Midlothian Centenary Celebrations

 

Click to enlarge - but be careful

Midlothian Ladies' County Golf Association held their Centenary Tri-am at Duddingston Golf Club today 9th July and it was a fantastic day, weather-wise and because it was an organisational dream of a day - thanks going to, amongst others, two East Vets who were on the Centenary Committee, namely Karen Ballantyne and Mairi Pollock of Craigmillar Park. Trios of ladies went out all day from 8.50 to 5.30. a total of over 160 competitors. Many of these trios were purely East Vets and some were a "mixed age bag". All were smiling hugely and enjoying a great day in celebration of the Centenary.

Our picture at the top of this report shows our own Ethel Jack and Gillian Kirkwood, accompanied by their guest, that well-known raconteur, Helen Faulds, captain of the West Vets. The webmaster happened to knock into them as they approached the eighteenth hole and was able to take a few snaps.

Out of the entire field of roughly 160 ladies, a quarter were East Vets, but as most were in mixed teams, their performance in the field as a whole was not meaningful. They just enjoyed themselves. In each of the first six holes, the nett best ball counted of the three. This was just to get them going! In the second six holes, two better balls of the three counted - but in the last six holes, from the long Temple Hole until driving straight for Craigmillar Castle at the 18th, everyone had to mind their P's and Q's. Unworthy sevens and eights could not now be ditched in the rough or behind bushes - they were all counting. Ethel Jack, (in the Ethel Jack, Gillian Kirkwood and Helen Faulds(W-K R)trio) said that Gillian Kirkwood (referee) was very severe indeed, wouldn't let her off with a thing and penalised her right, left and centre. However as noted in the above photo, they emerged still smiling.

Results tomorrow.