East Vets Ladies

Round 2 of the Spanish

2012-02-12T16:25:00.009Z

Pamela Williamson was the best Scot in the Spanish Seniors Championship at La Manga. Most of the Scottish players managed to achieve an improvement in the second round - as did the winner, Maria Castillo Dolagaray who scored 72, by far the best score of the tournament - but on the whole scoring was still quite high so it is safe to presume this was a very tricky venue. There will no doubt, be many memories of shots just lost but more of the pleasure in playing in warmer temperatures than the rest of us, still vegetating in front of our firesides.

Results
153 Maria Castillo Dolagaray (81, 72)
159 Maria de Orueta Pemartin (76, 83)
161 Rocio Ruiz de Velasco Colas (79, 82)
166 Diane Williams (86, 80)(joint eighth)

Leading Scottish Scores
170 Pamela Williamson (Baberton)(83,87)(joint 16th)
179 Lesley Johnston (Gullane) (96,83)
180 Jennifer Mack (Haggs Castle) (92, 88)
185 Sue Penman (Gullane) (92,93)
190 Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) (96,94)
193 Suzannne Cadden (Cardross) (98, 95)

The webmaster is putting in a special plea for winning scores on the Scottish side next year as the home names are easier and quicker to type.

Round One of Spanish Senior Championship

2012-02-12T16:08:00.004Z

Pamela Williamson will have been reasonably happy to bring in a score of 83 in Round One of the Spanish Senior Women's Championship at La Manga. She was three ahead of her friend and playing foursomes partner Diane Williams (Canada) and nine strokes better than the nearest Scots, Sue Penman and Jennifer Mack, both on 92. Round 2 is today.

Leading Score
76 Maria de Orueta Pemartin
Leading Scottish Scores
83 Pamela Williamson (Baberton) (joint 13th)
86 Diane Williams (Canada)
92 Sue Penman (Gullane) Jennifer Mack (Haggs Castle)
96 Helen Faulds (Douglas Park)
98 Suzanne Cadden (cardross)

East Vets Participating in Spanish Seniors

2012-02-12T12:11:00.003Z

This early season seniors championship in Spain used to boast a fair Scottish entry but of late it has declined in popularity. Often the weather can be a little disappointing. This year it is being played at La Manga. Four East Vets out of an entry from Scotland of only seven are hopefully enjoying a little early sunshine and getting their swings into gear for a successful season.

The first two days were the "Doubles" day 1 a four ball and day 2 the two ball foursomes. For some reason the scores were very much higher throughout the field in the two ball foursomes. the Spanish couple of Catalina Castillego Oriol and Maria Orueto Pemartin won the Doubles Championship with a total of 154. Pamela Williamson (Baberton) and the adopted Scot from Canada, Diane Williams were our leading entry with a joint total of 168

"Doubles" Scores
154 Catalina Castillego Oriol and Maria Orueto Pemartin
Scottish scores
168 Pamela Williamson and Diane Williams (81, 87)
175 Lesley Johnston and Suzanne Cadden (81, 94)
176 Sue Penman and Dorothy Thomson (84, 92)
179 Helen Faulds and Jennifer Mack - West Vets (84, 95)

Karen Ballantyne selected for Scottish Vets Team

2012-02-08T09:40:00.008Z

At last, with the New Year having been installed for almost six weeks this East Vets site is up and running again and definitely open for business. And what better way to start up than by announcing that an East Vet lady has been selected for the Scottish Vets team. Karen Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park) is to play in the annual match against an Irish Senior Select team with the clear and single-minded object of wrestling the Mary McKenna Perpetual Trophy back from Irish hands. This year, the match is on Irish soil - so all the sweeter to win - and will take place on the Hilton Templepatrick outside Belfast.

The team, captained by Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) and apprentice Noreen Fenton Dunbar(vice-captain) has some changes. Fiona de Vries(Midlands) is hoping for a full return to duties after her curling accident of last year and Anne Ryan (Highland), having had a lean 2011 owing to back problems will both be aiming for inclusion in the Jamboree at the Hirsel in August, but this has been seen as an opportunity to recall Alison Bartlett who shone in the Irish Seniors last year and to introduce Linda Urquhart of North who was runner-up to Noreen Fenton in the Scottish Vets Championship. Noreen indicated last year she was retiring from international participation. The team will hardly be rudderless with the talent it has.

Scotland has a wealth of players in the wings and competition for a place in future vets international games this year will be fierce. So watch this spot.

Scottish Team (in alphabetical order)
Elaine Allison (Midland)
Heather Anderson (Midland)
Karen Ballantyne (East)
Alison Bartlett (Highland)
Lorna Bennett (Midland)
May Hughes (West)
Mary Smith (Highland)
Linda Urquhart (North)
Reserves
Anne Ryan (Highland)
Jill Harrison (North)
Alex Glennie (West)

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T01:06:00.001Z

Happy New Year and great golf to all East Vets

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Moira's Funeral Arrangements

2011-11-23T22:37:00.001Z

Moira's funeral will be at 2pm on Wednesday 30th November at Mortonhall Crematorium. The family invite everyone to meet after the funeral at the Nether Abbey Hotel in Dirleton Avenue, North Berwick to celebrate Moira's life.

Moira Thomson dies after a short illness

2011-11-19T23:00:00.004Z

All who knew Moira Thomson will be completely shocked at the sad news of her death this morning at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh. It is literally only short months since she was competing in the Scottish Seniors at Portpatrick in early July with no thought that she would have any kind of threat to her health. Her family and friends who visited her in hospital can have had no idea that her recently diagnosed illness would have claimed her quite so quickly. Our thoughts and condolences are with her husband Alastair and her family.

It is impossible to know what Moira was going through in these last weeks, but she faced all of it with the most incredible courage and patience and without a word of self-pity. Is it always difficult for visitors to know what to say in situations such as this where the diagnosis is known, but Moira would take control and make it so easy for those who arrived at her hospital bed. Conversation would never stick around the laughter over shared memories.

Moira won the Scottish Girls, in her youth and was a strong team player in both the Midlothian and East Lothian county teams over several decades. However since becoming a senior lady golfer possibly her best years were to come. She was selected year in, year out, to play for the Scottish Vets and also to represent Scotland in the Senior Home International team. Two years ago Moira was a member of the successful team which won at Newport in Wales (first and only time), and in 2010 as a member of team to win the European Senior Team Championship in Berlin, a most stupendous achievement. This was one of her very best performances and one of which she could be justly proud.

The East Vets have lost a truly great player and friend.

38th East Vets AGM

2011-10-24T20:23:00.007+01:00

The 38th AGM of the East Vets Division took place today at 11.15 in Liberton Golf Club. 50 ladies were present for the meeting although only 46 could stay for the lovely lunch.

Captain Noreen Fenton welcomed the company and asked for a few moments silence to remember Elise Guy, past captain, who died earlier this year. Those ladies unfortunately unwell at this time and unable to attend the AGM, were also remembered and the very best wishes of the company sent to them.

Without further ado the presentation of prizes took place, but as nearly a majority of prizewinners were not present, this was a somewhat lightning event. The Elise Duncan Trophy retained in the East v West Singles match was on display as was the Scroggie Cup which, as in 2010, had been retained by another East Vet, this year by Noreen Fenton. It made complete sense that there were 71 apologies considering how many ladies had been unable to accept their prizes and trophies in person. A great number had mentioned that they would be on holiday, this being the school holiday week. It was announced that next year this meeting and lunch, would be held one month later, on November 19th to see if this made a difference to the rather poor attendance. Katherine is already panicking that snow comes early.

It had been agreed last year that the minutes would not be read out to the meeting but that they would be posted on the East Vets website - which had been done. A copy of the minutes for 2010 had been emailed to all ladies with an email address with copies being sent in the post to those who did not. Two ladies declared that they had not been emailed and a plea was made by the chair for all ladies to inform Katherine of a change to their email address or, if they now had one when before they had not. An up-to-date list of email address would be desirable.

Matters Arising. There were only two matters arising, the first referring to the use of DMD's. It had been agreed last year, providing the course on which it was to be used was happy for its use. However one lady, last year, had suggested to be on the safeside, the matter be raised at the SVLGA meeting in Blairgowrie. This had been brought up and no objection aired, despite the SLGA being unable to view it rationally.

The other matter arising concerned the uniform, particularly in matches against other divisions, but also for the wearing at the meetings. The Captain said that the committee favoured the adoption of a mint green teeshirt in place of the yellow, asked if there were any objections from those present but found none. She recommended that if anyone wished to buy one, Katherine was taking orders. There was general surprise at the numbers ordered. Clearly yellow had not been a popular shade and that the mint was vastly preferable. The preference for a plain shirt or one with the East Vet logo was indicated at the time on the order sheet.

Katherine read out the financial report and apart from a couple of questions about the need to raise the subscription when we had money in the bank, this report was approved and seconded.

The Captain read out her report which was quite compehensive, effort being made to include East Vet, Scottish Vet, SLGA and county events where East Vets had been honourably mentioned. The Vice-captain, Marjory Lauder stood up and read out an extensive list of prizes won by Noreen Fenton in 2011, including the Scottish Senior Ladies Championship and the Scottish Vets Championship, since such minor details had been omitted from the Captain's report. Much had been said however about the typical Scottish weather that had been enjoyed, not all of it bad.

The captain then asked for a computer literate helper or possible committee member who would be able to to help at the competitions with regard all matters computer-related. This would allow the Captain and Vice-captain to devote themselves to other matters on these days - not drink more cups of coffee.

The captain announced a committee decision to arrange for the later stages of the Ramsden Cup to be played on neutral courses on the grounds that this seemed fairer. At present ties are played on the challenger's home course which might or might not create an unfair advantage to the home player but was highly unlikely to create the opposite. At this stage it was suggested only the semi-finals and final be played at clubs different from those of either competitor, but that it might be extended in future years. A pool of clubs would be sought so that there would be a choice depending on who won through to the semifinals. Several ladies volunteered to appproach their clubs to offer availability. The association would of course pay the green fees. The captain thanked ladies who had made themselves available to play in team matches, often at short notice and their enthusiasm in their golf. She also thanked her committee for their hard work, in particular Katherine, who was inexhaustible (despite her brown coat!)

There being no objection from the meeting, the office-bearers would serve another year. And there being no further AOCB either, the meeting was closed and a delicious lunch was served, a little earlier than possibly imagined but nonetheless welcome.

Minutes of 2010 AGM

2011-10-19T22:53:00.002+01:00

As was decided last year the minutes of the AGM are now being posted prior to the AGM on Monday 24th October.

Scottish Veteran Ladies Golf Association - East Division

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Gullane Golf Club ~ 25 October 2010

The Captain Elise Guy welcomed everyone to the 2010 and 37th AGM and Prize-Giving.

APOLOGIES

There were 69 apologies

PRESENTATION of PRIZES
All prizewinners most of whom were present this year were duly congratulated. After the presentation Karen paid tribute to the general organisation of the golfing events & how she had enjoyed her year. She not only won the East’s Championship & the Ramsden Cup but to crown it all as the Blairgowrie Champion she won the Scroggie Cup which she had brought along to our A.G.M.

MINUTES of 2009 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The minutes of the meeting held at Murrayfield Golf Club were read then proposed for adoption by Karen Ballantyne and seconded by
Carol MacLeod. This would be the last time for the verbal report and in future the minutes would be presented on the eastvets.blogspot.com website.

MATTERS ARISING
The announcement that the trial using the two best aggregate scores from the spring and summer meetings as qualification for the championship would be replaced by reverting to the summer meeting only was met with hearty approval from the audience. Members were reminded to refer to the eastvets.blogspot.com.

FINANCIAL REPORT
The accounts which had been circulated previously were approved by Clare Bowe and Catriona Shedden. Apologies from Katherine for the rather blurred signature by the auditor due to her printer.

CAPTAIN’S REPORT
Inter-Divisional Matches

East v West Singles (scratch & upwards) played over Troon Portland where the East retained the Elise Duncan Trophy.
East v West Foursomes played over Gullane No.2 where East won the Friendship Trophy much to Asp Robertson’s delight.

East v Midlands
An inaugural meeting at Turnhouse resulted in a win for Midlands.

Elise then invited Noreen as Vice-Captain to say a few words on the East Vets’ achievements in international events.
In conclusion Elise thanked the committee and Katherine for all their hard work and support during her term of office. Gullane Golf Club was thanked for the use of their premises for the day.

ELECTION OF OFFICE BEARERS
With the meeting’s approval, Marjory Lauder would be the next Vice-Captain and Dulcie Barnes our new committee member. Katherine would continue in office.
Noreen was presented with her badge of office.

A.O.C.B.
Noreen mentioned the slight dilemma some ladies might have in the hole & hole Ramsden Cup if all square at the 18th. A show of hands decided the best of three holes thereafter was preferable to sudden death.

The format for the Championship play-offs was as before, first round on Saturday afternoon, semi-finals & final on Sunday. Dates to be confirmed when John Sandilands the pro returns from holiday. Possible weekends, 11/12 June, 18/19 June or 9/10 July. Summer Meeting at Haddington on Tuesday 7 June.
Liberton was now the permanent venue for the Autumn Meeting as entry numbers had doubled since changing from Murrayfield. The A.G.M./Prize-giving on 24 October would also be at Liberton Golf Club.
Uniform for Matches
It was felt that uniformity was preferable but a show of hands for shirts stated yellow/green.

Use of D.M. Devices in East Vets meetings
A request by two entrants playing early in the Autumn Meeting had been turned down. However, a short survry conducted later had shown a positive reaction for their use. The general feeling from the present company was no objection to their use as a local rule. Karen Ballantyne wisely suggested the S.V.L.G.A be asked for a general view.

There being no further business the meeting closed.

2011-10-01T22:08:00.001+01:00

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Final Report on the Senior Home Internationals

2011-09-30T21:14:00.003+01:00

The East webmaster has been on the other side of the Atlantic where the means to write a blog went on the blink and refused to charge up, hence the reporting on the Senior Home Internationals at Tramore in Ireland was a non-event. Our own Karen Ballantyne of Craigmillar Park was flying the flag for the East.

The Scottish Senior team this year, captained by Helen Faulds of Douglas Park, was a combination of new and old, in part due to temporary incapacities and also voluntary retirement, which is what happens eventually in senior teams. Accidents are inevitable, just as people inevitably get (shsh) older. Our team of comparatively new, mixed with experienced faces, has not exactly, wiped the board this year, but they've made a great fight of it and next year -the sky will be the limit.

After two days of disappointing results, Day 3 showed what we are made of. Day One against Ireland was not a good start to the tournament. Karen, partnering the very experienced Lorna Bennett for the first time lost by 5 and 3 to Sheena McElroy and Carol Wickham. The foursomes were lost 2 : 1 and the singles - where Lorna took ample revenge on Carol - were unfortunately lost by 3 : 2 - total a loss of 5 : 3.

Day Two saw Scotland face surely one of the strongest English sides in the history of the competition. Lorna and Karen again partnered each other and although they were unable to get a point they only failed by a whisker, losing by one hole to Bev New, Senior British Champion 2010 and Chris Quinn, whose name is well known to senior ladies. Day Three would surely have given them a foursome victory - had it not been rained off and replaced by seven singles only.

England and Ireland came to the table with two wins each under their belts and when there is absolutely no hope of winning - as in this case - the objective for the remaining teams changes obviously to quite simply, not picking up the wooden spoon. Scotland and Wales faced each other in the golfing equivalent of a scrum. At half-time it could have gone either way. Karen, Elaine Allison and Lorna were all up. Karen had a great start against Karen Weatherley of Wales - "What's the score here?" "Oh Karen's up!" Yes but which one? Our Karen won three out of the first four holes and was two up at the turn. Elaine was one up and Lorna, mowing down everything in her path, five up. The four others were all down at the turn, Heather Anderson one down, Mary Smith two down, Alex Glennie two down - but she had been four down after six holes and May Hughes one, although she also had started badly being three down after five. Lorna put the first point on the board by steam-rollering Vicki Thomas 6 and 5. Karen and Elaine also carried on to win by 5 and 4 and 3 and 2 respectively. Three games to Scotland. Only one more needed. And then Mary and May both reversed their positions, Mary to bring in the winning point and May to follow it with a great half. Coming from behind to a fighting finish. What teams are made of. Four and a half to two and a half.

ResultsEngland 19
Ireland 13
Scotland 8 1/2
Wales 5 1/2

England retained the trophy. To see the results of all matches in detail and photographs, please see West Vets and the SLGA website.

Blairgowrie Weekend Winners

2011-09-20T23:02:00.002+01:00

This being the famous "Blairgowrie Week-end" thousands of happy Scottish Vets descended on - of course - Blairgowrie Golf Club, all set for the fray - Rosemount on the Monday and Lansdowne on the Tuesday. Two small anomalies here. Ladies were everywhere, sporting all the different divisional jersey colours like late summer flowers. Maybe it seemed like thousands but there were in fact, possibly only about 120. And Blairgowrie 'weekend' is wrong too obviously.

Apart from the winning of the Scroggie Cup on Monday, East did not appear in the prizelist with monotonous regularity and indeed were it not for the fact that they won a runner-up mention for the best three nett scores in the Patrick Rosebowl, (winners Midlands), Alice Archbold might have been the only other winner we had. She won third handicap prize in the Patrick Rosebowl with an 75 nett. Well done. The CSS rose to 77 and the score - unfortunately for some - counting.

Noreen Fenton wins Scottish Vets Championship at Blairgowrie

2011-09-20T22:09:00.003+01:00

Noreen Fenton (Dunbar) won the Scottish Vets Championship at Blairgowrie yesterday for the second time and hence the Scroggie Cup. She last won it ten years ago in 2001. In the first round she played the Dumfriesshire champion Mary Williamson and won by 7 and 5. In the semi-final, she beat Val McKean by 4 and 2 and then played Linda Urquhart from the North in the final.

This was Linda's first time at Blairgowrie as the North Champion. Initially the players were evenly matched and exchanged holes before Linda birdied the seventh and took the eighth, to be two up. The short ninth went Noreen's way when she chipped in for a birdie two from just off the side of the green. An unusually wayward drive into the right hand trees at the next required a rescue club kept low under the branches which stopped thirty yards short of the green. A chip to nine inches was given but Linda then failed to hole her own putt and the game was square. The eleventh also went to Noreen when she placed a five iron to the centre of the green. Linda had taken the tourist route and took a five. One up. The next hole was an easy four for Noreen but Linda saved her par with a lovely ten foot putt. A good rescue wood by the East Vet to the centre of the 13th was too much for Linda and she went two down. However Noreen failed to take advantage at the short 14th by three putting and this was halved. The fifteenth was won to go dormie. An imminent victory looked on the cards at the sixteenth when Noreen hit a ball to the centre of the green. Unfortunately it was not her ball and she lost this hole. Dormie two at the seventeeth and a par was all that was necessary to win by 2 and 1.

The weather had been very kind and although rain threatened now and again, this never came to anything. The Scroggie Cup, won by Karen Ballantyne last year had come back to the East Division. Some nice pictures taken by Carol Fell can be seen on the West Vets website.

