On a cold and not quite so frosty morning, but with the ground hard as a match play golfer's heart, the early Chickens were in a bit of a shiver state, but you know what these birds are like, tough as old boots.

But playing off his newly acquired plus two handicap (thank the Lord for only one more week) the shock was too much, and the spectre of boobies rose before John Hancock, and he yearned for his warm bed and hot soup, and just managed to escape the drop.

Not so Dave Hancock. Despite his recent cut to six, he was beginning to think that it was time to start making a couple of mistakes, or he was going to suffer Vince Shaw's chop, and nobody wants to experience that too many times in a month. But the mistakes were hard to come by, and so he suffered!

Rick Lewis was another who was going the same way, and his 17 handicap looked decidedly under threat, as he carded a nice 31 points. This included a single putt for a four on the third, from way back on the green, and how the ball managed to pop down the hole from there is a mystery. But he got chopped to 10 for his troubles!

An excellent start from Rob Wilkins was setting him up for a big score, but the cold and bad back, coupled with a fortnight's lay-off, finally took its toll, and a solid second place and a cut was his reward.

Gwyn Jenkins haggled with Vince over a half crown for his entry money, which made Vince splutter a bit, and Gwyn pointed out his two on the ninth, but we don't think he will be paid out in old money for that.

Then into the frame came Mike Fox and Sonny Perkins. These two characters haven't been heard of for some considerable time. Well, not as far as the Chickens are concerned of course, as far as the joke factory goes, then it's a different matter. Sonny for instance, can always be relied upon to keep the Somerfield girls in giggles. But enough of that, back to the birds!

The conditions didn't deter three Chickens from getting twos on the ninth, which netted them 40p each. That meant that they actually made 10p on the day! I don't think that even Vince on a bad day would cut them on that. But don't upset him though. So let's hope for another dry Friday, when we can continue the tales.

1. Rick Lewis 31 pts (£2); 2. Rob Wilkins 28 (£1.50); 3. Mike Fox, Dave Hancock, Sonny Perkins 27 (£1 each).

Twos: Dave Hancock, Meurig Jones, Gwyn Jenkins (40p each).

No booby: tied.

There were 29 entries.

B. J. H.