After the most appalling weather last year, our teams of 12 were very pleased to find Old Hunstanton bathed in sunshine with a steady breeze and a championship golf course in fantastic shape, classic conditions for the links golf that would be played over the 2 days of this treasured, annual fixture.
The afternoon of day 1 belonged to the RAFGS but it was very close with all 6 foursomes matches decided either on the 17th or 18th hole. With 2 halved matches and 3 wins, the RAFGS stepped into a sumptuous dinner leading 4-2. As usual, Hunstanton were the most gracious of hosts and over coffee new Match Managers Graham Pearson (RAFGS) and Tim Cowell (HGC) paid tribute to their respective predecessors, John Mason and Jon Pearce, and recounted the history of our fixture that goes back to Wg Cdr Cecil Hayward and the Officers of RAF Bircham Wood who first presented the Challenge Cup to HGC in the 1930’s as a trophy played for by East Anglian RAF Stations and the Club at Hunstanton. The first record of the RAFGS match against Hunstanton was in 1980 when the Match Manager was Cecil Beamish.
Roger Carr kindly concluded the most sociable of evenings recounting Sir Paddy Hine’s favourite ditty’s, “It can’t be done!”, enjoyed by all. The wine flowed well during and after dinner, rather too well for the RAFGS as day 2 saw a terrific comeback from our impeccable hosts. Paddy Mournian was the only RAFGS to maintain a 100% winning record as HGC recovered with a resounding 4 ½ to 1 ½ morning win, taking the match by the closest of results, 6 ½ to 5 ½. Graham Pearson presented Tim Cowell with the magnificent match trophy, which leaves Hunstanton with 23 wins against the RAFGS with 17 wins with 3 draws. Everyone headed home after a very enjoyable 2 days, with smiles on their faces, old friendships renewed and our kinship with Hunstanton Golf Club in rude health.
RAFGS team: Nigel Dowdall, Roger Carr, Jerry Davies, John Harrison (guest, but now a member), Alan Hemson (guest), Paul Hughesdon, Alastair Maxwell, Paddy Mournian, Graham Pearson, Jim Stewart (guest), Ollie Whyatt.