Day 3 at Belvoir Park

2011-09-15T22:05:00.002+01:00

With no East Vets remaining in the Senior British Ladies' Stroke-play, the excitement in watching the online scoring for the third and final round was provided by the remaining Scottish Vet presence, Mary Smith (Highland Vets), Lorna Bennet and Heather Anderson (Midland Vets). Sadly none managed to influence the result, the eventual winner being Felicity Christine from Woking, an English Senior Internationalist. She achieved a final round of 75 to win by one stroke from Pat Doran of Donnabate. Most competitors improved on their previous rounds, the weather at long last being much kinder. There was clearly a lot of great golf played with twenty three ladies out of a field of thirty one, having an average of 2.3 birdies each! Sixteen two's no less. On the other hand only three ladies managed to keep a double bogey off their cards. A difficult course played under difficult conditions. Everyone deserves congratulations.

Results
230 Felicity Christine 78, 77,75
231 Pat Doran 79,77,75
241 Mary Smith 82,79,80
245 Heather Anderson 81,81,83
246 Lorna Bennett 84,83,79

Day 2 at Belvoir Park

2011-09-14T23:21:00.004+01:00

The second round in the Senior British Ladies Championship at Belvoir Park in Belfast unfortunately saw the end of the aspirations of any East Vets to qualify for the last day's play. Sadly Pamela Williamson who yesterday was sitting approximately in the middle of the likely top forty dropped back out of contention with an 88 in her second round. The conditions were much less severe than on the previous day. The wind dropped back and there was little to no rain but apparently the balls were not running due to the softness of the fairways. Many of the greens were not being reached in standard figures, making pars difficult to obtain. Clearly some ladies managed, the leader Maria de Orueta from Spain, had an excellent 74 with four birdies, but in general the scores were very much on a par (no pun intended) with the previous day.

Pamela unfortunately did not have a repeat of the two birdies she had in Round 1 and found herself in a little trouble at the par 5 third, the thirteenth and also the difficult 17th. Seven strokes lost to par on these holes alone.

Although Barbara Biggart halved the number of bogeys she had yesterday, she also had no birdies to compensate for two disasters at holes seven and seventeen. That 399 yard, par 4 seventeenth hole seemed to catch out a lot of people!

Only four Scots out of the total ten have qualified for day three.

Results
152 Maria de Orueta (Spain) 78, 74
Scottish results
161 Mary Smith (Tain) 82,79
162 Heather Anderson (Blairgowrie) 81,81
165 Maureen Richmond (Royal Liverpool) 86,79
167 Lorna Bennett (Ladybank) 84,83
Missing the cut
170 Pamela Williamson (Baberton) 82,88
170 Anne Ryan (Tain) 85,85
172 Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose) 89,83
177 Alison Bartlett (Royal Dornoch) 89,88, Barbara Biggart (North Berwick) 87,90
184 Janice Paterson (Drumpellier) 91,93

Pamela and Barbara only East vets at Belvoir Park in Belfast

2011-09-13T20:07:00.008+01:00

Only two East Vets are playing in the Senior British Ladies' Stroke-play Championship at Belvoir Park in Belfast. Pamela Williamson (Baberton) and Barbara Biggart (North Berwick) have completed Round 1 in fairly horrible conditions where the remnants of Hurricane Katia are making playing conditions very difficult. Noreen Fenton (Dunbar) and West Vets, Helen Faulds and Jennifer Mack were unable to get across to belfast from either Troon or Cairnryan, when the ferries were all cancelled due to the dangerous high seas and disappointingly had to withdraw from the competition.

Conditions today deteriorated as the day went on. Pamela managed to bring in an 82 which leaves her in joint 18th position in a high class field. Best Scot at present is Heather Anderson (Blairgowrie) with 81. Pamela was only three above par after nine holes but the increased tempo of the wind clearly made it so much more difficult to hole the putts and she dropped seven shots in the second half. However, she did have two's at both the eighth and fourteenth holes. One of her playing partners, Catherine Reilly, also had a two at the fourteenth but went one better with a hole in one two holes later at the 16th which does wonders for anyone's score! The players in joint 40th position will all qualify for the third round so Pamela is in a comfortable position going into her second round tomorrow.

Barbara is at present in joint 49th position. Going out much later in the day, she unfortuunately hit the more severe weather and had an 87. She also had a birdie two at the 14th but ran up rather more bogeys than pars. The last few holes were particularly difficult in the "brutal" conditions so Barbara, as did most of the competitors, found the finishing stretch more than a little tough. Apart from the birdie at the 14th, she had no pars in the second nine. However tomorrow is set to be a little calmer so fingers crossed for a sparkling score tomorrow for both our players.

Leading score and Scottish scores.

75 Jane Rees(Wales)
81 Heather Anderson(Blairgowrie)
82 Pamela Williamson(Baberton), Mary Smith(Tain)
84 Lorna Bennett(Ladybank)
85 Anne Ryan(Tain)
87 Barbara Biggart(North Berwick)
89 Kathleen Sutherland(Royal Montrose), Alison Bartlett(Royal Dornoch)
91 Janice Paterson(Drumpellier)

East Vets Team have drawn match with Borders Team

2011-09-12T19:07:00.002+01:00

The annual foursomes tussle between East Vets and the Borders Vets, played today at Kelso Golf Club, resulted in a draw. This is the best result for the East Vets for several years so a step in the right direction. Next year ------ ?

This must have been the windiest day possible for this match to be played in, but for all that, it was hugely enjoyable - once one accepted the ball went half the distance normally expected. Having said that, with the wind behind ------- !!!

The forecast for the day at Kelso was not so inviting and there was possibly little enthusiasm for jumping into the car and driving down to the Borders but the journey itself set the scene, particularly when passing these wind turbines at Dun Law Wind Farm. Good regular full swing there if a little fast! The first few holes were played in bright conditions but although it dulled down latterly, the rain was never a problem. Trying to judge how much more was needed into the wind was difficult enough - how much less with the wind required much more finesse and luck. Luckily, the greens, lovely as they were, were not particularly fast or replacing a ball might have been well-nigh impossible. It was indeed too bad that no one had a camera. The main victims of the conditions had to be the caddy cars which were frequently blown over and it became an art when stopping at a green, to line all four up side-on against the blast, shielding the lighter ones with those less likely to tip over. No such luck for the players and often it was quite difficult to keep one's balance.

Once all foursomes were in, the Borders catered for the nutritional side of the teams with the most delicious hot buffet. Very enjoyable day. Perfect result.

ResultsBorders first
Vivien mitchell/Mary Richardson beat Jenny Pearson/Sheila Horsburgh 3 and 1
Isobel Hastings/May Hardie lost to Elspeth Bell/Dianne Keddie 7 and 6
Sheila Hunter/Gina Thomson lost to Venetia Scott/Lucille Paterson 4 and 3
Maureen Stewart/Sylvia Cunningham lost to Janet Brown/Heather Cuckow 3 and 2
Jean Dawson /Noreen Fenton beat Flora Kerr/Marvyn Brydon 2 and 1
Margaret Dalrymple/Isobel Halliday beat Iris Fletcher/Anne Paterson 5 and 4
East Vets 3 : Border Vets 3. A very honourable draw!

East Vets Team to Play Borders

2011-09-06T22:53:00.005+01:00

The annual game between East Vets and the Borders is away this year at Kelso Golf Club on Monday 12th September. The format is the same as before - two-ball foursomes played off scratch unless different circumstances prevail and this won't be known until the day.

Team members are invited for coffee and rolls/biscuits at 10am with the match getting underway at 11am. The uniform this year is our green jersey, yellow teeshirt and light-coloured trousers/crops/shorts? depending on the weather- forecast. This is not a match where our record has been either exceptional or illustrious so ladies, you have nothing to lose. (You are allowed to enjoy yourselves as well!) Good luck.

Team (in alphabetical order)
Sylvia Cunningham (Murrayfield)
Margaret Dalrymple (Baberton)
Jean Dawson (Gullane)
Isobel Halliday (Merchants)
May Hardy (Baberton)
Isobel Hastings (Murrayfield)
Sheila Hunter (Murrayfield)
Vivien Mitchell (Prestonfield)
Mary Richardson (Craigmillar Park)
Wendy Ross (Glencorse)
Maureen Stewart (Glencorse)
Gina Thomson (Glencorse)

East Vets Autumn Meeting in Glorious Sunshine

2011-09-05T23:04:00.004+01:00

Yes it's true. The East Vets played their Autumn Meeting at Liberton on Monday in glorious sunshine. Comments between ladies passing on different fairways were not enquiries as to the state of the scorecard as much as awed expressions of wonder at the fact it was a lovely day. However, the weather, magical as it was, in general did not translate into correspondingly magical scores. Ladies - apart of course from those who brought in the winning scores - found the greens, nice as they were, rather difficult. Ah well, it always sparks off conversation over the lunch-table!

The lady who had least difficulty with the greens was Dorothy Silver from Ravelston. She brought in a nett 69. Omens for a great score came early. She holed a seven wood on the first hole for an eagle three! Great start and obviously a great round. CSS 71 63 entries

Results Silver Division
Overall winner - Dorothy Silver 86 - 17 - 69
70 Val Hallam (Glencorse) 82 - 12 - 70
70 Katy Gillies (Melville) 88 - 18 - 70
70 Sandra Ashurst (Murrayfeld) 84 - 14 - 70
71 Fiona McLaren (Baberton) 85 - 14 - 71
71 Elinor Blair (North berwick) 80 - 9 - 71
71 Alice Jack (Liberton) 84 - 13 - 71
73 Fiona Ford (Murrayfield) 85 - 12 - 73
73 Ellice Cackett (Broomie knowe) 84 - 11 - 73
74 Maureen Stewart (Glencorse) 94 - 20 - 74
74 Jane Butters (Gullane) 92 - 19 - 74
74 Kate Johnstone (Baberton)86 - 12 - 74
74 Liz McLelland (Gullane) 97 - 13 - 74

Scratch Winner
78 Noreen Fenton (Dunbar)

Results Bronze Division
72 Vivien Mitchell (Prestonfield) 93 - 21 - 72
73 Carol Foggo (Murrayfield) BIH 98 - 25 - 73
73 Isobel hastings (Murrayfield) 94 - 21 - 73
74 Christine Reid (Kilspindie) 97 - 23 - 74
74 Anne Beedie (Glencorse) 95 - 21 - 74

Congratulations to all prize-winners

Photocopy of letter sent from St Columba's Hospice

2011-08-23T22:51:00.002+01:00

After the passing of our former captain Elise Guy, a cheque for £50 on behalf of the East Veteran Ladies' Association was sent to St. Columba's Hospice, in accordance with the wishes of her family. This is a photocopy of the nice letter received back from Martin Lawlor, the campaign manager. Apologies for the poor quality but the webmaster was unable to scan it in and this was a photograph of it (with a shaky hand). Click on it to enlarge and facilitate the reading.

Karen Ballantyne selected to play in Senior Home International Team

2011-08-22T22:44:00.007+01:00

Karen Ballantyne of Craigmillar Park has been selected to play for Scotland in the Senior Home Internationals at Tramore in Ireland on 28, 29 and 30 September. Karen is the 2010 - 2011 Scottish Vet Champion and has recently returned from the Jamboree at Wellingborough where she won two out of five games. Karen is reported to be surprised but delighted. We wish her and Scotland all success.

This is not the first time that Karen has sported a Scotland jersey. After winning the Scottish Stroke-Play Championship at Ballater in 2003, she was selected to play in the inaugural women's senior home international matches at Whittington Heath. The East Vets were actually well represented in these far-off days. Karen was accompanied in the team by Moira Thomson, Noreen Fenton and Pamela Williamson. Ruth Brown was a reserve. In 2011 there is now only Karen. Moira and Noreen have followed Pamela into retirement and hung up their international golf shoes.

The Scottish team welcomes two other new caps, Alex Glennie and May Hughes both of whom played at Wellingborough when Pamla Williamson was Vets Captain.

Scottish Team
Heather Anderson (Blairgowrie)
Karen Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park)
Lorna Bennett (Ladybank)
Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie)
May Hughes (Lanark)
Anne Ryan (Tain)
Mary Smith (Tain)
Captain Helen Faulds (Douglas Park)
Reserves to be announced

Draw for the Autumn Meeting

2011-08-22T22:04:00.003+01:00

Moving the Autumn Meeting from Murrayfield to Liberton seems to have been a popular decision, going by the numbers entering the competition. Sixty-nine ladies are drawn to play on Monday 5th September. No deposit was taken for this game at the beginning of the season and so the entrance fee will be £14 which Dulcie will be glad to subtract from all, prior to playing. She will be most grateful if the exact money can be tendered whenever possible, otherwise she might require to bring sixty-nine one pound coins with her in her handbag, just to cover all emergencies. Remember also that skye caddies or the like are acceptable.

Katherine will have a supply of East Vet green jerseys for sale.

9.30 Noreen Fenton, Elinor Blair, Frances McFadzean
9.38 Maureen Stewart, Jean Dawson, Isobel Hastings
9.46 Seonaid Stewart, Carol Macleod, Sally Brian
9.54 Carole Ross, Elice Cackett, Alice Jack
10.02 Margo Blair, Libby Campbell, Elizabeth Smith
10.10 Moyra Loughran, Margaret Dalrymple, Anne McKenzie
10.18 May Hardy, Rita Veitch, Rosemary Denny
10.26 Patricia Rose, Amelia Taylor, Ann Hanna
10.34 Barbara Biggart, Fiona McLaren, Norma Richmond
10.42 Marjory Lauder, Shona Low, Ros Thoresen
10.50 Molly Woolgar, Katy Gillies, Jane Butters
10.58 Dorothy Silver, Pat Mavor, Betty Redwood
11.06 Margaret Thompson, Sandra Ashurst, Beth Freedman
11.14 Marion Law, Davida Simpson, Carol Foggo
11.22 Joan Marshall, Dulcie Barnes, Clare Bowe
11.30 Barbara Halliday, Liz McLelland, Mary Richardson
11.38 Kate Johnston, Fiona Ford, Carol Halliday
11.46 Anne Beedie, Jane Millar, June Robertson
11.54 Catriona Shedden, Christine Reid, Asp Robertson
12.02 Pam Stephenson, Lyn Lockerbie, Maureen Woodward
12.10 Irene Campbell, Sylvia Cunningham, Carol Scott
12.18 Isabel MacDonald, Nancy Gow, Vivien Mitchell
12.26 Nanette Weir, Judy Cuthbertson, Senga Grant

Good game to everyone

Sandra Kempson wins Ramsden Cup

2011-08-15T22:28:00.000+01:00

Sandra Kempson beat Mary Davidson in the final of the Ramsden Cup. It is hoped that a report on this game will follow in due course. Congratulations to Sandra.

Scotland do not Retain Miller-Stirling Salver

2011-08-12T19:23:00.007+01:00

Not our finest hour! Not only did Scotland fail to beat the South, they lost in spectacular form. After losing all the foursomes, they lost all the singles bar one which thankfully they halved. 8 1/2 to 1/2. Of course several of the games were very tight, three going to the eighteenth hole but in itself, it does not bode well for the Home International team in October, the selection for which is pending. Captain Pamela Williamson (Baberton) and Vice-captain Helen Faulds are naturally very disappointed considering the promise of the early games. They will no doubt be turning over many questions in their minds as to what went wrong.

Our own Karen Ballantyne, who will likewise be disappointed at the margin of her defeat on paper against Chris Quinn, has no reason to feel so. According to the officials, she played very well against a quality opponent who in her own words "played the best golf she had all week" and finished at four under par. So Karen, congratulations on a good tournament. At any other time, this standard of golf played would have led to a win.

Results
Foursomes
Lorna Bennett and Elaine Allison lost to Carole Weir and Lulu Housman 5 and 3
Mary Smith and May Hughes lost to Chris Quinn and Carole Caldwell 2 holes
Karen Ballantyne and Kathleen Sutherland lost to Irene Brien and Cathy Armstrong 2 holes
Scotland 0 South 3

Singles
Karen Ballantyne lost to Chris Quinn 7 and 6
Lorna Bennett lost to Carole Weir 1 up
Heather Anderson lost to Carole Caldwell 1 hole
Mary Smith halved with Lulu Housman
Alex Glennie lost to Jeannie o'Keeffe 4 and 2
May Hughes lost to Irene Brien 2 up
Scotland 1/2 South 5 1/2
Total Scotland 1/2 South 8 1/2

Results of the games between North and Midlands have not been accessed and therefore the winner of the Miller Stirling is not known as yet. If Midlands has won there would have been a countback. The webmaster is not even going to think about hazarding a guess as to how that would go. Result awaited but sadly, not us this year.

Scotland lose Foursomes against the South

2011-08-12T14:05:00.005+01:00

The morning foursomes against the South have not gone according to plan. Scotland lost all three games and now have a mountain to climb to win. They need to win five of the singles for an outright win. Four and a half would beat the South but could possibly not be enough without a countback against the Midlands should they win against the North. This match is almost always a nail-biter.

Foursomes Results
Lorna Bennett and Elaine Allison lost to Carole Weir and Lulu Housman
Mary Smith and May Hughes lost to Chris Quinn and Carole Caldwell
Kathleen Sutherland and Karen Ballantyne lost to Irene Brien and Cathy Armstrong

Pairings for this afternoon's singles
Karen Ballantyne v Chris Quinn
Lorna Bennett v Carole Weir
Heather Anderson v Carole Caldwell
Mary Smith v Lulu Housman
Alex Glennie v Jeannie O'Keefe
May Hughes v Irene Brien

Other Results from the Jamboree

2011-08-11T22:03:00.003+01:00

All the results from the other matches eg North v South on Wednesday 10th and also those between the South and Midlands Vets today Thursday 11th, can be found on the SVLGA site - see links down the left hand side under Fixtures.

Scottish Vets Draw with the North

2011-08-11T20:18:00.006+01:00

Scotland have not lost a match in the Jamboree. Today they drew with the North of England. Considering the rampage they went on yesterday to win all but one of their singles, they were more than likely a little disappointed with today's result. They won the morning foursomes by two games to one but unfortunately were unable to cash in on yesterday's magic touch to repeat singles success. They only managed to win two of the singles, halving one and losing two. Sum total - a draw.

Those watching the weather forecast at home will have noticed that this area of England was spared Scotland's drenching. With the South being tomorrow's opponents, it is cheering that they, the South, lost to the Midlands, 3 1/2 to 5 1/2 which was the margin of Scotland's success yesterday. But experienced data collectors in this particular match will know there can only ever be one reliable method of predicting a result and that is not to predict at all. The only sure way to retaining the MIller-Stirling is to go out there all guns blazing and win it. The only division who cannot win outright is North but a win by them would put an end to the Midlands' aspirations. Although Scotland leads the table after Day 2, any of the others apart from the North could win.

Results (Scotland first)
Foursomes
Lorna Bennett and Elaine Alison beat Caroline Marron and Karen Lee by 1 hole
May Hughes and Alex Glennie lost to Barbara Laird and Ann Lowe 4 and 3
Heather Anderson and Karen Ballantyne beat Elaine Elliot and Ali Hanson 2 up

Singles
Karen Ballantyne lost to Caroline Marron 4 and 3
Lorna Bennett beat Ann Lowe 2 and 1
Kathleen Sutherland lost to Karen Lee 8 and 6
Alex Glennie halved with Julia Smith
Mary Smith beat Ali Hanson 2 and 1
Heather Anderson lost to Barbara Laird 1 up

Halved Match

Good luck tomorrow.

