a suitable reward for stepping up on the eve of the competition to fill a last-minute slot.

Second was Andy Brown on 35 points and third, also on 35 points, was Cav Kendall.

Special tribute was paid to Andy Shilton, who is stepping down as Matches Secretary as he sets off on a new adventure with his wife sailing around the world. Senior Section Captain Jonathan Lean said Andy would be much missed by the Senior Section and the Club at large.

He was presented with a bottle of champagne which was accepted by his five-year-old granddaughter Olivia.