Ministers tee up success
Forget the Claret Jug - two ministers from South Ayrshire have bagged a golfing honour.
The annual competition between the Church of Scotland and the Church of England was held at Yelverton Golf Club in Devon.
The competition features 12 representatives from each religious organisation and this year two ministers from the Presbytery of Ayr helped the Church of Scotland secure a famous victory.
The Rev Kenneth Elliott, minister of Craigie Symington linked with Prestwick South, and the Rev David Gemmell, minister of Ayr Auld Kirk, were members of the Church of Scotland team.
The famous trophy, which dates back to 1911, was won in 2015 by the English team on Scottish soil.
After the morning two ball foursomes the score was tied at 3- 3. In the afternoon singles, David, a veteran of the team, secured an early victory by five and four. With the score standing at 9- 7 in favour of the Church of Scotland, two matches remained out on the course.
A tie would have been sufficient for the Church of England to retain the trophy. However, a three and two victory by Kenneth in the penultimate match put the Church of Scotland in an unassailable lead and the eventual score was 10- and- a- half points to seven- and- a- half.
The trophy therefore made its way back to Scotland, and in particular Ayrshire.
Some local funeral directors contributed to sponsoring the event and David and Kenneth, as a way of thank you, visited them with the trophy.