Scottish Vets Win on Day One

2011-08-10T19:07:00.010+01:00

Scotland made the very best possible start to their defence of the Miller-Stirling Salver when their Vets team produced a magnificent turnaround on Day One. They converted a negative situation from the morning foursomes to a great thumping win after the singles in the afternoon. In the morning, in relatively good conditions (unlike at home) despite a troublesome wind, and playing against the strong Midlands side, they went down 2/1 in the foursomes. Alex Glennie and May Hughes from the West Division, brought in the winning point against Anne Booth and Carol Gibbs - at least one former Curtis Cup player there (webmaster not having details at hand and memory getting worse as the years go by!) But lunch must have set the team up good style for a real tussle. They won all but one of the singles to win outright by 6 games to 3.

East Division's own Karen Ballantyne, not having played in the foursomes, led the team out in the afternoon against the highly experienced Janet Melville, whose pedigree needs no embellishment. After a terrific battle, Karen saw off the opposition on the last hole. Word has it her legs just about gave way with the strain but maybe she was just fixing her shoelaces. What a success! East is proud of you, Karen.

Scotland plays North tomorrow. Same again please.

Results ( Scotland first)
Foursomes
Lorna Bennett and Elaine Allison (Midlands) lost to Jo Ashmore and Janet Melville 4 and 2
Alex Glennie and May Hughes (West) beat Anne Booth and Carol Gibbs 3 and 1
Heather Anderson (Midland) and Mary Smith (Highland) lost to Pat West and Julie Walter 4 and 3

Singles
Karen Ballantyne (East) beat Janet Melville 1 up
Lorna Bennett beat Andrea Stockdale 3 and 1
Kathleen Sutherland (North) beat Cindy Ireland 2 up
Mary Smith lost to Jo Ashmore 7 and 5
Elaine Allison beat Carol Gibbs 4 and 2
Heather Anderson beat Pat West 2 and 1

In the other match, the South - always the "one to beat" (even when the other two are stronger) won by 5 1/2 to 3 1/2 over tomorrow's opponents, the North. There are no details yet of the individual game results. Two big names however, if one may say so, were playing - Chris Quinn and Carol Caldwell, old friends of Scotland over many years.

Right girls. You know what you have to do tomorrow. More of the same.

Scottish Vets at Wellingborough

2011-08-09T23:06:00.003+01:00

Despite the threats of social unrest at Wellingborough (of all places) when shops closed early and many people stayed at home, it did not affect the veteran lady golfers at the Jamboree who were able to proceed with their practice round today in lovely weather conditions. The report is that it certainly is a lovely golf course and our Scottish Team - including our own Karen Ballantyne - are looking forward to the fray. They are playing the Midlands tomorrow in the first of their matches. In a surge of generous spirit (from those likely to get a complete soaking in the East Division) let's hope that the blue splodgy area on the UK weather map does indeed stop just north of Northamptonshire tomorrow.

A Goodbye to Elise

2011-08-09T21:38:00.005+01:00

Libby Burnet, Captain of Gullane Ladies very kindly said a few words about our dear friend and past Captain, Elise Guy, on the occasion of her funeral service last Saturday at Mortonhall. She has given permission for this to be reproduced on the website.

Elise Guy

A remarkable lady -

Captain of Prestonfield Golf Club 1980

Past Committee member of North Berwick Golf Club

Honorary Secretary Gullane Ladies' Golf Club 1989 - 92

Captain of East of Scotland Vets 2008 - 10

Having in her eighties just slipped out of the Silver Division, she became 2009 Bronze Champion of Gullane Ladies' Golf Club.

Apart from her family, Elise lived for her golf and the friendships she made through golf.

When the weather was too bad for golf - which was not often in Elise's book - she walked the course before returning to the Clubhouse to spend time with her friends.

She was very much part of the scene at Gullane Ladies'.

She went out of her way to ensure new members felt welcomed to the Club and was invariably kind and encouraging to beginners. She presented the Crofthill Cup which is awarded annually to our Junior Champion.

Small of stature, people felt protective towards her but she had an inner core of steel and determination which you underestimated at your peril. She was always a formidable but fair competitor.

In the words of some of her closest friends:

Elise played her golf in a bubble of concentration, she did not expect there to be much conversation during a round and woe betide a passing butterfly, a squeaking trolley or the footfall of an errant partner - all would be met with polite disapproval.

On two occasions, one friend witnessed the head of her driver fly off the shaft, propelled by the lightning speed generated by the pent-up surge of her swing - a swing which always had a full follow-through.

Dedicated to the practice ground, her partners often had to call her in from there before a competition, in order to be sure she would make her tee-off time.

Every pro's shop was scoured for desirable items of green clothing - though brown was allowed as a substitute. A green headed driver would have been her delight! Colour co-ordination was sacrosanct.

Annually, one of the weekends she most enjoyed was the Scottish Vets Autumn Meeting at Blairgowrie. With one exception, she had attended this event every year since 1986 - quite a record!

Only last week, Elise played a few holes of golf with friends on Monday and Tuesday. She was looking lively and I am reliably informed she was expressing concern that she might not be playing enough to be able to return the requisite number of cards to keep her handicap!

She was a very special lady who will be greatly missed by many people whose lives she enriched with her friendship. We shall remember her with respect and affection for her kindness, her humour and her amazing enthusiasm and determination.

Thank-you Libby and your co-correspondents Ethel Jack, Carol Macleod and Asp Robertson.

East Vets Lose the Asp Friendship Trophy at Troon

2011-08-09T20:48:00.005+01:00

On a bright,sunny but very windy Monday at Troon Portland, the East Vets lost the Asp Friendship Trophy sadly after possession of only the one year. Hardly enough to leave a trace of DNA. Sorry Asp. There's always next year. This is a two ball foursomes matches for ladies with handicaps of between 10 and 15 and is played on a scratch basis. Unfortunately this year it went the way of the baddies three and a half to one and a half but by all reports it was a most enjoyable day with the usual high standards of catering from Troon Portland, pre and post game.

Results
Clare Bowe and Denise Mitchell lost to Enid Young and Sandra Gilchrist
Gina Thomson and Gilly Glen lost to Marion Stewart and Rena Simpson
Pam Townsend and Kate Johnston lost to Jennifer Graham and Ruth Henderson
Phyl Early and Mary Richardson halved with Freda Bunch and Fiona Roger
Sandra Ashurst and Carol Macleod beat Anne Aitken and Ann Dunn

Update on the Ramsden Cup

2011-08-07T23:09:00.003+01:00

The report on the later stages of the Ramsden Cup seems to have got lost so the results of the quarterfinals are being repeated together with the semifinals.

Mary Davidson beat Denise Mitchell
Sandra Ashurst beat Ruth Brown
Sandra Kempson beat Margo Blair
Hilary Thomson beat Isobel Halliday

Mary Davidson beat Sandra Ashurst
Sandra Kempson beat Hilary Thomson

Mary Davidson is now to play Sandra Kempson in the final. Good luck to both

Scottish Vets Team Prepares for the Jamboree

2011-08-05T22:23:00.005+01:00

Next week, August 10th, 11th and 12th is the Jamboree which this year is at the Wellingborough Golf Club in Northamptonshire. This is generally considered to be an lovely undulating, rolling parkland course, in secluded private grounds which will be a fine test of golf for our veteran ladies. The length is just under 600 yards being a par 74. Although the golf club itself was inaugurated in 1893, the clubhouse has a history going back to the early 18th century and is associated with the Vaux family, whose name appears on one of the holes. It has beautiful formal gardens in front between it and the course itself. The names of the holes are intriguing, three of the more illustrious being The Water Splash!, The Rookery with the 18th being simply The Hall. We hope to have some pictures to show when the team are there and hopefully some stories of interesting holes.

The format of the Jamboree is the same as always - that is unless the weather has anything to do with it (which seems to happen more often than not). Three foursomes in the morning and six singles in the afternoon. As yet this blog does not have the actual draw but no doubt it will be furnished the minute it gets published.

Scotland is ringing the changes this year and it is fair to say we have a much younger team to take on the might of the English Divisions. Although some of the more experienced older players have opted for retirement, the team sadly is still without Fiona de Vries, who continues to recuperate after her accident on the ice earlier this year. Fortunately, two former Scottish Vets Champions, Heather Anderson and Lorna Bennett will be playing. The team will be led out by the present Vets Champion, Karen Ballantyne from Craigmillar Park and once again will be captained by Pamela Williamson from Baberton. We wish them the very best of luck.

Scottish Team
Elaine Allison (Midland)
Heather Anderson (Midland)
Karen Ballantyne (East)
Lorna Bennett (Midland)
Alex Glennie (West)
May Hughes (West)
Mary Smith (Highland)
Kathleen Sutherland (North)
Reserves, Alison Bartlett, Janice Paterson, Jill Harrison
Captain - Pamela Williamson (East)
Vice-Captain - Helen Faulds (West)

East Foursomes Team to play against the West

2011-08-05T07:17:00.003+01:00

The annual foursomes match against the West Vets will take place on Monday 8th, this year at Troon Portland. East will be defending last year's victory. Both teams will be hoping for a drier day and that visions of such wetness as emerged from Gullane last year are not repeated.

The team to represent the East is:

Clare Bowe and Denise Mitchell
Carol Macleod and Sandra Ashurst
Kate Johnston and Pam Townsend
Gina Thomson and Gillie Glen
Lyn Lockerbie and Mary Richardson
Travelling reserve - Marjory Lauder (vice-captain)

Have a great game.

Slideshow of the Pitfirrane day

2011-08-02T23:07:00.001+01:00

View all

Get your own

East Vets v Midlands at Pitfirrane

2011-08-02T18:46:00.006+01:00

The rain was battering so ferociously in Edinburgh and East Lothian this morning that all members of the team would not have been blamed in the slightest for thinking that the re-run of the fairly new East Vets v Midlands Vets match had run aground yet again - or possibly adrift might be nearer the mark. But, surprisingly, it was nowhere near as bad over in Fife and Pitfirrane was coping perfectly with any rain. The East Vets jumped into their cars and headed for the Forth Road Bridge.

Delicious bacon rolls and coffee awaiting the players, were wolfed down before everyone headed out to the car-park to don waterproofs. The rain did not stop until the last players were just about finished but thankfully was never as heavy as earlier. The course did not show signs of flooding at all and the greens were still very pacy despite the rain. Emma Wilson, captain of Midlands and her vice-captain, Winnie braved the rain long enough to await the players at the halfway mark with a bagful of goodies. After this, they weren't seen again so presumably had the good sense to give some trade to the catering service.

Midlands won the Liz Miskimmin Friendship Quaich for the second year running by 5 games to 2. This match was intended for the 6 - 10 handicappers playing off scratch except for the final game between Noreen Fenton and Sandy Bushby where strokes were given for the difference in handicaps as yet another last-minute reserve (for the reserve) had proved impossible to procure and Noreen filled in rather than enjoying coffee and a chat with the hosts. Sandy clearly did not really need the strokes as she won by 3 and 1.

Next year the East will have the Midlands back on home ground where a very serious effort will be made to putting some super glue on the bottom of that quaich. Everyone enjoyed the day and also the lovely hot soup and sannies on returning to the clubhouse. All thanks to our Midlands hosts for a very enjoyable match.

Results (East first)
Barbara Biggart lost to Dawn Butchart by 3 and 2
Sheila Lyon beat Joan Peden by 1 hole
Elinor Blair lost to Katharine Keir by 6 and 5
Caroline Kinnaird lost to Anne Chisholm by 2 and 1
Ray Lynch beat Fran Liddle by 3 and 2
Ellice Cackett lost to Alison Houston by 6 and 5
Noreen Fenton lost to Sandy Bushby by 3 and 1

Elise Guy

2011-07-31T20:15:00.002+01:00

It is with great sadness that we report the sudden and most unexpected passing of Elise Guy, a dear friend to many East Vets and a former East Vets Captain. Elise was always full of enthusiasm be it for something she was familiar with or often, for something new that she had to get to grips with! She had recently returned to having a few holes with friends after having been unable to play for some months. She will be sadly missed.

There are no further details at the moment but we send our sincerest condolences to her family in their bereavement.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

East Team to battle for the LIz Miskimmin Friendship Trophy

2011-07-20T08:32:00.001+01:00

The now established annual match for the LIz Miskimmin Friendship Trophy, cancelled on May 23rd on the day of the "big storm" is due to be played at Pitfirrane on August 2nd. Such is the enthusiasm of our East Ladies, they have been practising non-stop at all aspects of the game since May - well maybe now and again - well there's two weeks till the game. That'll be plenty of time. Here are the names of our team:

Barbara Biggart (North Berwick)
Elinor Blair (North Berwick)
Ellice Cackett (Broomieknowe)
Cynthia Guthrie (Longniddry)
Caroline Kinnaird (Glencorse)
Ray Lynch (Murrayfield)
Sheila Lyon (Kingsknowe)

Good luck to them. Fingers crossed for the weather.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

East Retains the Elise Duncan Trophy

2011-07-13T22:58:00.006+01:00

What a day!

The East laid on such fantastic weather for their West friends no one could fail to feel uplifted and just glad to be alive even if the golf maybe was not up to expectations - but even better if it was! The sun shone non-stop and the views over the Forth were just breath-taking. There was practically no wind and it was so still , if one could have been bothered , one could have listened in to conversations on adjacent fairways - always a dangerous occupation. It was amazing that anyone could be bothered playing any golf at all.

But they did and the most fitting result was brought in with four and a half points each. This meant that the East retained the Elise Duncan Trophy for another year which left the West having vague mutterings and "if only's" because on paper they had the stronger team and could not have been blamed for hoping this was their year. Already they are planning the return match at Troon Portland.

Results (East first)
Noreen Fenton halved with Alex Glennie
Pamela Williamson beat May Hughes 4 and 3
Karen Ballantyne lost to Helen Faulds 3 and 2
Sue Penman beat Suzanne Cadden 5 and 4
Ruth Brown lost to Jane Finnie 4 and 3
Anne Brownie lost to Pat Hutton 1 hole
Caroline Johnstone beat Jennifer Mack 1 hole
Jane Herd beat Anna Telfer 2 up
Elinor Blair lost to Janice Paterson 5 and 4

East Vets v West Vets at Gullane

2011-07-11T14:45:00.004+01:00

The match between the East and the West Vets for the Elise Duncan Trophy will take place on Wednesday 13th July, Gullane No.1 at 3pm where team members will meet from 2pm for coffee and biscuits at the old clubhouse. After this it gets different from usual as we are unable to gather in the main clubhouse for the meal afterwards. This will be held in the Visitor Centre across the road beside the Gullane 2 and 3 courses.

Team members are requested to wear the green team jersey, a yellow teeshirt and cream slacks/ shorts/ crops. Possibly separate attire could be brought in case a change might be deemed necessary - either due to intense heat or rain.

We as a division have opted to allow the use of the skye caddies or similar make - but not any device which is an aid to club selecton in wind or slope. We have discussed this with the West who at present do not allow their use. On this occasion they will make a change to this ruling because the match is on our ground. Their team members are being advised to bring their distance measuring devices if they wish to use them.

Good luck to our team.

East Vets Championship

2011-07-10T23:46:00.015+01:00

Noreen Fenton (Dunbar) is the East Vets Champion 2011 and will represent the East at Blairgowrie in September when competing for the Scroggie Cup. The present holder of the Scottish Vets Championship title, Karen Ballantyne, was also from the East Division.

Despite the terrible thunderstorms circling Edinburgh and the Lothians (other places too of course but on this blog we are the most important!) since Friday and threatening to erupt over Haddington all day yesterday, no more than a few drops actually fell and certainly not enough to persuade the participants to don waterproofs. The course and greens were in great condition. There was one small patch of casual water on the fairway but the only victim of the recent rains was possibly the bunkers which were like concrete with wet sand and very difficult to exit it from with any finesse.

The first game to take the tee was between Barbara Biggart of North Berwick (Summer Meeting scratch winner) and Ray Lynch of Murrayfield. This game was played out very competitively, most holes being played or won with pars. Ray was three up at the turn but Barbara won the difficult 12th with a good four to bring the scoreline back to two. This was however to be her last victory, as Ray, in great form took two out of the next three, the fifteenth with a birdie, to win 4 and 3 and therefore book her place in the final.

The other semi-final was between Sue Penman of Gullane and Noreen Fenton of Dunbar. Noreen had arrived later than the others as she had gone to Dunbar first, not by intention - she had missed the turn-off for Haddington and had to follow the dual carriageway to Dunbar before being able to turn round!

This also was a very exciting semi-final with good steady scoring. Sue took advantage at the third to go one up when Noreen went into a fairway bunker full of water. To all intents it appeared to be the only one on the course that was water-filled. Sue then went two up at the fifth which slopes from left to right and catches many unawares, even when they know it can be a problem. Noreen won the fifth with a par to go back to one down. At the ninth Sue went over the back with a well-hit iron - the pin was evilly placed minimum distance from the edge. Her return chip was generous and left her with a 20 foot putt which she holed. Pressure on, Noreen had one just slightly nearer for the half which she managed to salvage, to be still one down at the turn. She squared the game at the 10th then won the next two holes to go two up at the 12th. Halves at the next two holes in par before a dream 7 wood to the heart of the par 5, 15th green made this three up. Sue mingled with the overhanging branches at the 16th which left her with an almost impossible chip to get close to the pin. It slid past! Noreen sank her putt to win 4 and 2.

The afternoon game was very thrilling. After an exchange of pars, Noreen went one up at the sixth when Ray uncharacteristically chipped just through the green. At the sixth, Ray pulled her drive round one of the trees into heavy rough. She was lucky enough to find it along with three others and managed to get it on to the fairway, but Noreen lagged a long putt to lip the hole and that made her two up. Both on the eighth green, Ray, calmly sank a very good putt for a birdie 2 at the short 8th to bring this back to only one down. A short-lived scoreline when Noreen took the ninth with a steady par. She was then two up at the turn.

And then the fun began. A great approach by Ray at the 10th narrowed the deficit, another birdie at the long 11th narrowed it even further. All square. Unfortunately she allowed her drive at the 12th to drift into the very long grass from which she just managed to get out. Her next hit a tree and she eventually arrived 15 feet away from the hole in 5. Noreen was sitting fairly close to the hole in three. Ray sank her putt but as she said later she would have been better keeping it for another hole! One up to Noreen, the next hole was halved in par but Noreen hitched up the lead to two by winning the short 14th with a three. Never outdone, a beautiful approach at the 15th, gave Ray a four, her third birdie. Noreen had been judging her long putts very well throughout the game but left her third shot very short after a misjudged pace from off the green and failed to hole from 8 feet. Only one up. A good putt ensured a half at the 16th after she hit a less than crisp iron which just slipped off the front edge of the green.

Both on to the green at the short 17th, Ray putted first but was 5 feet short. Noreen put hers dead. Ray missed her putt and Noreen tapped hers in to win the championship.

Barbara and Sue had made it a very long day for themselves by caddying in the afternoon. Very many thanks to them and to Marjory, Vice-captain who came along to support.

