For nearly two years, the Seniors, in their Winter Eclectic, have been blessed with reasonably dry weather, but on Tuesday their luck finally ran out. The heavens opened with a deluge descending on the few hardy or perhaps it should read foolhardy souls who ventured on to the course. Of the original 43 entries, only an unlucky 13 decided to leave all reason behind. With the weather being so bad and only a small number of entrants, the format was changed from a medal to a stableford competition.

When I looked out of my window at 11 am, I decided that they must have cancelled the competition, so decided to phone Stan Hudson to find out if our meeting had been brought forward. On answering, Stan asked why I had rang him out on the course, to which I replied, I did not think they would have been so daft to be playing in such inclement conditions, but I'd forgot that I was dealing with seniors!

Seniors captain Brian Waters was not best amused being interrupted by my call as, according to him, it mucked his drive up and caused him to lose a brand new ball. Talking of balls, some players had a field day; in fact, Stan and John Beechey found nine of them between them on one hole. Clifton John went even better, finding 15, but he did not say how many he lost. Whether it was looking for these balls or not, his left hand was coal black by the time he got in.

According to Doug Havard, it was worse than milking cows. Talking of Clifton losing balls, on the new ninth tee, moved further away from the beach so as to prevent balls being struck on the beach, he proved that they had not gone far enough by putting his tee shot into the sea!

Despite the very poor playing conditions, one player, obviously with duck type genes, proceeded to return a very creditable score of 35 points; this being Ken Gouldsbrough, and what's more he claimed the only two of the day on the 12th.

In second place, looking very wet and bedraggled on 30 points, was Des Stone; Des has been very prolific over this winter by constantly finishing in the prize money and leads the way on that list.

Of the 13 players who took part, creditably eight completed a full return; mind you, there were some big scores on some holes. Brian Morgan and Dudley Williams had a nine and a 10 between them on the first four holes; despite finishing second, Des had an 11, but Clifton went even better by rattling up a 12 on the eighth.

With the eclectic still counting, there were some notable moves, with Nigel Rimell opening a four-shot lead in the net section over John Beechey by virtue of picking up one shot in his round and John losing two shots because of his handicap adjusted downwards from 22 to 20. Chris Sierwald is one shot back in third. Ken was the big mover of the day, picking up five shots in his fine round, with Des and Clifton (despite his 12) both picking up three shots.

In the gross section, we have a new leader in Stan Hudson, picking up one shot to head Martin Neilan on the same score, but Stan having a better back nine. Richard Davies, despite not playing on the day, lies dangerously just one shot behind them in third. Creditably, Nigel is only two shots behind him in the gross!

The full table is published for the final time in this half of the Eclectic until the presentation on March 17. Finally, Gary the steward once again won a bottle of wine in Brian Morgan's charity raffle.

Electic Order

oF Merit

Net: Nigel Rimell 53; John Beechey 57; Chris Sierwald 58; Martin Neilan 59; Ken Gouldsbrough 60; Newman Vincent 61; Dudley Williams 61; Stan Hudson 61; Ron Murphy 62; Brian Waters 62; Des Stone 62; Clifton John 62; Doug Havard 63; Richard Davies 63; John Cook 63; John Hayhoe 63; Dave Miller 64; Brian Morgan 64; Peter Williams 64; John Hall 64; Jack Hasdell 64; Bob Howse 64; David Llewellyn 65; Rod Clarke 65; Geoffrey Aston 66; Colin Griffith 66; Peter Woodhouse 66; John Charnock 66; Mike Munro 66; Alan Yates 66; Russell Clarke 67; Hywel Probert 70; David Lamb 70; Jim Taylor 71; P. Marsden 73; Rob Wilkins 73; Paul Nixon 74; Royston Morgan 74.

Gross: Stan Hudson 71; Martin Neilan 71; Richard Davies 72; Nigel Rimell 74; Peter Williams 76; Des Stone 76; John Beechey 77; Bob Howse 77; Newman Vincent 78; Geoffrey Aston 78; Rod Clarke 79; Dudley Williams 79; Brian Morgan 80; Ken Gouldsbrough 80; David Llewellyn 81; Peter Woodhouse 81; John Hall 81; John Hayhoe 81; Dave Miller 82; Russell Clarke 83; Jack Hasdell 83; John Cook 84; Ron Murphy 84; Clifton John 84; Jim Taylor 85; John Charnock 85; Alan Yates 85; Brian Waters 85; Chris Sierwald 86; Doug Havard 88; Colin Griffith 88; Paul Nixon 91; Hywel Probert 91; David Lamb 91; Mike Munro 94; P. Marsden 94; Rob Wilkins 95; Royston Morgan 98.

J.D.M.