The 2016/2017 Chicken Trotter season just gets better and better! Friday, November 25, was a delightfully sunny day - a bit chilly around the extremities and a tad breezy, but for late November; outstanding. Taking advantage of the conditions, 15 well-wrapped Chickens left the coop to try for some corn - and of these 15, eight were already in the ‘Sin Bin’ for previous successes.

You will remember, dear reader, that the Trotters compete over the season for the Booker Prize, which is presented to the player with the best total of Stableford points on five cards.

Competition is intense and secretary Steve Cole has been monitoring the top performers thus far. After seven trots, Steve himself (surprise!) is the leader on 131 points, David Lamb has leapt into second spot with a thrusting 128 points and defending champion Neil Dickinson is poised to pounce from third place on 124. Still in the hunt are Geoff Aston and Mike Fox on 122, while dark horse Paul Bradley has amassed 86 points from just three appearances. Watch this space!

This week’s scores, when the par for the day was 25 points, were encouraging.

In fourth place with 27 points - winning nothing and losing no strokes - David Lamb continues his purple patch. His secret? - Zen Buddhism! In third place, Zenless but back from the sick-list, Paul Bradley scored 29 points to win 60p and reduce his handicap to a tiny 11 shots. Consistent Cole carded 30 points, dropped three shots to a 12 handicap - and all for 90p! As explained in the title, the wildly inconsistent Mike Fox staggered from the Booby position in his last outing to top slot this week with 33 points, £1.20 and a reduction of five strokes to a still huge 26.

There were two 2s, both on hole six, David Lamb (again!) and Des Stone, who both received a round of applause and 40p each.

Against his recent run of good form, Geoff Aston slipped into 15th place and qualified for the Booby, two strokes and 30p.

The 15 antagonists managed to amass 49 ‘blobs’ between them - some more than others!

Royston Morgan has been absent from the game for about three years, but he is now returning with a vengeance! Travelling in a buggy and paired with his friend and mentor, Mackie Hart, Roy has ceased to be a consistent Booby candidate and is regaining his old skills. The photograph shows an elated Roy broadcasting the fact that he had just scored two successive pars!

To my everlasting shame, I forgot to mention last week that the long-serving and much-admired John Hancock is suffering from a burst of unpleasant sciatica, exacerbated when he fell off his walking stick! Get well soon John, and get back here - Paul is quite lost without you!

And finally, the competition for the prestigious Roger and Mary trophy, followed by a belated Christmas lunch will be held on January 6, at the normal time. The booking sheet and details are displayed on the notice board - it is not necessary to play, just attend the lunch if you wish – it will be a thre-course meal; sausage, mashed potatoes and gravy - that Lee is a wizard in the kitchen!

M.F.