Semifinals
Barbara Biggart lost to Ray Lynch 4 and 3
Sue Penman lost to Noreen Fenton 4 and 2

Final
Ray Lynch lost to Noreen Fenton 2 and 1

Semifinalist for the East Vets Championship

2011-07-07T23:42:00.002+01:00

All the quarter-finalist games have now been completed at Haddington. The results are as follows:

Barbara Biggart beat Ros Thoresan 4 and 2
Ray Lynch beat Alice Archbold 3 and 1
Karen Ballantyne lost to Noreen Fenton 3 and 2
Fiona Hunter lost to Sue Penman at the 18th

The draw for the semi-finals at 10 o'clock on Sunday 10th July is:

Barbara Biggart v Ray Lynch
Noreen Fenton v Sue Penman

All supporters welcome

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Recap on the Scottish Seniors

2011-07-02T22:38:00.008+01:00

All is over at Portpatrick Dunskey Golf Club and the members will thankfully be able to return to normal after the best part of a week when they together with the SLGA, devoted themselves to making the Scottish Senior Ladies Strokeplay and Matchplay Championships the success that it undoubtedly was. They even laid on fantastic weather - after the practice round that is!

Out of all those East Vets who participated in the strokeplay but did not qualify for either of the two matchplay competitions, as already said, there were four remaining who went on to the final two days. Sue Penman, Pamela Williamson, Moira Thomson and Noreen Fenton.

Sue Penman had a great Scottish Seniors. She took Ann Lowe, a three handicapper from Royal Birkdale, to the 20th hole, but unfortunately lost to the Strokeplay winner, Alex Glennie at the seventeenth. Moira went down at the first extra hole in the first round to Heather Anderson, the 2010 Strokeplay Champion. Pamela, the first winner of this matchplay championship, had a slightly easier run against Alison Bartlett of Highland Division, who had had the best scratch in the first qualifying round. Pamela won by 4 and 3. She then was the next victim of Heather Anderson, who beat her 2 and 1. Noreen had a very tight match in a low scoring match against Senior Scottish Internationalist Lorna Bennett from Midlands, who has won the title twice previously. There was a healthy exchange of birdies, but Noreen sneaked the important one at the first extra hole. She then took on May Hughes of Lanark whom she beat by 3 and 2. Noreen met Janice Paterson of Drumpellier in the semifinals and although she went into an early lead of four holes, lost these gradually when Janice started to wield her putter with intent. She (Janice)had a lovely birdie at the difficult seventh and also at the ninth. Although dormie two down at the 17th and finding herself in the left rough, totally unphased, Janice sent a beautiful iron to the heart of the green and had another birdie to bring the deficit down to one but a half was all Noreen needed at the 18th to gain the point.

In the final, Noreen met Heather. They were evenly matched from the beginning reflected by the scoreline where there was never any more than one hole in it either way. Heather started the ball rolling by taking the first with a birdie but lost it at the second to a par when she was bunkered to the rear of the green. All square again. The long third was halved in par but Noreen, trying to be too neat with her tee-shot at the fourth caught the front slope to the green and went no further. Heather went one up - but only for the length of the next hole where Noreen sank a 15 footer for a birdie. All square again.

The next two were halved in par but uncharacteristically, Heather missed a short one at the tricky eighth green for Noreen to take the lead for the first time. Both should have had birdie twos at the 10th hole where both tee shots were no more than three feet from the pin but both failed to take this golden opportunity and halved in a less prestigious three. However Heather did not miss her chance at the alternative Devil's Beeftub - known as the 11th green. She sank a lovely putt for a birdie two. All square.

The next four holes were halved which sounds very boring but the fourteenth was hardly that. Heather sent her drive into the horrible bundai on the right. Noreen was straight up the middle. Heather sensibly took a provisional. Noreen started to count her chickens (too soon). The ball in the rough was magically found and equally magically, Heather got out (just) on to the semi rough and proceeded to send a cracker towards the green. "S'gone over" someone said. Still unwisely counting chickens, Noreen went to her ball to find it was in a divot filled with soft soil and only managed to strike it thirty yards together with a load of grass-seed. One of the chickens had had it's neck thrawn. But then she put it two feet from the pin, looking like a safe four and a hole in the pocket? Heather was certainly off the green in three but got out a wedge and slotted her ball, also for a four. Half - but certainly not a boring half. Still all square.

Pass on the next hole which doesn't look much but has a very cunning green. It was also halved. Two attractive drives up to the top of the hill overlooking the green at the sixteenth. Two wedges into the green, where Noreen slotted hers for a birdie to be one up. Two halves in par at both the seventeenth and eighteenth and Noreen was the 2011 Scottish Senior Champion.

Scottish Seniors at Portpatrick

2011-06-30T23:44:00.001+01:00

One East Vet, Noreen Fenton of Dunbar is still on her feet and running at Portpatrick. Noreen has got through to the semi-finals tomorrow morning. She meets Janice Paterson of Drumpellier. In the other semi-final Alex Glennie of Kilmarnock Barassie meets the holder Heather Anderson of Blairgowrie.

For all results please refer to Carol Fells report on the West of Scotland Site, the SLGA site or Kirkwoodgolf

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Noreen runner-up in Scottish Senior Strokeplay.

2011-06-29T23:07:00.000+01:00

Noreen Fenton of Dunbar just failed to win the Scottish Senior Strokeplay Championship at Portpatrick by one stroke. In a round that had four birdies, she unfortunately ran up a 9 at the fourteenth and although she followed this with a birdie two, she was unable to finish the seventeenth and eighteenth in par figures which would have been all that was needed. The winner was Alex Glennie of Kilmarnock Barassie with a total of 150.

Most East Vets improved on yesterday's scores but none more than Mary Richardson, the Midlothian County Captain who last week led her county team to victory in the East Jamboree at Pitfirrane. Mary knocked 11 strokes off her first round.

East Vet Scores

151 Noreen Fenton
155 Sue Penman
157 Moira Thomson
158 Pamela Williamson
160 Lesley Johnstone
161 Karen Ballantyne
162 Barbara Biggart
166 Anne Brownie
168 Ruth Brown
170 Dorothy Thomson, Frances McFadzean, Rita Dee
171 Joanne Watt
175 Gilly Glen
192 Vickie Sandeman
194 Clare Bowe
195 Mary Richardson

Tomorrow sees the beginning of the Scottish Senior Championship. Readers are referred to the SLGA site for the live scoring or kirkwoodgolf. Noreen, Sue, Moira and Pamela have all qualified.

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2011-06-29T10:05:00.001+01:00

As this goes to press, ladies from East Vets have already started their second round in the qualifying stages of the Scottish Senior Ladies at Portpatrick Dunskey. At the moment conditions are good for golf - that's an acronym for pretty dull and at least not hurricane conditions such as pretty nearly was the case on the practice day. Yesterday on the other hand was a day for the beach. A photograph's dream. For such an amazing day, when the golf course and indeed Portpatrick were seen with new eyes, the scores were disappointingly high. There seemed no reason for them as there was no wind at all to whisk balls away into trouble. The trouble is there quite definitely, whins, deep rough and tall ferns but this is a golf course not a playing field. It seemed to be the greens that caused the most trouble. The greens are beautiful but possibly slower than what would be liked. But that is golf. There are some very tricky ones too with subtle slopes, obvious slopes and some with a tendency to the Electric Brae further up the coast. good clean fun. So what will today bring?

The leading score was brought in by Alison Bartlett of Highland who played her inaugural match for the Scottish Vets against The Irish Select at Craigielaw earlier this year. She had a sparkling 73 one over the CSS. next were East Vet and former Senior Internationalist, Noreen Fenton from Dunbar and Scottish Vet May Hughes from Lanark on 75. Sue Penman, Moira Thomson and Pamela Williamson all challenge on 77. Moira finished a lovely round with an 8 coming out of a bunker like a bat out of hell straight into a whinbush which was out of bounds. Pamela carded a 9. Barbara Biggart from North Berwick is on 80. Good luck to all today.

East Vet Results

75 Noreen Fenton
77 Sue Penman, Moira Thomson, Pamela Williamson
80 Barbara Biggart
82 Lesley Johnston
83 Karen Ballantyne, Dorothy Thomson, Anne Brownie
84 Frances McFadzean
86 Rita Dee
87 Gilly Glen,Ruth Brown,
88 Joanne Watt
92 Maureen McRobb
97 Vickie Sandeman
99 Clare Bowe
103 Mary Richardson

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Junior Vagliano

2011-06-21T18:53:00.002+01:00

Although not quite in the age bracket yet, the East Vets wish potential East Vet, Clara Young every success in her matches this week in the Junior Vagliano at Royal Porthcawl - i.e. GB & I Under 16's - on Friday and Saturday. We know you can do it.

Slideshow of Portpatrick

2011-06-20T22:21:00.001+01:00

Here's hoping the weather next week is as good.

Great East Vet Representation in Scottish Seniors Championship at Portpatrick Dunskey

2011-06-18T20:37:00.005+01:00

There is a very commendable representation by East Vets of nineteen out of a total entry of 82. Last year at Fortrose and Rosemarkie, Moira Thomson of Gullane reached the semi-finals of the matchplay and the year before at Kinross, Fiona Hunter of Baberton won the Stroke-Play trophy. Fingers crossed at Portpatrick. Could we have another winner in this group.

This year there is a change to format. The first two days are the stroke-play days when the strokeplay champion amongst other winners, is found. The following two days, the top eight qualifiers battle it out for the match-play championship title. However it has been noticed over the years how, for the majority, the first two days was the important bit and after that if they didn't qualify, well they might as well go home - which they did, in their droves. What a shame. So this year, all change. After the top sixteen have qualified all the others are in the running for the next competition. The top eight nett scores, after the first sixteen scratch have been dismissed, will fight it out in a nail-biting handicap competition. What could be better. They should have thought of this years ago. The now abandonned consolation tournament (known as 'The Plate')for those eliminated in the first round of the match-play was all very well but that still only involved the same sixteen players out of the entire entry - so much for the rest. Now we have something for others to play for. Excellent.

So here are the aspiring nineteen East Vets - in the order of going out in the first round, for whom special notice will be given as regards reporting on strokeplay rounds.

Lesley Johnston (Gullane)
Ruth Brown (Lothianburn)
Karen Ballantyne (Craiglaw Park)
Sue Penman (Gullane)
Pamela Williamson (Baberton)
Anne Brownie (Gullane)
Fiona Hunter (Baberton)
Moira Thomson (Gullane)
Noreen Fenton (Dunbar)
Barbara Biggart (North Berwick)
Rita Dee (Kingsknowe)
Joanne Watt (Gullane)
Frances McFadzean (Craigmillar Park)
Clare Bowe (Gullane)
Maureen McRobb (Atalaya)
Dorothy Thomson (Gullane)
Gilly Glen (Craigmillar Park)
Mary Richardson (Craigmillar Park)
Vickie Sandeman (Gullane)

Have a great time ladies. Portpatrick is lovely or at least it will be if the rain stays away. Keep an eye on the website and a slideshow of the Jewel of Galloway might appear. If you have time off from the practice ground, have a jaunt around. You'll love it.

Team announced to play for the Elise Duncan Trophy against the West

2011-06-18T20:10:00.006+01:00

The team to play against the West Vets on July 13th at Gullane and retain the Elise Duncan Trophy is as follows. As per custom the team goes out in handicap order on the day and hence at this point, is in alphabetical order.

Karen Ballantyne(Craigmillar Park)
Ruth Brown (Lothianburn)
Anne Brownie (Gullane)
Noreen Fenton (Dunbar)
Jane Herd (Musselburgh)
Fiona Hunter (Baberton)
Caroline Johnston (Murrayfield)
Sue Penman (Gullane)
Pamela Williamson (Baberton)

The team is without the services of Moira Thomson of Gullane who has work commitments but we have strength in depth and are confident of retaining the Elise Duncan Trophy.

Note. Still no one has come forward with details of this mysterious lady. Maybe one of these years-----------

Ramsden Cup Battles Continuously Forward.

2011-06-18T19:41:00.005+01:00

Has this been a bad week weather-wise? One forgets. Certainly the last result in, the match between Isobel Halliday and Mairi Pollock will be remembered by both, a lot longer than it took their clothes to dry. Nineteenth hole was it?

Results
Mary Davidson beat Christine Simpson
Denise Mitchell beat Rita Dee

Kate Johnstone lost to Sandra Ashurst
Ruth Brown beat Christine Clarke

Sandra Kempson beat Dulcie Barnes
Margo Blair beat Isobel Hastings

Christine Reid lost to Hilary Thomson
Isobel Halliday beat Mairi Pollock

The names in bold are obviously the winning quarter-finalists. Next round to be completed by July 11th. Good luck all.

Latest Ramsden Cup Results

2011-06-08T16:45:00.008+01:00

The Ramsden Cup is ploughing away merrily. An extension was granted to one pairing when a contestant was unwell hence this late posting but that has now been resolved. Here are the latest results. Only sixteen left! 'Citing!!!

Clare Bowe lost to Mary Davidson
Christine Simpson bt Madge Hutchison
Denise Mitchell bt Kate Milne
Rita Dee bt Senga Grant
Sandra Simpson lost to Kate Johnston
Sandra Ashurst bt May Hardie
Ruth Brown bt Karen Ballantyne
Christine Clarke bt Norma Richmond
Liz McLelland lost to Sandra Kempson
Dulcie Barnes bt Betty Redwood
Fiona McLaren lost to Margo Blair
Maureen Stewart lost to Isobel Hastings
Seonaid Stewart lost to Christine Reid
Marion Cantley lost to Hilary Thomson
Isobel Halliday bt Muriel Armstrong
Mairi Pollock bt Katy Gillies

Congratulations to all the winners and good luck in the next round which must be played by 18th June

Summer Meeting at Haddington

2011-06-07T19:03:00.015+01:00

Barbara Biggart (North Berwick)won the scratch prize at Haddington today with a steady 79 - on the better inward half from Fiona Hunter of Baberton. Contrary to expectation, it did not rain continuously as it did last year and hence there were only six call-offs. Those who played earlier were definitely the lucky ones as there was thunder and heavy rain-showers to see the later players back to the clubhouse.

Despite the earlier undeniably summery weather, scoring was surprisingly high. Many players, sporting cards destined to raise their handicaps - CSS remained on 73 - trooped into the clubhouse with glum faces and protestations of never playing again - they just couldn't understand how they had been "hitting the ball so well but couldn't get the ball in the hole" - where have we heard that before? They freely admitted the course was in great condition. The greens were lovely but so hard the balls were flying in directions quite contrary to the laws of gravity. These same players cheered up a little on hearing it was a common problem.

Contrary to the majority, the overall winner, Phyl Early of Glencorse, playing off a handicap of 18, had found everything about the course entirely to her taste. No mumps here. She brought in a cracking nett 67, four clear of her nearest rival.

Results
Silver Scratch scores
79 Barbara Biggart (North Berwick)
79 Fiona Hunter (Baberton)
80 Norma Richmond (Murrayfield)(unable to play c'ship)
81 Noreen Fenton (Dunbar)
82 Alice Archbold (Gullane)
82 Ray Lynch (Murrayfield)
83 Joanne Watt (Gullane)(unable to play c'ship)
83 Karen Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park)
84 Sue Penman (Gullane)
84 Ros Thoresan (Gullane)
84 Jane Herd (Musselburgh)
85 Moira Thomson (Gullane)

Division 1 - Nett Scores
Phyl Early (Glencorse) 85 - 18 - 67 (Overall Winner)
Barbara Biggart (North berwick) 79 - 8 - 71
Norma Richmond (Murrayfield) 80 - 9 - 71
Ros Thoresen (Gullane) 84 - 12 - 72
Ray Lynch (Murrayfield) 82 - 10 - 72
Alice Archbold (Gullane) 82 - 9 - 73
Molly Woolgar (Murrayfield) 93 - 20 - 73
Elsa Todd (Prestonfield) 88 - 15 - 73
Lyn Lockerbie (Prestonfield) 89 - 16 - 73
Christine Simpson (North berwick) 91 - 17 - 74
Ann McKenzie (Gullane) 93 - 19 - 74
Joanne Watt (Gullane) 83 - 9 - 74

Second Division Nett Scores
Seonaid Stewart (Murrayfield)94 - 23 - 71 (Bronze Winner)
Sandra Simpson (Murrayfield) 96 - 24 - 72
Vivien Mitchell (Prestonfield) 94 - 21 - 73
Irene Campbell (ullane) 97 - 23 - 74

Several ladies had indicated they were not able to play in the East Vets Championship. The Association was unable to book the Saturday as last year. The quarter-finals therefore will take place at any time to suit contestants between Monday 4th and Friday 8th July and the semi-finals and final on Sunday 10th July - all at Haddington. The draw for this is as follows. There will be some very exciting ties:

Barbara Biggart v Ros Thoresen
Alice Archbold v Ray Lynch
Noreen Fenton v Karen Ballantyne
Fiona Hunter v Sue Penman

Many thanks to our Secretary Katherine Thompson, who manned the desk from early on, took orders for jerseys and answered all the questions, to Dulcie Barnes who came to help but could not play and to Ethel Jack who took herself out of her sickbed purely to help, keep Katherine sane - sorry, company - and open and shut the firedoors to let people in and out. Noreen and Marjory were quite helpful too.

Summer Meeting Draw at Haddington

2011-05-24T22:48:00.006+01:00

The Summer Meeting at Haddington will take place on Tuesday 7th June. Here is the draw.

9.30 Joanne Watt, Noreen Fenton, Ellice Cackett
9.38 Anne Mckenzie, Christine Simpson, Irene Campbell
9.46 Ros Thoresen, Anne brownie, Elinor Blair
9.54 Moira Thomson,Ethel Jack, Gilly Glen
10.02 Margaret Campbell, Anne Hanna, Jean Dawson
10.10 Isobel Hastings, Mary Richardson, Vivien Mitchell
10.18 Sandra Ashurst, Marjory Lauder, Barbara Biggart
10.26 Alice Jack, Katy Gillies, Dulcie Barnes
10.34 Patricia Rose, Sylvia Cunninghame, Elizabeth Smith
18.42 Moyra Loughran, Sandra Simpson, Christine Reid
10.50 Karen Ballantyne, Fiona Hunter, Pam Townsend
10.58 Rosemary Denny, Margo Blair, Phyl Early
11.06 Maureen Cranston, Val Hallam, Margaret Dalrymple
11.14 May Hardy, Clare Bowe, Lyn Lockerbie
11.22 Cynthia Guthrie, Sophia Spiewak, Alice Archbold
11.30 Molly Woolgar, Fiona McLaren, Dorothy Silver
11.38 Margaret Thompson, Fiona Ford, Kate Johnston
11.46 Wendy Ross, Denise Mitchell, Caroline Johnstone
11.54 Ruth Brown, Susan Penman, Ray Lynch
12.02 Sydena Cullen, Lesley Johnston, Beth Freedman
12.10 Catriona Shedden, Jacqui Squires, Seonaid Stewart
12.18 Elsa Todd, Maureen Stewart, Jane Herd

The balance to be paid is £5 and it would be appreciated by the officials on the desk if you had the exact money on arriving. The draw has been made so withdrawals at this stage are not entitled to a refund of their deposit, as we have still to pay Haddington whether the time is used or unused.

Remember that Distance Measuring Devices are allowed but none which measure wind or slope.

This is the qualifying competition of our East Vets Championship for which the top eight scores count. The quarter-finals match-play stage of the competition will take place over the week prior to July 10th on which day the semis and final will be played so please check prior to coming if you would be available to take part should you qualify.

Last but not least, for those who have not entered, should your circumstances change or should you just have forgotten to enter but wish still to play, please contact Katherine who will be able to slot you into any cancellation time or at the end of the draw - but only up to the last time we have booked with Haddington which is 12.34. We would not be expecting an avalanche of latecomers so this should be OK.

