Kentish Express Ashford & District
Thompson joins the Union for his 50th
Golf round-up
Barry Thompson earned himself an unexpected 50th birthday present in the shape of his first Kent Golf Union title at Wildernesse Golf Club in Sevenoaks.
The retired contracts manager from Lydd won with 43 points to win the spring meeting and the prize of a Powerkaddy golf bag, which he donated to his 12-year-old son Henry, already a winner of several junior competitions at Littlestone.
Thompson said: “I play five or six times a year and a pal of mine rang me up asking if I would like to join him.
“Winning topped off what was a good day. The course was fantastic and in great condition, and the hospitality was second to none.”
Two Littlestone Warren members, Janice Wickens and Linda Ellse, have celebrated holes-in-one in the same month.
The pair achieved the feat on the same hole – the 124yard fourth – at different times.
Wickens scored hers in a club trophy competition, while Ellse celebrated hers playing with her husband.
Jean Purkiss completed a hat-trick a fortnight ago.
Scott Cullen and James Wright both retained their respective titles at the Ashford Junior Open.
Kings Hill-based Cullen, last year’s Kent Order of Merit winner, repeated his success of 12 months ago with a one-over par 72, while 13-year-old Wright won the best nett score prize with his best-ever round of 77, yielding a score of 64, reducing his handicap of 13 to 11.4.
He was playing off 27 when he Kent moved a step closer qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Middleton Cup with a come-from-behind 122-112 victory over Isle of Wight at Southampton on Saturday.
The victory earned them 16 points and makes them favourites to reach the last-eight with one group game left, against Sussex at Halls BC in Dartford on Saturday, July 4
They made a slow start and trailed by 30 shots at the halfway stage, before reducing the deficit to 10 after 15 ends, due to the combined efforts of rinks skipped by Jeff Vane (Canterbury) won a year ago.
Collins, a member at Ashford and Chart Hills, praised coach Tom Muchmore for the part he had played in his development.
Paul Jakeman is t he inaugural winner of the Harry Pickering Silver Bowl, a competition in memory of the man who died last year, having had a long and distinguished association with both clubs. and Pat Briscoe (Sandwich).
Vane’s quartet, including Paul Woolford of Ashford Town, launched a good comeback, while Briscoe’s picked up seven shots at one end to create a clear advantage.
Kent compete in the area finals of Balcombe Trophy at Croydon on Sunday. They meet Buckinghamshire in the morning with the winners facing either Oxfordshire or Middlesex in the afternoon.
A total of 21 past and present hockey players took part in the competition at Ashford Golf Club, with Jakeman winning with a score of 36, one ahead of Pickering’s widow Karen, who presented the prizes. He also received a replica trophy.
Mike Taylor was winner of the Golden Gnome for the lowest score.
It is planned to stage the event again in 2016.
The overall winners progress to the national semi-finals at in Leamington Spa in August.
Ashford Town’s Ian Payne and Keith Rich of Charing represented Kent in a 103-100 friendly win against Surrey at Purley Berry BC near Croydon.
Clive Allen, of Ashford Rail, was a member of a winning rink (25-8) as the Kent County BA President’s Council defeated the Kent County Patrons BA 134-98 at Maidstone. Ivor Groves (Ashford Town) represented the Patrons.
Ashford Rail beat touring
side Richmond and Barnes 98-71 in a five rink mixed triples friendly. The best winning rink was Lead Norman Brown, Trudy Paine and skip Chris Knapp (28-7).
Rail lost 110-98 at Milton Regis in a six-rink mixed triple. Paul Hunter, Hazel Larkin and skip Ian Larkin were the highest winning rink (24-10).
Ashford Town beat Charing 109-91 in the Forest of Blean Men’s Triples League.
The two clubs also drew 74-all in a friendly mixed triples at Charing.
Hamstreet beat Northiam 60-59 in their latest Mermaid League match.
E Ford, G. Colley and R Collick were the most successful trio in a 64-62 friendly win at East Sussex club Guestling.
Tenterden lost 75-54 at Northiam in the Mermaid League on Sunday.
Andrea Crosser, Janet Tidd and Phillip Jeffery were the leading rink in the club’s 70-69 home defeat by Biddenden on Saturday.
Carol James, Mark Pope and Tub Dixon led the way with a 28-16 rink success in a 78-60 defeat in a friendly at Paddock Wood.