Last week we posed the question: Could anyone beat Stan Hudson, such was the rich vein of form he was showing in the Chicken Trotters.

Well, this week we can give you the answer. Yes, Stan could be beaten! Quite a shock, we know, but not so much as the shock you will experience when you find out by whom!

For, the Observer can exclusively reveal that the man to finally take Stan's scalp for the first time this year was none other than your correspondent, himself! OK, you can all get up off the floor now; surely it wasn't that big a shock, was it.

Alright perhaps it was, for it was only a matter of weeks ago that yours truly was deep, very deep, in the Chicken doldrums after picking up the booby. Ah, the highs and lows of golf.

Fortunately, it was then that Chief Chicken Morran finally saw the light and took pity on this faltering fledgling by awarding him a welcome increase in handicap - and not before time, it must be added.

Perhaps Morran might now be wondering if he acted a little too hastily, though, for rumour has it that the dreaded axe is about to fall on this Chick, who some might say has 'risen like a phoenix from the ashes'.

Others might say something rather different, but don't forget this is a family newspaper.

But there is no doubt that a period of suffering in the sin bin is very much in the offing. Whether the lid will ever be removed remains to be seen.

As it turned out, 14 Chickens left the hutch last Friday on what was a pleasant day for golf, among them two 'golden oldies' (Morran's words not mine), who were making a welcome return to the brood, namely Colin Griffith and Newman Vincent. Another, Malcolm Arlott, was also back from his adventures Down Under.

None of this trio was to feature in the prizes, however, as yours truly surprisingly, nay amazingly, took top perch with 30 points, and that was five better than nearest rival and playing partner Fred Adlam - another returning from warmer climes - who made a nonsense of his own sin-bin shackles to cruise to a well-crafted 25.

Another man with a smile on his face - for very different reasons - was Clifton John, who celebrated a notable 'double'.

For not only did Clifton pick up the booby prize - his 10 points just edging out Doug Havard on 11 - but he also bagged a rare birdie two on the 12th, with his whoop of delight being heard all over the course. Well, we heard it back on the tee anyway. Well done Clifton.

Finally, par for the day was recorded at a healthy 21.

Results: 1. Neil Dickinson 30 pts (£1.50); 2. Fred Adlam 25 pts (£1). Twos - Clifton John (70p). Booby - Clifton John (30p entry fee returned).