Have a good game

Heavy Winds and Rain result in Cancelled Match

2011-05-24T00:03:00.002+01:00

The long awaited return of the East v Midlands match came to a sorry end today when the weather caused an abrupt cancellation. It was found out later that the procession of vets transport to Pitfirrane might have got across the Forth Bridge, but they might not have got back! It was also noted that only one very honest team member said "Thank goodness" when informed of the postponement - because it was awful - but the others bled crocodile tears. Many a kettle had been switched on after that phonecall!

It is to be hoped that another date will be found in August.

East Vets v Midlands at Pitfirrane

2011-05-20T20:52:00.005+01:00

The East Vets team to play in the scratch singles match at Pitfirrane for handicaps between 6 and 10 is as follows:

Barbara Biggart (North Berwick)
Elinor Blair (North Berwick)
Cynthia Guthrie (Longniddry)
Caroline Johnstone (Murrayfield)
Sheila Lyon (Kingsknowe)
Joan Marshall (Baberton)
Frances McFadzean (Craigmillar Park)
Non-travelling reserve: Caroline Kinnaird (Glencorse)

Good luck to the team. The Liz Miskimmin Friendship Trophy is at stake.

Noreen Eliminated After First Round in Scottish

2011-05-19T23:12:00.004+01:00

Noreen Fenton (Dunbar) was eliminated in the first round of the Scottish Ladies at Machrihanish today. She lost to Susan Wood of Drumpellier, a scratch golfer, on the eighteenth by one hole after a tough ding-dong match. Susan went one up at the fifth after getting a birdie two but Noreen took this back the very next hole with a par. She lost the sixth but won the seventh with a birdie. She lost the ninth and then the fourteenth to an eagle to go two down. Noreen then won the fifteenth with a par and the sixteenth with a birdie two. All square. Unfortunately the seventeenth saw the second shot to the green plug under the lip of the bunker from which there was absolutely no satisfactory recovery and so she went into the eighteenth one down again. A half in par was not enough but both enjoyed a really good game. No vets left!

Susan won her next round by 5 and 4 and proceeds into the quarter-finals.

Lone East Vet makes it into the Scottish Championship Match-Play

2011-05-18T22:51:00.008+01:00

Only one of the East Vet contingency has made it into the match-play stages of the Scottish Ladies' Close Amateur Championship at Machrihanish today after the second qualifying round. Noreen Fenton of Dunbar brought in a solid second round score of 77 in very blustery conditions, (described as a "four-wind" extra club status) together with squally showers. This score led the second round leader board for several hours until Rachael Watton from Midlothian upstaged her by bringing in the same score but with the better inward half. She was playing in the second last group of the day, having been one of the first day lowest scores. Rachael won the Glover 21st Anniversary Cup with Noreen as runner-up but Noreen won the Lyon Salver for the best nett score on the second day.

This was a reduction only day and the CSS rose from 75 to 78 RO.

Noreen who indicated at the end of last season that she did not wish to be considered for further international events was delighted with her score, especially as this is the very last time she will enter this competition. In line with many other senior golfers she feels this competition is geared almost entirely for the younger lady golfer especially those with greater length. Having said that, her successful score was most likely due to the lower controlled ball in the gale force wind. We all know there is more to golf than the big drive.

East Vets Participate in Scottish Ladies at Machrihanish

2011-05-17T18:11:00.005+01:00

There are about a dozen Scottish Vets playing in the Scottish Ladies at Machrihanish this week but only three from the East Division, Pamela Williamson (Baberton),Noreen Fenton (Dunbar) and Barbara Biggart (North Berwick). However not to forget June McEwan and Gillian Kirkwood who were also whizzing around all day in buggies doing admirable work on the refereeing front. There were many lost balls particularly at the fifth hole (Punchbowl) where often the ball-spotters had been quite unable to spot wayward balls. Several of the holes had been lengthened to accommodate the need to challenge our younger massive hitters. There were delays almost from the beginning which was thought to be due to the eight minute interval between the pairings. (Can't really say pairings surely because they went out in threes). However this is liable to change to ten minutes which should reduce the terrible waiting which occurred with obvious deletrious effects on the concentration.

The weather was very kind at least for the early players as there was none of the destructive effects of wind that was so prevalent yesterday in the practice round. It was indeed a perfect golfing day which showed itself in some wonderful scoring from many of the competitors. Tomorrow might not be quite so kind when the second of the qualifying rounds takes place.

Readers are reminded that there is live scoring throughout the day on the SGA website.

East Vet scores
82 Noreen Fenton (Dunbar)
91 Barbara Biggart (N. Berwick)
93 Pamela Williamson (Baberton)

Ramsden Cup Results - first round

2011-05-14T23:33:00.004+01:00

The first round of the Ramsden Cup has been completed and the draw for the second round is as follows:

Clare Bowe v Mary Davidson
Christine Simpson v Madge Hutchison
Denise Mitchell v Kate Milne
Rita Dee v Senga Grant

Sandra Simpson v Kate Johnston
Sandra Ashurst v May Hardie
Karen Ballantyne v Ruth Brown
Christine Clarke v Norma Richmond

Liz McLelland v Sandra Kempson
Dulcie Barnes v Betty Redwood
Fiona McLaren v Margo Blair
Maureen Stewart v Isobel Hastings

Seonaid Stewart v Christine Reid
Marion Cantley v Hilary Thomson
Isobel Halliday v Muriel Armstrong
Mairi Pollock v Katy Gillies

Good luck to all.

East Vets Blown Off-course at Elie

2011-05-13T20:13:00.005+01:00

The idea was to chalk up a victory at Elie after the annual slap-up lunch and refreshments - heavens who said that. Completely misleading - dry bread and water followed by the very serious match between the East Vets and the Senior Golfers' Society yesterday - but we didn't. Almost but not quite. Two and a half points us - three and a half points them. That was pretty close, really.

The captain who chose a select team fulfilling certain criteria, had been promised with a drastic end, by one member of the team, if it rained so she put in an order for dry with a slight breeze. However, anyone at Elie on Thursday afternoon might have argued the toss about the 'slight breeze'. To be realistic that breeze was nothing short of a howling gale. It would be difficult to say who actually coped better with it, the ladies with more controlled but shorter shots under the wind or the gents taking an unfair advantage from very high shots pushed on miles by a following wind. When it came to the greens, it was however anybody's and balls could find themselves further from the pin after the gentlest of nudges.

The gentlemen had as usual provided an excellent lunch and prompted many replenishments of the wine-glass but all members of the team had been pre-warned about this evil tactic. The only unfortunate thing was having to uplift ourselves from our comfortable lunch-table to go out and face that wind.

All good fun. We are already looking forward very much to trying again next year.

Results
Noreen Fenton and Gillian Kirkwood beat Peter Bucher and Gilbert MacIntosh by one hole
Phyl Early and Val Hallam lost to Alec Mudie and Julian James by 5 and 4
Katy Gillies and Margaret Rodger beat Paul Laidlaw and Nigel Watt by one hole
Margo Blair and Liz Simpson lost to Alastair Brown and Ken Smith by 4 and 3
May Hardie and Isobel Halliday halved with Ian Galloway and Alisdair MacDonald
Katherine Thomson and Norma Richmond lost to Alastair Kerr and John Stevenson by 3 and 2

Well done ladies. It was tough out there.

East Vets in close games in East Lothian Championship

2011-05-02T22:47:00.006+01:00

None of the East Vets who qualified last Thursday - 28th April - to play in the East Lothian Championship at Musselburgh have managed to secure a place in the semi-finals tomorrow. Several of the games were very tight indeed - some not so tight. There were no complaints of the weather as it was a fantastic day.

Qualifying Scores
71 Lesley Nicholson(Haddington)
76 Liz Dunn Butler (Gullane)
78 Moira Thomson (Gullane)
80 Clara Young (North Berwick)Jane Herd (Musselburgh) Sue Penman (Gullane)
81 Morag McPherson (Dunbar)
82 Viv Cupples (Dunbar)
85 Barbara McIntosh (Gullane)
86 Keren Ward (North Berwick)Mary Lou Renton (Gifford) Fiona Larnach (Castle Park)
87 Ros Thorenson (North Berwick) Elinor Blair (North Berwick)
89 Barbara Biggart (North Berwick) Jill Rankin (North Berwick)

The first round and quarter-finals were played today in brilliant sunshine although there was a cool wind coming off the sea. Elinor Blair - playing Moira Thomson - Barbara Biggart, Ros Thorenson and Sue Penman unfortunately did not survive into the quarterfinals. Sue sadly lost her fight only on the eighteenth against Mary Lou Renton. However, Moira Thomson, Barbara McIntosh and Jane Herd all made it through the first round. But this was a far as they got. Barbara met Lesley Nicholson, captain of Scotland's victorious Home International team and could do nothing against the brilliance of her game. Jane lost on the seventeenth to Clara Young one of Scotland's most up and coming juniors. Moira lost one of the tightest of tight battles against Mary Lou Renton having to go to one extra hole before losing. Mary Lou will certainly feel she had plenty golf today!
Well done all.

No East Vet Survivors into the Last Day

2011-05-01T09:13:00.007+01:00

Sadly there were no east vet survivors into either the semifinal of Midlothian County Championship or the final of the "B" championship. On a wonderful sun-baked day at Kingsknowe on Saturday but with an increasingly troublesome wind, there were some very tight games for our vets so they went out fighting to the last!

In the main championship Gilly Glen (Craigmillar Park) bravely took on the very experienced Karen Marshall (Baberton), first seed but succumbed at the 13th. Noreen Fenton was drawn against her Dunbar team-mate and the defending champion, Linda Caine. This was a very tight match where there was very little in it. The game finished all square at the eighteenth paving the way to a 19th hole visitation. Linda, bunkered from the tee, had no stance at all and was lucky to come out at all far less make a controlled exit. Just off the green, Noreen chipped pin high. Linda failed to hole out and Noreen was into the quarter-finals against Karen Marshall.

This also was a tight match. Karen was more wayward occasionally off the tee in the strong, intermittent wind but exhibited a "Sevi Ballesteros" ability to play from almost any position and still land on the green. Noreen played steadily with the putting improved on previous rounds but, one down after the 16th only managed to halve the next two holes in par which was not enough.

In the semifinals and finals, Karen Marshall(daughter of Joan) raised her game and played beautifully to take the County Championship for the first time in 19 years.

In the "B" Championship, Margaret Thompson and Sandra Ashurst both went out in the first round but Isobel Halliday won through to the semifinal by 5 and 4. Unfortunately she lost on the eighteenth to Elaine Lumsden of Kingsknowe who was the eventual winner.

East vets to play in both the Midlothian County Championship and the "B" Championship

2011-04-28T09:40:00.008+01:00

Two East Vets have qualified to play in the main county championship, and three in the county "B" championship. Noreen Fenton (Dunbar) and Gilly Glen (Craigmillar Park) face Linda Caine - defending champion and Karen Marshall (first seed) respectively. Margaret Thompson (Turnhouse) Isobel Halliday (Merchants) - last years's runner-up - and Sandra Ashurst will play in the "B" Championship and having got through to the next round Isobel and Sandra would have the prospect of facing each other! All of these ties take place at Kingsknowe Golf Club on Saturday morning.

Fiona de Vries who plays for Midlothian in county matters and Midlands for Vets matters (complicated)was due to play in the qualifying rounds but has been unavoidably detained in a US hospital bed having broken her leg in a fracas on the ice. She was representing Scotland in the Word Curling Team Championship - talented lady. This is a very serious blow for Scottish Senior golf in 2011 but we wish her all the best for a very speedy and complete recovery.

Good luck to all thos playing on Saturday.

Team for Annual Match Against the British Senior Men at Elie

2011-04-27T20:56:00.002+01:00

The East Vets Team to play against a British Senior Men's Golfing Society Select has been picked and should represent a good cross-section of the membership with regard handicaps and clubs and includes serving officials of the East Vets and LGU together with some past Captains. This Elie match is a little different from our other matches in that emphasis is placed on variety and hopefully including ladies who might not be included in our regular games against the West, Borders and Midlands.

The game against the Men is on Thursday 12th May and is always at Elie. The format is a two ball foursome and generally the ladies get strokes but all that apart, this is a very competitive match. This is the team to do the works.

Margo Blair (Baberton)
Phyl Early (Glencorse)
Noreen Fenton (Dunbar)
Katy Gillies (Melville)
Val Hallam (Glencorse)
Isobel Halliday (Merchants)
May Hardy (Baberton)
Gillian Kirkwood (Gullane)
Norma Richmond (Murrayfield)
Margaret Rodger (Turnhouse)
Elizabeth Simpson (Murrayfield)
Katherine Thomson (Murrayfield)

Wish them luck.

Midlothian County Spring Meeting

2011-04-22T20:17:00.007+01:00

There was a good turnout of East Vets at the Midlothian County Spring Meeting at Turnhouse on Thursday 21st April - thirty ladies, more than a third of the field. This competition doubles up as the qualifying round for the County B Championship which takes place at Kingsknowe Golf Club on the 30th April and 1st May.

Although it was a lovely spring day, a bit misty early on with a heavy dew to drag the balls to an untimely halt, the late players were at a disadvantage also in that a slight breeze had arisen and the temperature dropped. However for hardy golfers - a pretty good golfing day. The course itself looked beautiful and was in great condition for the time of year. The greens however had suffered a little winter damage and were not at all easy to putt on - possibly one of the reasons why the scoring was on the whole, rather disappointing.

The handicap prize was won by Margaret Clark of Merchants of Edinburgh with a nett 68 but second handicap was won by Margaret Thompson of Turnhouse with a great 69. The scratch prize and the Cormack Salver was won by Noreen Fenton of Dunbar/Swanston New with a gross 77. The CSS was 73

Leading Vet scores
Division One
69 Margaret Thompson (Turnhouse) 82 - 13 - 69
71 Morag Wardrop (Turnhouse) 80 - 9 - 71
73 Noreen Fenton (Dunbar/Swanston New) 77 - 4 - 73
73 Isobel Halliday (Merchants) 87 - 14 - 73
76 Libby Campbell (Baberton) 90 - 14 - 76
76 Sandra Ashurst (Murrayfield) 89 - 13 - 76
76 Kate Johnston (Baberton) 88 - 12 - 76
77 Sydena Cullen (Turnhouse) 89 - 12 - 77
78 Rita Dee (Kingsknowe) 88 - 10 - 78
78 Pam Townsend (Murrayfield) 89 - 11 - 78
79 Caroline Kinnaird (Glencorse)89 - 10 - 79
79 Anne Brownie (Comiston) 86 - 7 - 79
80 Barbara Halliday (Murrayfield)92 - 12 - 80
81 Denise Mitchell (Murrayfield) 94 - 13 - 81
82 Katy Gillies (Melville) 98 - 16 - 82

Bronze Division
74 Margaret Dalrymple (Baberton) 98 - 24 - 74
76 Ann Hanna (Murrayfield) 97 - 21 - 76
81 Vivien Mitchell (Prestonfield) 102 - 21 - 81
81 Maureen Stewart (Glencorse) 103 - 22 - 81

Draw for Midlothian County 'B' Championship

Margaret Thompson v Carole Mason
Lesley Campbell v Janet Collin
Isobel Halliday v Isobel Blyth
Sandra Ashurst v Elaine Lumsden

This is a great vets challenge. Good luck to all!

Slideshow of Scottish Vets v Irish Seniors

2011-04-19T09:52:00.004+01:00

View all

Get your own

2011-04-18T23:22:00.000+01:00

Mary McKenna Perpetual Trophy Sails West

2011-04-18T19:02:00.011+01:00

Slide show coming

Scotland, after their disastrous fourball result yesterday made a tremendous fightback, only to lose out on the last hole. They won five out of eight of the matches but they needed to win six!

From the word go they were out of the starting blocks at full pelt and at the ninth hole, the Irish management (Roma English) must have had some niggling doubts of cashing in on their overnight lead. All but one game at the turn was in Scotland's favour. But no one who has ever been involved with our Irish friends would ever count their chickens, which was just as well. Holes up became holes down. Our own Moira Thomson of Gullane was up at the turn against Mairead McNamara, who hit the ball much further off the tee, but a visit to the pond at the 13th - there was a lovely little chirpy reed warbler there - saw the game into reverse. But adversity is Moira's middle name and she dug in her heels to produce a two and one victory at the 17th - and the first point on the board. The early lead by May Hughes of the West over one of Ireland's strongest players, Sheena McElroy was also dealt a heart-breaking blow when she also visited that pond . Likewise this game finished at the 17th but sadly with a negative result.

The Irish fightback was demonstrated yet again when a mid-term lead by Lorna Bennett (Ladybank) of five holes - in part thanks to a class Hole in One at the sixth - was not an automatic ticket to a deckchair in the sun in a good vantage position whilst she watched her team-mates fighting their way round the remaining holes. Lorna's opponent, Niamh Giblin had no such ideas of lying down and giving up. She raised her game and took Lorna to the 16th.

The Russell dynasty in the form of Anne Ryan and her sister Mary Smith from Tain had equally close games which could have gone either way. Anne took Violet McBride from a losing position to a winning one with a successful putt on the eighteenth for a third point. Unfortunately Mary went from holes up to holes down in the face of an Irish attack in the form of Pat Doran - known as "Lighthouse Doran" and lost on the 17th - the hillock beside the 17th green was actually a great place to stand for spectators!

"Newey" Alison Bartlett from Highland was not in the slightest awed by her debut appearance and overpowered Irish stalwart Valerie Hassett with an assured 6 and 4 win. The other New Blood, Elaine Allison of Stirling, who at one point looked positively frozen in her skort when the sun disappeared and the wind changed, was one down at the 16th. Showing great composure, she converted a lovely long iron at the short 17th which only just slid off the back of the slopey green, into a safe par three. Her opponent Phil O'Gorman, failed to get a chip from the heavy greenside rough to roll near enough the pin. She required two putts. All to play for down the eighteenth. Whereas Phil kindly chose the tourist route down the rough, Elaine hit a lovely drive followed by a corker of a second almost pin-high, which with two putts and a resulting four gave her another great point for Scotland. Well done the New Bloods.

Poor Heather Anderson,with the weight of the match on her shoulders and just back from golfing success in South Africa, gamely stood on the 18th tee, one hole down against Irish dynamo Helen Jones. The latter had placed a lovely tee shot square in the middle of the 17th green. Helen converted a fairway drive into a birdie opportunity at the long 18th whereas Heather made rather heavy weather of her drive by sliding into the rough. She came out well enough but rather cut off her options of getting close to the pin with her third, when the ball stopped with a greenside bunker bang in the middle of her line. These greens did not permit the soft drop wedge shot she needed. Two down and Ireland had won the trophy for the second year running after one of the tightest games ever! Captain Pamela Williamson will have been exhausted, taking herself from one end of the course to the other, extolling her troops to greater things. Disappointed to have just lost at the last fence, she will have been proud of their efforts. Well done everyone.

Results Scotland first.
Moira Thomson beat Mairead McNamara 2/1
May Hughes lost to Sheena McElroy 2/1
Anne Ryan beat Violet McBride 1 hole
Lorna Bennett beat Niamh Giblin 3/2
Mary Smith lost to Pat Doran 2/1
Elaine Allison beat Phil O'Gorman 1 hole
Alison bartlett beat Valerie Hassett 6/4
Heather Anderson lost to Helen Jones two holes

Scotland 5 1/2 Ireland 6 1/2
There's always next year at Templepatrick in Ireland.

