OE team in Coldham (rented house)

OE team relaxing in RCPGC

OE Team on the 1st Hole at RCPGC

We had a most enjoyable time despite the results on the golf courses falling below what we would have hoped for and indeed expected. A few of us practiced at Royal Cinque Ports, Deal on the Tuesday and then the majority of the team did the same on the Wednesday. In the first round of the Hewitt on Thursday 11th April, for the second year running, we faced Framlingham. We beat then in 2018 but they had strengthened their team with the addition of two young players and this proved to be the vital difference. Adrian Sharpin and Geoff Campbell won as did David Barwell and Will Hylton, the latter against Framlingham’s top pair of John Wybar and Lottie Whyman. The last match to finish (to seal a 3-2 win for Framlingham) was the one involving Grant Leonard and Charlie Oakley with Charlie playing in his first Hewitt and with a good number of his family watching the action. In the Plate, on Friday 12th April,  we lost by 2 matches to one in the first round to Clifton with Tim Mote and Charlie Oakley being our victorious pair. Malvern emerged as winners of the Hewitt and the Prince’s Plate was won by Lancing.

The team comprised: Ben Dawson, Grant Leonard, Adrian Sharpin, Geoff Campbell, David Barwell, Charlie Oakley, Will Hylton, Tim Mote, Ian Sands and Chris Walker. Paul Wickman was our non-travelling reserve. And we were extremely grateful for support from David Stewart, Nigel Wheeler and the Oakley family.

Roll on next year’s Halford Hewitt which takes place between 2nd and 5th April 2020.

Chris Walker – Fixture Manager (who also runs the whole Princes Plate event)