Hi everyone, Welcome to Team News – Week 12. On Wednesday, we played our final home fixture of the season against the current league leaders, Rockliffe Hall GC. Our scratch section once again faced very strong opponents, with handicaps ranging from +4 to 2, and there was some excellent golf played by both teams. Phil Chadwick won 5&4, while Jake Crowle won 1 up after coming back from 1 down on the 16th hole to win the last two holes. Andy Hood earned our half point. Unfortunately, Marc Symington lost 3&2, Tom Lee lost 1 down and Josh Thompson lost 2&1. All of these games could have gone either way, but unfortunately they did not go our way on the night. The golf was of the highest quality, and every one of you should be proud of the way you played. Final scratch section score: Billingham 5 points, Rockliffe 7 points. In the handicap section, our players produced a fantastic team performance. Graeme Speight won 4&2, Steve Smart won 6&5, Nic Winstanley won 5&4, Darren Hurst won 2&1, and Mark Odath had another great win, 7&5. Will Bellerby won our half point after coming back from 3 down with 4 holes to play, and was unfortunate not to win the match. Well played to every one of you, a great effort. Final handicap section score: Billingham 11 points, Rockliffe 1 point. Final overall score: Billingham 16 points, Rockliffe 8 points. First, a big thank you to our caddies, Steven Lowth, Daniel Spence and Chris Lavender. Your dedication to the team is very much appreciated by everyone. Thank you also to fellow team players Paul McGrath and Craig Ewen for walking with the team and offering advice when it was needed. Thanks, as always, to our regular band of supporters: Captain Albert Spence BEM, President Stewart Openshaw, Steve Carter, Terry Buckley, Mike Lee, Colin Spence, Terry Conlon, Ian Crowle, Kirsty Smart (with our update on the kingfisher on the 11th pond) and, last but not least, our regular senior citizens Howard Gill and Robert Scotson Smith, who continue to keep us updated on how the lads are performing. Your continued support is massively appreciated by all the team players and managers. If I have missed anyone, it was not intentional, so please accept my apologies. A thank you also goes to John Dales and his greens staff for all their hard work throughout the season, especially in what has been a very difficult year of changing weather conditions. I think we have had every type of weather this year, sometimes all in the same night! Your contribution is appreciated by the team players and managers. A massive thanks to Beth and her team for looking after all of us, both home and away team players and managers, with some excellent food choices. Opposition teams always make great comments about the food they receive at Billingham GC. Every one of your staff is a credit to you, Beth: Suzannah, Holly, Katy, Kasey, Kiera, Neve, Archie, Sonni, Jamie, Annmarie and, not forgetting, our chef Porchy. I would personally like to thank every one of you for the hospitality you have given to both teams and managers every week. We are already looking forward to next season. From both myself and Neil, we would like to say well done to every one of you for a great win and for your continued support of every player, whether they win or lose. You all stick together and, as always, your camaraderie is the best I have witnessed for a long time. It makes me proud to be associated with you all. Every one of you is a credit to Billingham GC. Well done! Next week, we face our longest journey of the season on Wednesday 29th July at Richmond GC. Let’s get as many supporters as possible making the trip to support the team, the lads appreciate it so much. It is not as if there is anything worth watching on the TV, and I am sure your partner will be glad of some peace! So come on, share a car with your fellow supporters and make that extra special effort to get there. You will not be disappointed by what you see, these lads deserve your support. Regards, Tony Evans & Neil Kerr Team Managers