Foursomes Don't Go Scotland's Way

2011-04-17T23:05:00.007+01:00

Day One at an absolutely beautiful Craigielaw and Scotland are faced with a fairly substantial uphill battle tomorrow in the singles. The fourball first round went Ireland's way with a scoreline of three and a half points to a half. One the whole the driving was good for both teams but the Irish were more accurate with the shot to the green and getting the ball in the hole - a somewhat necessary requirement. When the iron or wood to the green failed to come off, this was often followed by an initially good-looking chip which unfortunately didn't stop close enough to the pin for holing out. Even the gentlest of pitches could quite often roll off the green whereas putting needed a strong positive stroke. Hopefully tomorrow will see a more successful outcome.

Results (Scotland first)
Lorna Bennett and Elaine Allison lost to Sheena McElroy and Phil O'Gorman 2 and 1
Heather Anderson and Anne Ryan lost to Niamh Giblin and Mairead MacNamara 4 and 3
Moira Thomson and May Hughes lost to Valerie Hassett and Violet McBride 3 and 2
Mary Smith and Allison Bartlett halved with Helen Jones and Pat Doran

The singles matches were drawn out of the hat. That makes it sound rather like finding Houses for the new pupils at Hogwarts and actually there was no hat, all the Scottish names were in one brandy glass and all the Irish in another. This is how they are placed tomorrow starting at 9.00am.

Moira Thomson v Mairead McNamara
May Hughes v Sheena McElroy
Anne Ryan v Violet McBride
Lorna Bennett v Niamh Giblin
Mary Smith v Pat Doran
Elaine Allison v Phil O'Gorman
Alison Bartlett v Valerie Hassett
Heather Anderson v Helen Jones

Lots of great tussles there.

Scottish Vets v Irish Senior Select at Craigielaw

2011-04-16T16:35:00.009+01:00

At the moment of posting, Scottish Vets - including our own Moira Thomson of Gullane and the team captain Pamela Williamson of Baberton will be finishing off their practice round at Craigielaw, having waved (in possibly a somewhat false guise of camaraderie) to their Irish contemporaries, mid-course. No such social niceties tomorrow when they meet seriously to contest the Mary McKenna Perpetual Trophy (which our ladies lost last year - small blip). Tomorrow, at 11.30 is the four ball, better ball first round, to be followed on Monday by the singles matches between 9.00 - 10.00 where all eight team members from each side meet to battle it out. Previous readers will remember these match draws are generally drawn out of any old hat so bring it all on. Why not come along and spur them on with your support? The weather forecast is just right for a day (within shouting distance) at the seaside. It's going to be a great weekend for photography!

Unfortunately the Scottish Vets Champion, Karen Ballantyne of Craigmillar Park is in sunny Oz but sends her good wishes to the team.

Scottish Team
Elaine Allison (Midland)
Heather Anderson (North)
Alison Bartlett (Highland)
Lorna Bennett (Midland)
May Hughes (West)
Anne Ryan (Highland)
Mary Smith (Highland)
Moira Thomson (East)

Non-playing captain Pamela Williamson (East)
Non-playing Vice-captain Helen Faulds (West)

Irish Team
Pat Doran (Donabate)
Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire)
Valerie Hassett (Ennis)
Helen Jones (Strabane)
Violet McBride (Belvoir Park)
Sheena McElroy (Grange)
Mairead McNamara (Woodbrook)
Phil O'Gorman (Laytown/Bettystown)

Non-playing captain Roma English (Larne)

East Vets Spring Meeting

2011-04-04T21:09:00.010+01:00

At last, a semi-acceptable day for the Spring meeting with 69 completing the round. That compares most favourably with last year's 32. The weather, always that most convenient of conversation topics, was downright cold and very windy for those first out. Either one got used to being blown about or it became less windy and a bit warmer. Then, in accordance with BBC Weather, rain clouds gathered so those going out in the middle felt very aggrieved at getting wet,but at least they weren't frozen. Those later in the day possibly got more of the sun and less of the wind and exhibited a very healthy glow when they got in. The main thing is the Spring meeting was played. Hurrah.

Moira Thomson (Gullane) lifted the Scratch prize, which she won on the better inward half from Noreen Fenton (Dunbar). They both had scratch 75's. In general the scores were quite high so the Silver handicap winner, Katy Gillies (18) from Melville caused quite a stir with her nett 65. She had three's at four out of the five par three's - always a help - but still managed this lovely score despite an eight at the uphill 14th. There were many stories of balls in bunkers and ladies being lost without trace but still, there were plenty smiling faces in the clubhouse afterwards.

One lady - shall we name her? - yes we will - it was Rosemary Denny of Murrayfield - she had a fairly forgettable/unforgettable round which became a No Return because of one of the afore-mentioned bunkers. After having a somewhat disconcerting first hole with a ten which she described as typical army golf (left, right, left, right) she proceeded in orderly fashion, hoping as we all do, for improvement. The ninth was the bunker hole. She had an encouraging three at the plateau 11th, a six at the longish 12th where the pheasants were getting blown backwards, then a two at the short 13th where she had what was described as a huge and curling putt. Disregard the 14th (an easily attained nine). Then the saucer-shaped 15th where the drive,not exactly by the book, rolled, and rolled, and rolled, on to the green, hopped over the hole and stopped dead for another two. The ups and downs of golf. Someone might have wished she had come out of that bunker on the ninth. Isn't golf a bundle of laughs!

Very many thanks to Ethel Jack who was of most enormous help assisting the committee at the desk.

By the way, who was it who paid the balance of the entrance fee not with a pound but with a 20 euro coin? CCTV in operation next year!

CSS for Gullane members was unchanged at 69
CSS for all others was +1 at 70

Results
Scratch
Moira Thomson 75 (bih)

Silver Division
1st Handicap Katy Gillies (18) 65
2nd handicap Barbara Halliday (13) 67
3rd handicap Margo Blair (20) 68
4th Handicap Molly Woolgar (20) 69

Bronze Division
1st Handicap Judy Cuthbertson (29) 69
2nd handicap Anne Patrick (21) 71

All individual scores have been emailed to the relevant club. This includes all adjustments.

EVLGA Spring Meeting Draw

2011-03-22T14:29:00.006Z

First meeting of the year and surely, the weather cannot possibly be as bad as last year, which led to drastic reductions in the entry. One thing , the course at Gullane will be fantastic so all we need are playable weather conditions. We can but hope.

The balance to be paid is £7 so to keep Dulcie, our new committee member, happy, if possible please arrive with the exact money. Why not ransack your piggie bank and put it in your golf bag now!!!! Please also remember, those who have them, that it was passed almost unanimously at the AGM, to permit the use of Skye Caddies and the like, but NOT any aid which determines slope or wind force. These will always be disallowed.

It was also agreed at the AGM that the official colour of teeshirt to be worn in competition with our green jersey would be yellow. Katherine will be taking orders for these teeshirts (Glenmuir Lemon) at the Spring meeting. Those ladies who normally play in our matches or anyone who is interested, may wish to consider purchasing one at this point as Katherine needs a minimum order for postage.

Please let Katherine know if you now find you are unable to play but, with apologies, the deposit is non-returnable. As of this year we are being charged by Gullane for tee-times booked.

Draw.
8.48 N. Fenton, D. Mitchell, J. Herd
8.56 M. Thomson, H. Thomson, D. Thomson
9.04 S. Grant, C. Reid, E. Smith
9.12 P. Stephenson, P. Townsend, V. Sandeman
9.20 R. Denny, P. Rose, M. Maxwell
9.28 B. McIntosh, M. Campbell, A. Patrick
9.36 G. Glen, E. Todd, R. Brown
9.44 L. Gray, M. Hutchison, C. Shedden
9.52 B. Freedman, C. Clarke, F. MacFadzean
10.00 D. Barnes, S. Caton, M. Woodward
10.08 M. Dalrymple, M. Stewart, M. Armstrong
10.16 A. Hanna, S. Hunter, A. McKenzie
10.24 N. Richmond, C. Ross, A. Brownie
10.32 M. Lauder, C. MacLeod, R. Lynch
10.40 J. Squires, A. Beedie, J. Watt
10.48 I. Halliday, K. Gillies, J. Dawson
10.56 F. Ford, E. Jack, F. McLaren
11.04 S. Brian, N. Gow, E. Campbell
11.12 C. Campbell, J. Cuthbertson, P. Scott
11.20 P. Williamson, R. Thoresen, M. Hardy
11.28 M. Woolgar, A. McIntosh, M. Law
11.36 M. Cranston, J. Watt, C.Simpson
11.44 S. Stewart, K. Milne, M. Richardson
11.52 G. Thomson, S. Cunningham, M. Blair
12.00 V. Biggar, P. Mavor, J. Butters
12.08 J.Millar, C. Bowe, D. Silver
12.16 M. Thompson, C. Johnstone, S. Lyon
12.24 S. Cullen, B. Biggart, R. Dee
12.32 C. Kinnaird, B. Halliday, M. Magson

This draw is out of the hat with small adjustments for special times asked for , accommodating ladies who are travelling together, etc, etc so have a quick squint at the second trio out - is that not the biggest co-incidence?

Have a very enjoyable game everyone.

Draw for the Ramsden Cup

2011-03-21T23:01:00.003Z

The season is starting up at last and here is the draw for the Ramsden Cup which will start the day after the Spring Meeting on Tuesday April 5th. Please note that the phone nos. for all contestants will be on the board at the Spring Meeting - Katherine will have her giant draw on show. If you want to find out telephone nos. before then, to get your game fixed up, all committee members will have a copy of the telephone numbers. Please note that Dulcie Barnes is our new committee member.

First round to be played by May 7
Clare Bowe
Bye
Mary Davidson
Bye
Christine Simpson
Bye
Madge Hutchison
Bye
Denise Mitchell
Bye
Kate Milne
Bye

Sylvia Cunningham
Rita Dee

Marion Law
Senga Grant

Sandra Simpson
Elice Cackett

Anne Patrick
Kate Johnston

Sandra Ashurst
Fiona Ford

May Hardy
Deirdre Kinloch-Anderson

Vicki Cullen
Karen Ballantyne

Maureen McKay
Ruth Brown

Christine Clarke
Molly Woolgar

Gratian Andrew
Norma Richmond

Liz McLelland
Lyn Lockerbie

Sandra Kempston
Patricia Rose

Dulcie Barnes
Ray Lynch

Betty Redwood
Elsa Todd

Elinor Blair
Fiona McLaren

Alice Archbold
Margo Blair

Maureen Stewart
Isabel MacDonald

Isobel Hastings
Jean Dawson

Seonaid Stewart
Anne McIntosh

Gilly Glen
Christine Reid

Marion Cantley
Bye
Hilary Thomson
Bye
Isobel Halliday
Bye
Muriel Armstrong
Bye
Mairi Pollock
Bye
Katy Gillies
Bye

Scottish Vets Team to play Irish Senior Select announced

2011-03-03T22:01:00.004Z

Pamela Williamson (Baberton), Captain of the Scottish Veteran Ladies has announced her team to play against an Irish Senior Select in the annual Mary McKenna Perpetual Trophy. This year Scotland plays host and the match will take place over Craigielaw Golf Course on Sunday 17th and Monday 18th of April with a practice round on the Saturday. Last year, one of the main problems was getting the match played due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland and cancellation of the flight to Dublin. A later date was arranged for July when Scotland narrowly lost the trophy which had been in their possession for many years. They will be looking to avenge this defeat.

The team to do the needful includes Moira Thomson of Gullane, who had been in the original team in April but who had been unable due to work commitments to play in the re-arranged tie in July. The other East Vet from last year, Noreen Fenton of Dunbar indicated last year she has other commitments and did not wish to be considered - but will be along to spectate and cheer on the team. Unfortunately East Vets and Scottish Vets Champion of 2010, Karen Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park) will be in Australia and cannot play. The other missing face is that of Fiona de Vries (Honorary member of Baberton but really she plays for Midlands!)who will be playing in the World Senior Curling Team Championship and we wish her and her team all success.

Why not come along and support. Sunday is the four-ball foursomes and Monday - singles. It will be riveting - guaranteed!

Scottish team
Elaine Allison (Midland)
Heather Anderson (North)
Alison Bartlett (North)
Lorna Bennett (Midlands)
May Hughes (West)
Anne Ryan (North)
Mary Smith (North)
Moira Thomson (East)
Reserves - Alex Glennie (West)Suzanne Cadden (West)
Pamela Williamson (East) - non-playing captain
Helen Faulds (West) - non-playing vice-captain

Pamela Williamson finishes Top Scot in the Spanish Seniors

2011-02-11T21:02:00.004Z

Pamela Williamson of Baberton finished the top Scot in the Spanish Senior Individual Championship at the Santa Ponsa Golf Club in Mallorca, today. With two consistent scores of 88 and 87 she finished in joint 33rd position, two strokes less than Suzanne Cadden of Cardross and three less than Lesley Johnston of Gullane who were overnight Scottish leaders yesterday. Of all the Scots only Janice Paterson of Drumpellier and Susan Penman (Gullane) improved on their first round scores, both by five strokes. The overall winner of the competition was the beautifully stylistic player from France, Cecilia Mourgue d'Algue who brought in two scores of 80 and an impressive 76. Cecilia has won this competition before at least once in 2005.

The scores on the whole are quite high so it is to be assumed the weather and general conditions were difficult. It is unknown whether this competition was played on the Santa Ponsa No 1 or No 2 course. The No 1 course is known to be very long with all the usual hazards plus much water. The No 2 has great lakes which are placed strategically to entice wayward balls and shoot up the scores. This course apparently also has its 18th green on an island which has the shape of Mallorca. Perhaps one of our East Vets has conveniently taken a photograph of this and might be persuaded to share it with us on her return.

Winning Score
156 Cecilia Mourgue d'Algue (France)80, 76
Other GB and I scores
161 Sheena McElroy (Ireland) 81,80 joint 3rd
163 Denise Richards (Wales) 81,82 joint 9th
166 Vicky Thomas (Wales) 80,86 joint 14th
Scottish Scores
175 Pamela Williamson (Baberton) 88,87 joint 33rd
177 Suzanne Cadden (Cardross) 86,91 joint 41st
178 Lesley Johnston (Gullane) 86,92 joint 46th
181 Janice Paterson (Drumpellier) 93,88 joint 51st
183 Barbara Biggart (North Berwick) 90,93 joint 56th
187 Susan Penman (Gullane)96,91 joint 67th
191 Dorothy Thomson (Gullane) 94,97 joint 72nd

Round One Scores in Spanish Individual Senior Championship

2011-02-10T23:13:00.005Z

East Vets and Scottish entrants in the Spanish Senior Women's Championship at Santa Ponsa in Majorca will be disappointed that they are not threatening the leader board but there is all to play for tomorrow. No report has been seen to establish what the weather has been doing but it may be that the rain of yesterday has continued into today, making conditions difficult. Lesley Johnston of Gullane ladies together with her playing partner of yesterday, Suzanne Cadden of Cardross are the leading Scots.

Results Day One
76 Barbara Jourde (France)
78 Helene Duterte (France)
80 Vicky Thomas (Wales), Cecilia Mourge d'Algue (France), Cristina Marsans (Spain)

Leading Scots
86 Lesley Johnston(Gullane), Suzanne Cadden (Cardross)joint 31st
88 Pamela Williamson (Baberton) joint 38th
90 Barbara Biggart (North Berwick) joint 50th
93 Janice Paterson (Drumpellier) joint 60th
94 Dorothy Thomson (Gullane) joint 62nd
96 Susan Penman (Gullane) joint 71st

Results from Spanish Senior Women's Doubles Championship

2011-02-10T18:43:00.006Z

Several East Vets have been participating in the Spanish Senior Women's Amateur Doubles Championship at the Santa Ponsa Golf Club, Majorca. This is a very good tournament consisting, on Days One and Two of two separate 18 hole stroke-play rounds, the first a fourball better ball and the second a two-ball foursome. The tournament continues on Days Three and Four with the Individual championship with 18 holes on each day.

Pamela Williamson (Baberton) and her Canadian partner Diane Williams started off the fourball better ball with a wonderful 74 which found them in second place. Unfortunately the next day, a shocking day weather-wise, produced much higher scoring. As with most of the competitors, Pamela and Diane's two-ball foursomes didn't come up to expectation and they dropped back to seventh place with an 87. The normally strong pairing of Vicki Thomas (Wales) and Sheena McElroy shared this position.

The East Vet contingent also consisted of Lesley Johnston of Gullane Ladies partnered with Suzanne Cadden(Cardross) who were joint 24th. Sue Penman and Dorothy Thomson, both of Gullane, were joint 26th and Barbara Biggart (North Berwick) partnered with Janice Paterson of Drumpellier were joint 31st.

Championship winners
157 Cristina Marsans and Catalina Castillejo (Spain) 72,85
Scottish Scores161 Pamela Williamson (Baberton) and Diane Williams (Canada)74,87 Vicki Thomas (Wales) and Sheena McElroy (Ireland) 77,84
172 Lesley Johnstone (Gullane ladies) and Suzanne Cadden (Cardross) 78,84
175 Sue Penman and Dorothy Thomson (Gullane Ladies) 82,93
181 Barbara Biggart (North Berwick) and Janice Paterson (Drumpellier) 85,96

Today is the first round of the individual championship. As yet scores are not at hand

Scottish Vets Lose a Good Friend

2011-02-06T19:00:00.003Z

It is with much sadness that East Vets and indeed Scottish Vets, report that Liz Miskimmin, a former Scottish Veteran Captain and President, died yesterday Saturday 5th February after a long illness. She will be greatly missed by her very many friends. The funeral arrangements will follow.

SLGA/SGU Amalgamation (Cont)

2011-01-21T12:20:00.012Z

There may be many who wonder in a vague, disinterested sort of way what an East Vets Blog has to do with the SLGA/SGU Amalgamation. Why has it dominated the last three entries? There are two reasons that come to mind, the first being that there is next to nothing to fill a blog with since winter is still here. Most people will be struggling to play much quality golf at the moment with fairways frozen, flooded, water-logged or at best muddy not to mention the need for no winter greens if the pleasures of the short-game are one's want. Your committee is busy at work getting the fixture list to the printers and then at least if one cannot golf, one can start filling up one's diary.

The other reason is, that although the average "vet" does not consider this amalgamation will make any difference to her - and this probability did in fact come out of the AGM last week - the average vet pays indirectly into the SVLGA coffers, to help finance the annual Vets Jamboree amongst other things. The SLGA (bless their cotton socks) at present, give a very generous donation, without which maybe each and every vet might be asked to pay more in their subscription. (The fact that this might be less than a (big) bag of chips is not the point). The question is, when the amalgamation goes through - and the general opinion is that it will, at some point or another - the question is, will Scotland Golf Limited continue - or be able in a still uncertain financial climate - to hand over this not inconsiderable contribution. So having established this connection between vets and the amalgamation there might as well be further comment on the process so far.

