St Edward's Rhubarb Issue 5

ST EDWARD’S r h u b a r b

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the green in 3. Borrett was faced with a lightning down-hill, downwind putt. The ball was well struck but it didn’t want to stop – rolling by 10 feet. Sutton Valence missed for par and made 5. The stage was set for Talbot-Williams to take the match to extra holes. The 10 footer for a par 4 was back up the hill with a few inches of break off the left. The putt was well struck and he made it! With the honour, Talbot- Williams selected driver and following a short wait struck a great drive down the left hand side of the fairway – sending the ball out some 250 yards. Somewhat fazed, Sutton Valence also reached for driver and went after the ball with some equal determination, but the ball went slightly right albeit a good distance – well beyond the fairway bunkers at 250 yards and dangerously close to the out of bounds. On arriving where the ball had landed, it soon became clear that the ball was out of bounds. The Sutton Valence provisional ball was within 15 yards of the green so a regulation four was expected to be good enough to win. Borrett played an easy wedge to the green’s centre. Sutton Valence were unable to get up and down and Talbot-Williams’ putt was good enough to be conceded. The Martyrs had won! In the 2nd Round the Martyrs faced Lancing. It was to be another close run match with Smart and Neal playing some good golf to win the first match 6&5. The highlight of their match took place on the par 3 7th. Playing 168 yards, with a half club wind from behind, Lancing played first and made a hole in one! Needing an ace to halve the hole, Smart played a quite remarkable shot, pitching 10 feet short of the hole, releasing, taking the break from the left and then – could you believe it! – touching the hole only to lip out and finish 6 feet behind the flag – too much pace! It was to be an expensive hole in one for Lancing, with 20 thirsty teams waiting in the clubhouse! Borrett and Talbot-Williams were unable to repeat their heroics from the 1st Round, leaving Haig and Ellis to decide the match against a strong Lancing pair. A particular highlight was Ellis holing a 15 foot putt on the blind par 3 14th (222 yards) for a birdie two following a well struck rescue club from Haig. The putt was good enough to win the hole, bring the match back to all square and shift the momentum back in favour of the Martyrs, who went on to win the 15th as well. While the match went to the 18th green,

Squash In our now traditional bi-annual game against the School 1st IX, four Martyrs ( Ed Craven-Smith (B, 1984-1989), Finn Kettlewell (H, 2009-2014), Jimmy Lam (G, 2010-2014) and David Smart enjoyed a good contest against Edward Beccle (B), James Moore-Stanley (H), Jean-Luc Bonnefoy (B), and James Parsonage (B). 25 games of squash were played using the American scoring system (15 points to win – hand in or hand out). Richard Howitt (MCR), guested for the 1st IX, having not played for three years. He had a good contest over three games with David Smart. Ed Craven-Smith, Finn Kettlewell and Jimmy Lam all played some excellent squash ensuring that the Martyrs came out on top 16 games to 9. A most enjoyable morning was concluded with an excellent curry

M A R T Y R S

lunch in the Martyrs Pavilion. David Smart (C, 1968-1972)

Autumn Meeting - Worplesdon GC It was the first time the Martyrs have played at Worplesdon and it proved to be a great success. 14 OSE played, starting the day with bacon rolls and coffee before 18 holes playing 3 ball stableford. Richard Redfern played very well with some accurate driving to win the Latham Bowl with 39 points playing off 13. The longest drive was won by AndrewWolton (F, 1988- 1993). The Kitchin Quaich was won by Peter Neal . The Autumn Meeting will be held at Huntercombe GC on Friday 28th October. Incredible value at just £50. Peter Neal (K, 1993-1998)

unfortunately it wasn’t going to be our afternoon with Lancing winning by 1 hole and therefore the match 2-1. The Martyrs therefore entered the Solihull Salver and were drawn with Birkenhead and Coventry the following day at Brancaster GC. Thirty-two schools entered with the four highest scores qualifying for the Committee Bowl on the Sunday. We managed a commendable 74 points, with Smart and Neal managing 33 scratch stableford points (which was the second lowest gross of the day), though unfortunately this wasn’t quite enough to qualify. My heartfelt thanks to the team, who played fantastically well throughout the weekend, and the Martyrs who generously covered the majority of our expenses. This year’s qualifier will again be at North Hants GC on Sunday 8th May, where we hope to qualify for the finals once again.