| The Golf Challenge demanded 3 competitive rounds of golf in the day on the picturesque Stonyhurst Park course punctuated by the finest of gourmet meals – Champagne Breakfast and Luxury Lunch, courtesy of Northcote Offsite, the catering arm of Northcote Manor of nearby Langho; an award-winning country house hotel and weekend breaks provider, with a Michelin Star. The co-owners, Craig Bancroft and Nigel Howarth are both big supporters of Spoon and were happy to donate two amazing meals for the sustenance of fellow Spooners. The evening Banquet was held at the Shire burn Arms Hotel, Hurst Green.
The players met at the Shireburn the night before for pie and peas, a briefing and to watch England snatch a draw from the jaws of victory against Sweden in the World Cup. A 4.00am alarm call had everyone up and off to the golf course and the teams were all underway by 5.30am playing a greensome better ball format. The Champagne Breakfast provided a welcome interlude before setting off again at 10.00am for the Stableford leg of the competition.
The intrepid Northcote staff nobly manned the lunch-time barbecue (Fillet of Bowland Beef, Buttered Goosnargh Chicken and Best Loin of Pork!) despite the first torrential downpour of the day, which delayed the start of the final round Texas Scramble. Eventually the downpours got the upper hand and the round was curtailed to just 9 holes, which did not seem to be too unpopular a decision and, remarkably, led to the swift disappearance of any remaining stocks of Champagne.
The organisation on the day was a triumph for Harry Ronson, John Austin and their team of marshals from Stonyhurst Park Golf Club – the competition ran with clockwork precision, with Paddy’s team winning the overall honours, the usual attractive Wooden Spoon prizes and a trip to the Wooden Spoon Golf Grand Final in September.
The Sportsman’s Dinner at the Shireburn in the evening demonstrated unequivocally that a combination of goodwill, high class entertainment and expertise is an ideal recipe for serious fund raising. The good will came from the enormously supportive and generous diners and Will Greenwood, a top rugby man in top form, and Norman Prince, the wittiest northerner on the circuit, provided the entertainment, though John Lavelle’s ebullient and dynamic fund raising and auctioneering are an entertainment in their own right! It also helps to have such a splendid venue as the excellent Shireburn Arms – Steve Allcock and his staff made an outstanding contribution to the success of the event.
So, the fledgling Ribble Valley region announces its arrival and warmly thanks all our golfers, sponsors, contributors, helpers and friends for their wholehearted support and commitment to making our first venture so enjoyable and successful. The committee would also like to thank Richard Greenwood, the Ribble Valley Spoon Chairman, for all his hard work in putting together such a fine event.
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