The SLGA AGM took place in Perth last Saturday. The agenda was gone through with speed and efficiency, all of which was reported in brief in Kirkwoodgolf. And hence to AOCB. Word had leaked that there was the possibility that this would be skipped over with undue haste, in fact not given the time of day and the meeting closed peremptorily without giving any time for uncomfortable questions to be raised about the amalgamation. Therefore within seconds of the word AOCB, hands waved in the air. But as it turned out this was quite unnecessary as Shona Malcolm (Chairman) Sheila Hartley (CEO) and Lynne Terry (Finance Director) had a presentation all ready, although none of it was new as presumably all there had read "The Proposal" at some time or another. The very first question asked "why the rush" and "why not defer this till all points of contention or non-clarity have been dealt with". This would "get things right " straightaway rather than finding considerably down the line that ladies were stuck with issues which should have been resolved earlier or, as one delegate succinctly spouted "Act in haste, repent at leisure".

Thereafter the main issues that were raised had to do with cost,continued funding,the timing of this process in uncertain financial times, perceived benefit and ensuring that nothing was rushed through without adequate consultation such that the ladies were left without a feeling of ownership.

Shona was at pains to assure those present that the proposal was of course a "broad brush" and that something had to be produced which would be the starting block for discussion. We would be expecting therefore that the revamped proposal would incorporate all the questions and doubts that were aired both at this AGM and in the case of the East, the excellent roadshow which was conducted by the previous SLGA representative, Lorna Bennett. Bearing in mind the animated discussion at Perth and at Kingsknowe, it is somewhat surprising that Shona described the feedback she received from the delegates as being "nearly totally positive". It would be difficult indeed to attach this description to either the AGM or the roadshow attended. This would indicate a certain degree of denial on the part of the Amalgamation Management Committee which does not augur well for an renewed and acceptable proposal. Presumably that was a slip of the tongue.

One hopes that this does not tie in with the statement of the SGU CEO Hamish Gray who was quoted in the Scotsman as saying "as with any change, not everyone is 100 per cent agreed with how to do it" (agreed) but "everyone is unanimous that amalgamation is something we should be doing". It is to be wondered where he got this statistic from. It is suggested that "everyone" won't be reading this blog, hasn't given a thought about amalgamation and hasn't heard of those presuming to speak for them. Those who have interested themselves in all aspects of this proposed amalgamation have not got their heads stuck in the sands of time. They are well able to make their minds up when all the facts are known but on the other hand they do not wish to be patronised. They are not going to turn their faces away from this amalgamation simply because it is new but they do want to be able to make an informed decision. They are aware and grateful for the immense amount of work which has already gone into this process. We all want Scottish golf to have the very best future. Let's do it properly.

SLGA Annual General Meeting 2011

2011-01-12T20:11:00.004Z

Ladies remember that the SLGA AGM is in Perth this coming Saturday at 11am. It promises to be even more exciting than usual, providing of course that questions on the proposed Amalgamation with the SGU are given a good airing. Hopefully the snow will keep away and there is nothing to prevent a good vocal turn-out. The venue is the Dewar Centre in the Gannochy Suite, Glover Street, Perth PH2 0TH. Car parking is available but it is only a 5 minute walk from rail and bus stations. To see the agenda, the minutes of 2010, the audited accounts etc all can be seen on the SLGA website.

Be of good cheer. All this weather cannot last forever and those of you who would like a few winter holes (to try out all these handwarmers in mouth-watering colours which you were persuaded to buy from the centre stalls at the Gyle Centre, not to mention all the lovely warm woollies and simmits you got for Christmas) all can get out there on the course. A very good New Year to everyone.

SLGA/SGU Amalgamation

2010-11-28T10:17:00.028Z

Sixty-six ladies converged on Kingsknowe Golf Club, last Wednesday, this being the venue for one of the SLGA organised roadshows to promote the proposed amalgamation between the SLGA and the SGU. It was not an opportunity for all and sundry to come, have a free coffee and biscuit, listen to a presentation, ask some questions and go home, satisfied that they had left apathy at home and shown a positive interest in ladies' golf affairs. This was a limited invitation of two representatives from each club in Midlothian and East Lothian - and they wanted answers.

Sixty-six must have seemed a fairly respectable number considering Fife drew in approximately thirty-five and Angus, only fourteen and that included both speakers and the person who put out the chairs. Sixty-six at Kingsknowe still meant that some clubs were unrepresented. Was this a measure of the interest in this historic proposal which is effectively the death-knell of more than a century of the SLGA - not of course the death-knell of ladies' golf but the beginning of a new phase - whatever that might be.

To present the SLGA "side" was Lorna Bennett(pictured above) a Fife lawyer, Senior Ladies Internationalist and the SLGA representative for the East of Scotland. She was assisted by Janet Wake who is approaching the end of her term on the the SLGA, was a former Midlothian County Captain and is now the Midlothian President. Lorna did not require any back-up as she was, typically,very well prepared indeed, knowing exactly what she knew and, what was equally valuable(and freely admitted) exactly what she didn't. At the beginning of her talk, she invited the ladies present to ask questions at any time, before, during or after her presentation. What she couldn't answer she promised to relay back to the Board for clarification and this hopefully would lead to inclusion or acceptable changes to the proposal.

Lorna went through the proposal, which is available for all to see on the SLGA website, pretty much point by point in uncomplicated detail. Initially the audience was quiet and attentive, until one person asked for clarification on a point and after that the floodgates were opened and the questions came fast and furious. Furious is the wrong word because of course no one was in the slightest bit hostile as there was no reason to be. Maybe there might have been an initial feeling of "shoot the messenger" by those openly against the amalgamation, but Lorna's calm and obviously sincere approach prevented any such thing. And so questions flowed from the stalls and were answered to general satisfaction from the floor, the flavour of the evening being definitely more of a discussion than a pre-general election hecklers' meeting.

Topics causing most concern were first of all, possible redundancies of SLGA staff together with the anomaly of having at one and the same time possibly three CEO's - one from the SLGA, one from the SGU both with contracts still to run and a new CEO representing the new Scotland Golf Limited - a huge financial outlay. Lorna was at pains to allay any fears with regard redundancies from the SLGA side, who could not possibly run with less and she thought it highly unlikely that the SGU would feel they could do with less staff either. She identified two officials on the existing SLGA Board - all voluntary of course which is often forgotten or ignored - who give so much of their time to SLGA business, they must have forgotten what their own firesides looked like. It was to be noticed this did not include reference to herself and this was the third roadshow in so many days!

The per capita situation was also discussed where all ladies would be members of a county whether they wished to be or not, although counties would not be forced to adopt this.

The gender issue was contentious, whereby the number of ladies initially on the new body would be protected but only for three years. Thereafter there was a genuine fear that by virtue of sheer weight of numbers - gents:ladies are 6:1 - ladies might never be voted in with a potentially disastrous effect on matters appertaining to ladies.

Sponsorship issues and Sportscotland and how much would actually come the way of the ladies especially after the Ryder Cup in Scotland had been and gone. Lorna freely admitted that she was under the impression that this legacy would feel the draught of the current economic situation.

Both the SLGA and the SGU have separate premises, neither of which would be large enough to house the new body with its combined staff. Obviously new premises would need to be found but the leases of both properties have years to go so no saving here, only increased expense as these existing leases are seen out. As for bringing out a new logo and the rebranding of everything under the banner of the new Scotland Golf Limited, has this been costed?

It does seem that to continue to push all this through when there are so many unresolved loose ends, is, to say the least, a little hasty. Even supposing all the niggles and doubts and genuine worries are taken on board, is there now enough time to have it all completed by their cut-off date? The fact remains that maybe this amalgamation is indeed the best way forward but only when every angle has been examined and resolved. Where is the advantage in rushing everything through at breakneck speed if it is not done properly. It is much too late after the event, when it is signed, sealed and delivered legally only to find that there are areas which have not been clarified. So it made complete sense when a proposal came from one of the ladies to defer the amalgamation completely until we had all the facts before us, to our complete satisfaction. More to the point when we would have a better idea of exactly how much all this would cost.

Roadshows promoting the proposed SLGA/SGU Amalgamation are taking place all over Scotland. There may be some objection, to the word 'promoting' as if this event is a frantic sales pitch but there has been very little obvious attempt to involve the membership in this process up to the issuing of "The Proposal". We therefore can scarcely be blamed for feeling left-out. What have we got an SLGA for, one may argue, if we don't let them get on with running the day-to-day affairs. We should be grateful to them. Well we are (grateful) and we do (let them get on with the day-to-day running of our affairs, more-or-less) - but the total break-up of the SLGA as we have known it, the handing-over of everything that women have lived and died for - OK that's a bit OTT - is surely worthy of a little more of a say in something as important and final as this. You are involved (they may say) you're getting roadshows aren't you, you can ask questions can't you and if we can - or want to? - we'll answer them. Ladies, if you may recall last year at the SLGA AGM in Perth, an attempt was made to ask about financial matters pertaining to the future amalgamation. The lady in question was snubbed - and that is the perfect word for it. No polite answering with an apology for the lack of specificity at this stage - just plain snubbed. Which led straightaway to the question, why. The SLGA run our golfing affairs, they are not our masters and they should be transparent at all times. Why cannot we ask questions and why would we not get answers. But with regard to this amalgamation, whether it has been intentional or not, there has been an element of secrecy which can only lead the more cynical to wonder why. When all said and done, this amalgamation might truly be the very best step forward for ladies' golf but is there really such a need to rush it in, especially when the financial situation in the country is, if not fragile, at least uncertain. We know the contribution from Sportscotland is going to decrease this coming year, but it is not known by how much. We have only to look at the papers and television to see what a dreadful state Ireland is in just now. Last year, did the man, or woman, on the street in Dublin have any inkling how bad things would get for them this year? Are they going to be pouring money into Irish Ladies' Golf this coming year. How can we possibly know how we will be situated ourselves. Nothing is guaranteed. It is not possible for anyone holding the moneybags to give any guarantees. Why not wait? No one on the SLGA seems able to categorically say how much we will get from Sportscotland , not because they are withholding this information for their own dark and desperate designs - they don't know. Lorna said this. Get a proper feed-back from the members. Take the time to fill out this proposal with more detail about all the financial queries, include all unanswered questions and send it out again and then, if necessary repeat the whole process. Then and only then will the proper course of action be formulated, one way or another. And what is more, they will know for sure they are carrying the majority of the membership with them which could well be not what they are doing at the moment.

Murrayfield wins the Mail on Sunday Classic in Spain

2010-11-25T19:14:00.012Z

When competitive golf in Scotland has virtually hibernated, it is something to cheer about to hear of Murrayfield's great success in the Mail on Sunday Classic, held at El Rompido on the Spanish Costa del Sol. The four semifinalist teams, two from Scotland and two from England, bundled all their golf gear on to the aeroplane and met to do battle on November 23rd and 24th far from these shores. However, to all reports, this was hardly played out in lovely warm conditions such as might have been expected as apparently the rain in Spain had not stayed mainly on the plain and it had been raining cats and dogs in El Rompido. At least it has been dry here in the Lothians albeit a trifle nippy!

Three East Vets contributed to Murrayfield's great win - these being Norma Richmond, (their ace reporter), Caroline Johnstone and Ray Lynch, the remaining members of the team being Margaret Fergusson, Lyn Wilson and Rosie Dennis. On Day One, Murrayfield played and won against Wildwood Golf Club from Surrey, the scoreline being a convincing 5 : 0 and this in the face of the opposition all having caddies, always a major advantage in soggy conditions, which according to Norma had to be seen to be believed. Those who played in this game were Margaret Fergusson, Rosie Dennis, Lyn Wilson, Norma Richmond and Caroline Johnstone. The other Scottish team, from Skelmorlie, North Ayrshire were only just beaten to the post 3 : 2 by Beau Desert from Staffordsire or it would have been an all Scottish final.

On Day 2, Murrayfield then faced Beau Desert (weather conditions unclear in the final but obviously the same for both). The Murrayfield team was unchanged except for Ray Lynch playing in place of Rosie Dennis. Margaret Fergusson won by 5 and 4 and Lyn Wilson by 2 and 1. Ray Lynch got a very honourable half in spite of being dormie 2 down - so very well done indeed Ray. Norma unfortunately met heavier opposition and lost by 4 and 3, pushing the scoreline to a knife-edge at 2 1/2 - 1 1/2 with one game to play. All depended on Caroline's game but a 4 and 2 win meant the trophy was their's. Well done indeed Murrayfield and we all hope the well-deserved champagne headaches weren't so bad the next day.

Suffice to say that at a meeting of Midlothian and East Lothian Ladies in Kingsknowe golf club, news of the result was relayed before it started and a rousing cheer could have been heard not only in Murrayfield but even in El Rompido.

Winners at Midlothianladies County AGM and Prizegiving

2010-11-10T22:30:00.004Z

East Vets managed to walk off with a good proportion of the prizes at the Midlothian Ladies County Golf Association AGM and Prizegiving at Liberton Golf Club tonight. Mary Richardson (Craigmillar Park) took over the captaincy reins from Tracy Laughland - as Mary said in her opening words,a hard act to follow and likewise Janet Wake(Merchants) is the new Midlothian President. Margaret Rodger is now taking a well-earned rest.

Winter Foursomes
Winners Maureen McKay (Kingsknowe) partnered with Katharine Logan
Runners-up Fiona Hunter (Baberton) partnered with Sharon McPherson
Spring Meeting
Bronze Division 1st handicap - Susan Tudball (Murrayfield)
Silver Division 1st Handicap - Denise Mitchell (Murrayfield)
Best Overall Nett Score - Pam Townsend (Murrayfield)
2nd Best Overall - Norma Richmond (Murrayfield)
2nd scratch - Karen Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park)
Midsummer Foursomes
2nd handicap - Maureen Stewart(Glencorse)
Summer Meeting
Silver Division 2nd Handicap - Kate Johnston (Baberton)
Autumn Meeting
2nd scratch - Ruth Brown (Lothianburn)
Summer Hole & Hole
Bronze Quaich runner-up - Susan Tudball (Murrayfield)
Silver Division semi-finalists - Maureen McKay (Kingsknowe), Elsa Todd (Prestonfield)
'B'Championship Cup
Winner Denise Mitchell (Murrayfield)
Runner-up Isobel Halliday (Merchants)

Well done everyone

Annual General Meeting 2010 held at Gullane

2010-10-25T22:20:00.007+01:00

The East Vets AGM and annual prizegiving was held at Gullane Golf Club today. 56 ladies were present for the meeting followed by lunch.

Captain Elise Guy welcomed everyone present and without further ado the meeting was opened. After the apologies were announced (69), the prizegiving got underway. Happily most of the prizewinners were present which is always more satisfactory then when vouchers and trophies are placed to the side and hand-delivered later - which was the case in 2009.

The trophy winners were as follows:
Senior Salver - Elsa Todd
Wallace Williamson Aggregate Cup - Anne Brownie (Lothianburn)
Beddowes Trophy (best nett score Summer Meeting) - Katy Gillies (Glencorse)
Rosebowl (best nett score Autumn Meeting)- Ruth Brown (Lothianburn)
Ramsden Cup (Hole & Hole) Karen Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park)
Lady McInnes Shaw Trophy (Championship) - Karen Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park)

Karen (pictured above)had also brought to the meeting the Scroggie Cup (Scottish Vets Championship)which she recently won at Blairgowrie. She is pictured above with all three trophies. (apologies for the background) After the presentation, Karen read out a very nice tribute.

Captain Elise returned to the fore and delivered her captain's speech where she reiterated the list of all prizewinners but also the results of the interdivision matches which have previously been reported on the website - except for the East v Borders match at Swanston which seemed to have been omitted. This was in fact a loss to the East. She drew attention to the Elise Duncan Trophy which is played for in the annual East v West match for scratch and upwards players and which was retained this year. It is a very handsome trophy - still with no details from anyone as to the history of "Elise Duncan". Asp Robertson proclaimed her delight that the "Asp Trophy" was for once on show on the East trophy table - as opposed to decorating one from the West.

Elise asked the Vice-captain, Noreen Fenton, to say a few words on the results of East Vets participation in international events this year.

The minutes were then read out by Katherine, the timing of this deviating slightly from the norm. This is the last time that the minutes will be read out at the AGM, as it has been decided that in future, they will be put on the website prior to the event, when all East Vets can read them at their leisure. The minutes were proposed and seconded by Karen Ballantyne and Carol McLeod respectively.

Next was the turn of the Financial report but before a proposer and seconder were asked for, Katherine felt obliged to mention that the blurred signature at the bottom was in fact due to her printer and not an attempt at forgery. Clare Bowe and Catriona Shedden were kind enough to propose and second the financial report which showed a small return.

Elise announced tht the trial of using an aggregate of two scores to qualify for the championship was to be abandonned, reverting to the use of the Summer Meeting at Haddington only. This was mainly due to the most unfortunate weather conditions enjoyed by the competitors in both spring and summer meetings which reduced the number of entrants radically. Indeed a superstitious person might have deemed the whole venture cursed from the very beginning and doomed to failure. So, summer meeting only. This incidentally was received with more nods from the assembled audience than practically anything else other than the arrival of the meal.

Elise announced that Marjory Lauder would be the next Vice-captain and that Dulcie Barnes would join the committee. She then thanked her committee for their hard work and in particular Katherine, before handing over her badge of office to Noreen.

Noreen then dealt with the AOCB starting off with the Ramsden Cup. Ladies this year had found themselves in the position of being all square after eighteen holes and having to decide themselves in the field so to speak, what they would do since neither knew and had left home without their mobiles. They had at that time opted for best of three. It was agreed that for the remainder of the year this format would continue, until it could be brought up at the AGM. Thrown to the company , a show of hands decided on best of three rather than sudden death. So now all know.

The format for the matchplay stage of the championship would remain as it was this past year, first round on Saturday afternoon, semi-final and final on the Sunday. At present the actual dates for this are not yet known apart from the fact they will be one of week-ends 11/12 June, 18/19 June or 9/10 July to be finalised when the Haddington professional returns from holiday. The Summer Meeting will be on June 7th. The venue for the Autumn Meeting has alternated between Murrayfield and Liberton in the past. However since numbers at Liberton appear to be almost twice those of Murrayfield, it has been decided that Liberton will from now on be the only venue . This will be on September 5th, 2011, with the AGM and prizegiving on 24th October, also at Liberton Golf Club.

As already referred to previously, the East match against Borders was not our finest hour but we were able to admire the extreme smartness of the opposition to the point that the committee wanted to ensure that ladies representing our division in future would be attired similarly - not similar to the Borders but to each other. Although a different and prettier colour of shirt was suggested to the company, the general feeling was to wear yellow and that Katherine would ask for orders of this official East Vets shirt along with the subscriptions at the beginning of the year.

Noreen brought up the issue of using Distance Measuring Devices in East Vets competitions. Two ladies had asked if they could use them at the Autumn meeting but permission was refused at that time, although a short survey later conducted had shown a positive stance for their use. The vast majority of those present today voted for allowing the use of the device, although the general feeling of the meeting was that few would use them, but that there was no objection to those using them, who wanted to. Karen suggested that the view of the SVLGA could be sought which was agreed. In the meantime East Vets will allow their use as a local rule.

There being no further business the meeting was closed and all settled back with great patience to enjoy a really lovely meal when it arrived. The committee, being nearest the kitchen door, were served first and had to endure covetous glances from the rest of the room - but they just ignored them.

