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RAOC Gazette - page 149

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Publication date 1977
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Transcription Results did not seem to matter on a hot sunny day in a match
played in a very friendly atmosphere. Mrs Crawley presented
the East skipper Captain Ralph Phipps, with the Rhine Trophy.
THE
1SAOR
GOLF
THE HEIVSOIV AND HEDGES TliOPHY
INTER COUPS GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
THE 1977 BAOR Inter-Corps Golf Championship for the Ben-
son and Hedges Trophy was played at Sennelager on 13th and
14th July. RAOC were defending champions and eleven other
Corps applied to dispute this.
On the morning of the 13th, five players from each team
ptayed a medal round—the best four scores in each team to
count. The best eight aggregate scores were to qualify teams
iof the quarter-finals. As RAEC and RAPC had withdrawn
and ACC were a man short on the day, this round served to
eliminate only RE. Royal Signals qualified first and drew the
Infantry who surprisingly beat them ten up. RAOC drew the
favourites, RADC, and finished ninth up with notable wins by
W02 John Kearney (seven up) and Staff Sergeant Jim Bowen
(two up). Staff Sergeant Bob Wilson had a hard fight on his
hands to beat the ex-Surrey Colt Lieutenant Dune by one hole,
Staff Sergeant Brian Holding played Lieutenant Colonel Andy
Nnnn the RADC number one and though six down with three
to play, won the remaining holes to salvage a very creditable
ihree down result. RE ME and RAC beat RA and RCT respec-
tively and REME beat RAC in the semi-final.
In our semi-final against the Infantry, John Kearney played
superbly to go down one hole to Major Lance Brook who the
previous day had held the redoubtable scratch player Sergeant
Chris Carveth until the seventeenth hole. Captain Joe Mollett
had his hands full to finish even with Major Donald Pheysey
who had scored a resounding ten up victory the previous day.
Bob Wilson (seven up) and Jim Bowen (two up) ensured a
four up victory though Brian Holding was unlucky to go
down in his match.
This meant it was the old enemy REME in the final. ASM
Paddy O'Regan fresh from a convincing ten up (gross seventy
four) in the morning, played John Kearney who pulled out all
the stops to score a gross seventy four himself and beat the
luckless O'Regan ten up. Bob Wilson lost his first game in the
championships to ASM Tony McFegan by one hole after an up
and down battle, Brian Holding was unfortunate to meet an
opponent on top of his form but, after being seven down
at the turn, held grimly on to halve the last nine.
Playing his slightly unusual brand of golf Jim Bowen (who
needs fairways when I'm so good in the rough?) carved himself
a six up victory, Joe Mollett who had played somewhat un-
steadily in the earlier rounds ' came good * in this one. Play-
ing a captain's game from the start he grossed seventy four to
beat AQMS Brian Ashwell nine up,
So, by a resounding seventeen up, RAOC retain the Ben-
son and Hedges Trophy for another year, WOl Vince Wood-
ward, Staff Sergeant Bill Burton, Captain Jim Bridle and Lieu-
tenant Colonel Ralph Richardson all did their bit to keep
the team going by relaying scores, encouraging flagging spirits
and occasionally caddying, All in all it was a good successful
team effort and especial praise is due to Joe Mollett for his
shrewd Captaincy.
THE
RHINE
TROPHY
RAOC WEST OF RHINE v RAOC EAST OF RHINE
THE match for the Rhine Trophy was played at Bruggen on
8th July between teams representing RAOC East of Rhine
and RAOC West of Rhine.
In the morning four-ball games West took the lead by
three and a half to two and a half but, in the afternoon singles,
East came back winning seven games to five with two halved
to win the Trophy. West clairffed their defeat was due to lend-
ing two players to their opponents both of whom won their
games!
BASE ORGANISATION CUP,
INTER OFFICERS MESS
TOURNAMENT
TWELVE years ago a Cup was presented for competition
annually between the Officers Messes of Didcot, Donnington,
Bicester and Chilwell. When some years later Central Am-
munition Depots and Central Vehicle Depots came under com-
mand of Headquarters Base Organisation they combined to
field a team. The tournament continues to figure high in the w
summer calendar of social and sporting events of the Base
Organisation and 1977 proved no exception.
Golf staged by Donnington and played at the Wrekin Golf
Club, proved a very close run event with the top place and
the Golf Cup going to CADs/CVDs by the narrowest of margins
with only two points separating the first four teams.
Cricket opened with CADs/CVDs knocking out Chilwell
in the first round followed by the semi-finals staged in June by
Bicester. This resulted in Didcot beating Donnington and
CADs/CVDs beat Bicester. The final between CADs/CVDs
and Didcot couldn't take place then due to inclement weather
and the state of the pitch. The game was eventually played at
Bicester on 10th July and proved a real cliff hanger. CADs/
CVDs batted first and knocked up ninety five for three for
their twenty overs, Didcot in reply with four wickets down,
needed three to win off the last ball of the match and scored
two—resulting in a draw but with victory under the rules
going to CADs/CVDs on the number of wickets down.
Tennis and finals day on 17th July as is customary, was
staged by Chilwell using their three grass courts which were in
a really first class condition. The weather was reasonably
pleasant with occasional showers of rain. CADs/CVDs again
ran out comfortable winners with Bicester, Didcot, Chilwell and
Donnington finishing in that order.
CADs/CVDs also notched up another first as the first
team in the history of the tournament to accomplish the grand
slam of winning all three events.
The final positions for 1977 were: —
CADs/CVDs .., 18 points. Winners of the Base Organisation Cup.
Bicester
10 points.
Didcot
9 points.
Chilwell/Donnington (Joint holders of the
Wooden Spoon)
,
5 points.
The Base Organisation Cup and the Tennis Cup were
presented to CADs/CVDs by Mrs Minogue.
The Commander Base Organisation, Major General Minogue,
congratulated the CADs/CVDs on their success and said that
despite imminent changes in Base Organisation, it was the firm
intention that the Base Organisation Cup Tournament should
continue in the years ahead. He thanked Commandants Bicester,
Donnington and Chilwell for their part in staging the 1977
events. The Commander also extended a welcome to Brigadier
George Ayton who was present and who had introduced the
tournament and donated the Base Organisation Cup in 1965.
Brigadier Ayton has kindly agreed that his cup should con-
tinue for future competition despite any change in organisation
that may be necessary.
The Commander bade farewell to Lieutenant Colonel
Larry Dowdall who has masterminded the competition for the
past ten years and has been responsible for the splendid
organisation and recording. All the competitors over the years
owe him a great debt of gratitude and everyone present wished
to thank him and wish him good health and good fortune in his
retirement.
CORPS
TENNIS
THE Corps team finished in third place in the Army Lawn
Tennis League. Wins were recorded against REME, RAMC/
RADC, RA, Royal Signals and RE,
The Corps Championships were held on 14th—16th July
at the Officers Club Aldershot; sixty players entered, All en-
joyed three days of fine weather and some very competitive
tennis; many matches, especially in the handicap events, need-
ing three sets to decide the result. The results were:
Mens Open Singles: Winner Sergeant Smith; Runner-up
Sergeant Franklin.
Book number R0246