Ryde ladies’ captain Carole Bingham was on the winning mixed team. Picture by Peter Boam.
GOLFTHE highest number of competitors ever to take part in the IW Mencap Charity Golf Day, at Ryde Golf Club, raised more than £2,600 for Haylands Farm last weekend.
Almost 120 golfers from the Island and the mainland took part in a Texas Scramble competition, with money raised through competition fees, sponsorship, donations and a raffle.
Rosemary Marsh, from Haylands Farm, told golfers how the farm provides a happy, tranquil environment and feels like a second home for its users.
Despite the credit crunch, several companies still offered their support, including Carisbrooke Shipping, C and K Dental Laboratories, ERMC, Island Ales, MAS Plant Hire, Reynolds and Read, Rosemary Vineyard, Salvatore’s Italian Restaurant, Stoneham Construction, Vicky’s Kitchen and Wilson Golf Company.
Following the competition, Ryde captains Tim Barsdell and Carole Bingham presented prizes to the winning teams.
David Brown, Ed Burton, Godfrey Harrison and Clive Smith with a score of 57.4, were the winning men’s team, ahead of Colin Balfour, Richard Couse, Paul Gardner and Colin Thompson, who scored 58.7.
Third were Howard Downer, Mike Kent, Eric Barber and Ray Trueman, with 58.8.
The winning ladies’ team were Julia Fauvel, Pauline Kilty, Brenda Hunt and Chris Varle, scoring 64.3. Second were Di Taylor, Ann Grimes, Trish Pitts and Doreen Perkis with 65.7.
The best mixed team were captains Barsdell and Bingham with Ian Hatcher and Judith Lazell, scoring 58.3. Runners up were George and Sarah Weech, Lyn Brown and Alan Squibb.
Longest drive prizes went to Margueritte Bennett, Carole Bingham, Dan West and Clive Smith.
And Roger Quickenden was buying the drinks in the clubhouse after scoring a hole-in-one on the 18th.
BAE’s tenth charity challenge helps local causes
NEARLY 90 golfers took the greens and fairways of Freshwater Bay Golf Club for the tenth annual BAE Systems Charity Challenge golf tournament last week.
For only the third time in the event’s history, glorious sunshine greeted the players for the betterball stableford contest, which was won by former BAE employee Richard Leppard and John Burke, of BAE.
Fellow BAE workers Mark West and Darren Andrew were runners up.
The event raised money for Sue Ryder Care and for the IW branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, with £3,400 split equally between the two good causes.
Debra Loveday, event organiser and Charity Challenge co-ordinator said: "Without the continued support of our sponsors this event would not be such a success."
Darren Andrew, one of the runners up said: "There was great company, great weather and a great success for the charities. It was a really enjoyable day with many thanks going to all those who organised it."
BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies in Cowes employs over 380 people and is the centre of excellence for development, assembly, integration and test of radar sensors for BAE Systems.
• Picture in the Friday, June 12, County Press.