Hi everyone Welcome to Team News Week 6! What a night it was - the great British summer certainly kept us on our toes, with heavy rain and hailstones giving way to bursts of sunshine! Through it all, the show went on, as we hosted Richmond GC for another thrilling home fixture! Let’s start with the scratch section, where every player gave it their all in some truly exciting matches. Our winners on the night were Josh Thompson, who sealed a 3&1 victory, and Tom Lee and Andy Hood, who each clinched tense 1up wins on the 18th hole. Our star performer was our talented junior, Sam Griffiths, who stormed to a 5&4 win. On the flip side, Jacob Brown and Jake Crowle both fought hard, narrowly losing 2&1 in matches that could have gone either way. The final score was Billingham 8 points to Richmond’s 4. Switching over to the handicap section, we saw our players up against opponents who each received between 3 and 6 shots - never an easy task! The section ended in a tie, with Billingham and Richmond both earning 6 points. Congratulations to our winners: Marc Symington with a 3&1 win, Graeme Nimmo edging a 1up victory, and Nic Winstanley coming through 2&1. Steve Smart and Will Bellerby, both giving away 4 shots, each lost 6&5, while Daniel Spence, giving away 6 shots, lost on the final hole, an incredible effort from Dan, as always. As ever, it’s the collective spirit and camaraderie among these lads that makes us proud to be part of their journey. The final score for the evening saw Billingham with 14 points and Richmond with 10. A heartfelt thank you to our squad players who came along to support their teammates; Graeme Speight, Dave McGreal, and Craig Ewen, your presence makes a real difference. A special word of thanks also goes to our dedicated caddies: Steven Lowth, Martin Griffiths, and the ever-reliable Colin Spence, who braved the weather alongside us. And what would we do without our loyal band of supporters, who show up rain or shine? Huge thanks to Captain Albert Spence BEM, President Stewart Openshaw, Terry Buckley, Tony Littlefair, Marty Gingell, Dave McNeill, Mike Lee, Darren Crowle, Ian Crowle, Kirsty Smart, Jacob Brown’s parents, the ever-present Robert Scotson Smith and his co-pilot Howard Gill, and of course my own co-pilot, the wonderful Holly Stead, who kept me on track all evening. If I’ve missed anyone, please accept my apologies, all of your support is greatly appreciated. Special thanks also to Pat Griffiths for always making sure Sam is on time and for keeping team spirits high. This week, our kitchen and bar staff truly outdid themselves. The Richmond lads had nothing but praise for the parmos, and especially the chilli con carne (just ask Will ‘two portions’ Bellerby!). Thank you to Suzannah, Porchy, Katy, and Kiera for all your hard work in keeping everyone well fed and watered, you made a busy night run smoothly for both teams. Thanks also to John Dales and the greens staff for presenting the course in outstanding condition despite the challenging weather. Looking ahead, we are back in action next week with another home fixture on Wednesday 17th June, this time against our close neighbours, Hartlepool GC. We would love to see even more supporters cheering on the team, you might find it’s exactly the midweek pick-me-up you never knew you needed… and it’s bound to be more entertaining than watching England in the World Cup. Thank you all once again for your incredible effort, team spirit, and unwavering support. It’s an honour to be part of such a fantastic group. Here’s to many more memorable matches to come, whatever the weather! Regards, Tony Evans & Neil Kerr Team Managers