East Vets Annual General Meeting Monday 25th October

2010-10-18T22:40:00.002+01:00

The Annual General Meeting and Prizegiving of the East Vets will take place in the clubhouse at Gullane next Monday at 11am. Hopefully any questions which have to be raised have long been in Katherine's possession. Last year there was unfortunately a shortage of prizewinners there to receive their trophies but early reports indicate this will not be the case this year. Please bring your smiles as well in case there are some cameras at the ready. The meeting will be followed by lunch.

Looking Back on Sheringham

2010-10-05T15:33:00.005+01:00

It seems like a far distant memory now - pre-Ryder Cup certainly - but it was only a few days ago. It seems so much more.

Not Scotland's most illustrious hour certainly and a huge disappointment after their recent victory in Germany. Like all golf matches, just a tweak here, a touch there, a putt going in rather than sitting looking into the depths, would have made the most enormous difference to the result. A game of "if only".

Take for instance the game against Wales, which was a drawn match. Such was the closeness that one putt could have made Scotland all-over second as opposed to last. How cruel is golf. Very possibly everyone in the team can look back at a certain shot that influenced the outcome of their game, whether it was a shot that won a hole or more than likely, a shot that lost one. A sudden gust of wind taking the ball into a bunker, a putt not hit just that touch hard enough, an understandable desperation for the perfect shot that the swing was just that fraction too quick - then disaster. There's generally something that turns a match round and players can only "look back in anger" at themselves because it's easy to think what one might or should have done - afterwards. There's no stress and anxiety when it's all over. It's quite normal to try and shoulder the blame when one recalls poor shots. But no one player should ever take that responsibility. Each player went out there and did her absolute best, she should recall all the great shots and be proud.

Everyone or most everyone will have been watching the Ryder Cup over the weekend, seen the emotion and the passion with which both sides played. You might think if this is what they do all the time, they ought to be good at it, perfect at it even, but it didn't work out like that. It never does. There was so much to gasp at, wonderful wood shots soaring over trees and water and landing feet from this tiniest of flags, there were bunker shots peppering the hole, coming out of the sand like a pin-ball machine but with the precision of a bullet, there were putts, so many putts speeding their way twenty,thirty,yards over greens and finding a safe haven in the hole. Fantastic. Wonderful. There were also some pretty weird shots from these wizards of the golf course and there could have been cries of derision from the audience (and the living room) with the expectation of perfection - but more than likely not. More than likely sympathy and genuine understanding of their disappointment. To see players bouncing along, confident in their game, happy with their "holes-up status", smiling and chatting to their caddies, to see them lose one hole possibly against a birdie, no fault there, then maybe a slack or unlucky shot loses another and suddenly it seems as if the gates are open, allowing holes to run away and doubt and tension to slip in. Comfortable leads become monstrous deficits and it gets harder and harder to get that ball to do what you know you can do. And that's the other side of golf. We've all been there. We all understand.

Is that what happened at Sheringham? The team that came back from Berlin, buoyant with the gold medal under their belts and to all intents and purposes playing the same game, they just could not find that extra something to let them do it again and make a successful defence of the Senior Home International Trophy. Many of the games were initially even. As the Irish captain relayed on hearing results coming through her radio, "First game one up, second one down with the third all square on the first tee - well you could say it was anyone's game"!

Sadly it wasn't Scotland's on this occasion but there's always next year!

Third day at the Senior Home Interntionals

2010-10-01T18:50:00.002+01:00

Scotland unfortunately were unable to take a point from Ireland on the third and final day of the Senior Home Internationals. In an effort to promote the Second Coming into her team, Captain Pamela Williamson completely altered the pairings but to no avail. At number one position, she joined together an old winning partnership of Fiona de Vries and Lorna Bennett, who took on new Irish cap Mairead MacNamara and very long-hitting Niamh Giblin. They lost 4 and 3. The second pairing was the combination of the two sisters from Tain, Mary Smith and Anne Ryan. They won against Pat Doran and Helen Jones on the eighteenth. The third couple were Heather Anderson and Noreen Fenton who were not tight enough initially against Sheena McElroy and Phil O'Gorman and then failed to counter the rush of birdies and good pars from both, whose putters were red hot. At the short eighth, the Scots tee-shot was six inches from the hole and surely could not be blamed for thinking they would get a hole back especially as the opposition's tee-shot was about forty feet away. Their hopes were dashed when the ball fell into the hole for a half in two.

In the afternoon singles, knowing that four out of five of the games had to come Scotland's way to make a likely second place, things started quite well. This however did not last, although Fiona de Vries, who had played in all six games, was too much for Violet McBride and brought in an early point. Mary Smith did likewise against Mairead MacNamara. But that was to be it. Moira Thomson (pictured left against the backdrop of the North Sea) held on to her usual steady game till the ninth where she missed an unlikely putt for her but this then allowed her opponent, Pat Doran, a foot in the door. As Moira began to appear a little less purposeful, Pat's game conversely looked increasingly more secure. It's a fact of life or golf than when that happens, there is very little luck to be had. The two remaining games with Lorna Bennett (playing Helen Jones) and Anne Ryan (playing Sheena mcElroy) were hard fought to the last but both finished on the seventeenth with points to Ireland.

Having recently come home from Berlin as worthy champions, Scotland were relegated to fourth place in the Home Internationals. England had won all their games with a healthy margin and indeed were very worthy winners.

Results
England 3 points
Ireland 1 1/2 points
Wales 1 point
Scotland 1/2 point

Second day at the Home Internationals disappointing

2010-09-29T22:35:00.002+01:00

Scotland's hopes of retaining the Senior Home International Trophy took a sudden dive today when they met a very impressive English team. Yesterday Scotland had drawn their game with Wales while England had beaten Ireland 7 / 1. Today Scotland lost to England 6 1/2 to 1 1/2 and Ireland also halved with Wales. England have won two games, wales have two halved matches while all scotland and Ireland have one halved match apiece. Tomorrow will decide who will be second.

Skipper Pamela Williamson is desperately keen - as are her entire team - to put a win on the board tomorrw and has had a complete rearrangement of her foursomes to see if this will secure points in the morning. Today only managed to achieve a halved match with Fiona de Vries and Anne Ryan.

In the afternoon singles, the only match to win a point was down to Lorna Bennett who came back from being two down to win three holes on the trot over Sue Dye. On the seventeenth, when one hole up, she sent a putt racing over the full length of the green which never looked like doing anything else than go in, much to her team-mates delight. She won 2 an 1.

Fiona de Vries lost also on the seventeenth after a quality game against the English Champion Caroline Marron which saw an initial exchange of birdies from the very first hole. Moira Thomson played very steadily but unfortunately, one hole down going into the eighteenth, was unable to do other than half the hole. Both Heather Anderson and Noreen Fenton were unable to produce the golf of the previous day and lost at the fifteenth.

Look on Kirkwoodgolf to get the full results.

First Day at the Senior Home Internationals

2010-09-28T22:28:00.004+01:00

The first day at the Senior Home Internationals proceeded without any interference by that arch-villain, The Weather although there is no question that tomorrow will be another day. The locals have promised "wall to wall rain" which sadly co-incides with BBC Weather so sadly it looks pretty poor.

However today was a good golfing day in that it was dry, not at all cold and although there was an north-east wind it was fairly moderate. So good conditions and consequently a lot of very good golf.

Scotland played Wales today and had a halved match. Another website hinted at this being a poor result for Scotland, the current European Team champions (the webmaster freely admits this constant reference to the European Team Championship is beginning to smack of a certain country winning a football competition in 1966 - but it was pretty special!) anyway the inference was that a halved match was a poor result because Wales did not put forward a team for the aforesaid championship. Just because they did not enter - for their own reasons - hardly constitutes the right to deem them less worthy opponents. Wales won the Senior Home Internationals very recently - apologies for not having this at hand but it is thought to be 2008. Certainly Scotland were disappointed not to win a point here. Losing the foursomes 2 - 1 makes for a difficult task in the singles when four out of the five possible games had to be seized. As it was they only got three points out of a possible five which was only good enough for the halved match.

In the morning the only victory went to the new pairing of Lorna Bennett(Ladybank) and Heather Anderson (Blairgowrie). They were playing against the very experienced Janet Doleman and new cap Louise Fleet whom they beat by 2 and 1. It was an up and down game with a healthy exchange of birdies. The Welsh pair birdied the short 11th hole with a two to the Scots' par and then also at the par 4 fourteenth hole, where they had a 3. One down. However all change at the 171 yard fifteenth hole when Heather's wood, straight into the oncoming wind, just eased through the back of the green into semi-rough. The Welsh girls looked as if they had the advantage but made a poor job of their approach whilst Lorna chipped dead for a gimme. Capitalising on this at the very next hole, Heather's long iron was again just through but Lorna hammered that 30 footer right to the back of the can for a birdie three. One up with two to play. Two good drives at the next hole but Lorna's second was straight for the pin whereas the Welsh girls took rather a circuitous route to the hole - and it was all over. A great fighting finish.

Moira Thomson (Gullane) and her partner Mary Smith (Tain) who had an unblemished record in the Europeans were up against the very strong pairing of Vicki Thomas and Jane Rees who were really on their game. Their huge uncompromising length off the tee often gave them a big advantage and indeed they were on the 436 yard 5th hole in two strokes which was something indeed. (If the weather on Thursday improves it is hoped to have a picture of this portrait hole to brighten up the report!)

In the afternoon singles the only points gained came from Fiona de Vries(St Rule), Heather Anderson and Noreen Fenton(Dunbar) Fiona took on Vicki Thomas whom she beat by 4 and 2. It looked as if Fiona might have lost the twelfth hole when Vicki made the green in two and she (Fiona)found a greenside bunker. But not to be outdone and Fiona had a great up and down for a good par and her opponent uncharacteristically three-putted. The game finished at the sixteenth when Vicki, again most atypical, put two drives out of bounds on to the railway. Four and two to Fiona.

Noreen Fenton, not having played in the morning foursomes, started shakily against Denise Richards, three putting the first to go one down and then losing the second to a twenty foot birdie putt from off the green to go two down. A chip which sat on the edge of the hole at the fourth brought this back to one down but a dreadful fifth re-instated the two down status. However a two at the sixth and a good up and down from a bunker at the short eighth brought this back to all square. Noreen was very fortunate to win this game at the sixteenth as Denise had a marvellous day with her putter but was satisfied to have been level par at the end of the game.

England beat a very strong irish team by 7 / 1. Scotland take them on tomorrow. Readers are requested to refer to Kirkwoodgolf for all the above scores. Sleep beckons.

Practice Day at Sheringham

2010-09-26T18:17:00.003+01:00

Three East Vets are involved in the Senior Ladies Home Internationals this year being held at Sheringham Golf Club in Norfolk, England which today, the first practice day, was quite definitely one of the wettest most miserable places in the whole of the UK. All the more so because the weather in the Lothians looked, for once very acceptable.

Anyone would be forgiven for wondering what on earth the Scottish Senior Ladies have done to offend the celestial golfing powers-that-be (who control the weather). For example, a few weeks ago our golfing giants (and Lorna Bennett) arrived in Berlin to challenge for the European Senior Ladies Team Championship and it was so wet, there were preferred lies - in September would you believe. The British Senior Ladies Open Stroke-Play Championship at West Kilbride followed soon after the above glorious victory and just before there was a week of such fantastic weather that phrases like "Indian Summer" were bandied about lulling everyone into a false sense that summer had come at last, a bit late granted but who's counting. The point being there was heat and sun and no wind. So what exactly was that at West Kilbride. The lovely weather just vanished overnight exactly on practice day. It was just unspeakably bad. (Congratulations to all who played and survived - they all deserved medals).

And now here we are again - first practice day for the Senior Home Internationals and back to the rain. Scotland may be cooler than of late but at least it has been basking in dry weather. It was certainly not dry in Norfolk today. Lashed by winds off the North Sea and soaked by torrential rain. O Me miserum. Why us!

However our Scottish Senior worthies, inclusive of Moira Thomson (Gullane), Noreen Fenton(Dunbar),Captain Pamela Williamson(Baberton) - but also Mary Smith and Anne Ryan of Tain, Lorna Bennett (Ladybank),Fiona de Vries (St Rule), SLGA President Emma Wilson(Leven) and Heather Anderson (Blairgowrie), all dressed appropriately for the very worst of the elements, all took on this wind-swept course situated along the cliffs in North Norfolk and tried hard to imagine what it would look like on a sunny day!

Just imagine the scene, heads bent in the blinding rain, dragging the non-motorised trolleys behind them - which if left unattended had the tendency to blow over. Practice days are supposed to be days to glean information about the course, clubbing, borrows on greens. Not exactly. Thankfully the matches proper don't start till Tuesday when Scotland plays Wales and England plays Ireland. The forecast is promised to improve. Tomorrow is another practice day but the team are not thinking about that right now. They are dried out. Their clubs are dried out and all the waterproof gear too. And they are away to bed.

Blairgowrie

2010-09-21T16:50:00.012+01:00

So that's it all over for another year. "Blairgowrie" has come and gone. It has been a very successful year for East Vets in that one of our own has won the Scottish Vets title - only the sixth winner in the last twenty years, these being Karen Ballantyne, Moira Thomson, Noreen Fenton, Joan Marshall, Liz Simpson and Connie Lugton.

So this is Karen's year. Her first round was against the Galloway Champion, Jean Brydson, who is very experienced and must know Lansdowne like the back of her hand! This was a pretty tight game and really Karen only made inroads in the second half winning at the sixteenth by 3 and 2. The next day she was drawn against Anne Ryan of Highlands who herself had beaten a three times winner of the title, Liz Campbell of Borders. Anne was in the successful Scottish Seniors team who lifted the gold medal recently in the European Team Championship.

The game started slowly with both having pars over the first two holes. Anne went one ahead at the fourth hole (which greatly resembled the second and third) with a par four. Lansdowne is one of these tree-lined courses where a good drive seems often to land somewhere near the 150 yard post. A player can often find that if this is his or her distance with a certain club, as long as he or she continues to hit nice and straight from here - that is keeping out of the trees and the heather - he or she is halfway to a successful outcome. One lady said she seemed to go all the way round playing her driver and a seven wood. She wasn't complaining. It was a good day for both clubs!

We digress. Back to Anne and Karen's game. The short 5th was halved in four, as was the sixth but then Anne took the long seventh with a birdie to go two up. The eighth was a crucial hole for Karen. A good saving putt from her saved going three down which might have been psychologically a bit disheartening. This, together with a fine birdie two at the 9th, meant she was going into the second half only one down which was a great boost. Anne dropped a stroke at the eleventh and now the game was all square. Not to be outdone, however, taking advantage of her greater length off the tee, she placed her ball in a better position at the tricky 12th which strangely seems to be Stroke Index 15 - far from an easy par four, with its yawning bunker to the left and a sturdy oak(?) bang in line for the green if one chose to head right from the tee. Anne was one up again. A short-lived advantage as she promptly gifted the 13th to Karen who had a par to Anne's treble bogey. All square. Both had lovely threes at the short 14th but then Anne dropped shots at both the fifteenth and sixteenth to be dormie two down. Again Anne's length came in useful at the long seventeenth but a half at the last gave victory to Karen and a place in the final.

Karen said she was fired up for her game against May Hughes of Lanark who had had a great game against Fiona de Vries, a former winner. But May's golden putter deserted her in the afternoon game. Although she won the second and eighth with pars, she found herself three down at the turn to Karen who birdied the first with a four and the ninth with yet another two. Karen dropped a hole at the par four eleventh but immediately retook it the following hole. The next three were halved in pars, so May was unable to make inroads until the sixteenth when a par from her cut Karen's lead to two holes. She did not take the mental advantage of this because at the dog-legged seventeenth, May found herself in trouble up the left, wasting a stroke to come back on to the fairway. Both ended up in the bunker to the right of the green. Karen went wide and had to putt first, leaving a thirty-footer a mere six inches from the hole. This left May needing to hole her putt - which wasn't much short of Karen's - just to stay alive. It didn't go in.

Karen had won the Scottish Vet's title by 2 and 1.

Scroggie Cup Results

Quarter-finals
Karen Ballantyne beat Jean Brydson 3 and 2
Liz Campbell lost to Anne Ryan 2 and 1
Lynne Terry lost to May Hughes 5 and 4
Fiona de Vries beat Pearl Beattie 7 and 6

Semi-finals
Karen beat Anne 2 up
May beat Fiona 7 and 6

Final
Karen beat May 2 and 1

Whilst all this exciting championship play was going on round Lansdowne, about 130 Vets from all over Scotland were storming round the Rosemount in the Patrick Rosebowl, the results of which, for East Vets are as below. It is sad to say that none appeared in the prizelist. The weather was lovely throughout the morning although it did start to rain in the afternoon. This was doubly unfortunate for those going out later as there was the most incredible delay at the short 14th when apparently at one point, there were about ten couples all waiting to go off. Something like this can often wreck a good score but many ladies are there simply to enjoy the golf and the chat so perhaps they did not even notice the delay.

Nett Results
Elinor Blair 82 - 8 = 74
Sue Penman 81 - 6 = 75
Jane Herd 84 - 7 = 77
Sandra Ashurst - 90 - 13 = 77
Noreen Fenton - 83 - 4 - 79
Ethel jack - 92 - 1 - 81
Mairi Pollock - 91 - 9 - 82
Dorothy Thomson - 93 - 11 - 82
Carole Ross - 96 - 11 = 85
Carol McLeod - 100 - 14 = 86
Barbara Biggart 95 - 9 = 86
Asp Robertson 107 - 19 = 88
Isabel MacDonald 114 - 21 = 93
Elise Guy 116 - 22 = 94
Margaret Snedden 110 - 15 = 95
Nancy Gow 111 - 14 = 97

On the Tuesday, the ladies played in the greensomes round the Lansdowne course. The East did manage to have a finger in this pie when Ethel Jack partnered by Sue Penman took second handicap prize with a nett 72. They would have taken second scratch with this but could only get one prize. Noreen Fenton and Jane Herd were pipped for a very minor award by Emma Wilson and Alison Houston of the Midland who came in late with a better score!

Beddowes QuaichEthel Jack and Sue Penman 80 - 8 = 72
Dorothy Thomson and Barbara Biggart 85 - 9.8 = 75.2
Noreen Fenton and Jane Herd 83 - 5.2 = 77.8
Elinor Blair and Mairi Pollock 89 - 7.8 = 81.2
Carole Ross and Carol McLeod 95 - 12.8 = 82.2
Nancy Gow and Sandra Ashurst 97 - 13.4 = 83.6
Margaret Snedden and Isabel MacDonald 102 - 17.4 = 84.6

Karen Ballantyne wins Scottish Vets

2010-09-20T19:24:00.004+01:00

Karen Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park) won the Scottish Vets at Lansdowne, today. This is the first and only time Karen has played in this event. In the quarter-finals she beat Jean Brydson of Galloway by 3 and 2 which only whetted Karen's appetite for the semi-finals. She beat Anne Ryan (a member of the victorious Scottish Senior team who recently won the European Senior Team Championship) by 2 holes after a tight match and then in the afternoon, she took on May Hughes of Lanark (who had rather unexpectedly beaten Fiona de Vries by a margin of 6 and 5). She won the game against May by 2 and 1 and hence lifted the coveted Scroggie Cup for the East Division. It is to be noted that this is only the sixth time in the last twenty years that the trophy has come to the East. Well done Karen. What a year.

(Details of the match to come later)

Maureen Richmond top Scot in Senior British Championship

2010-09-16T22:38:00.003+01:00

No East Vets magically materialised in the leading scores at West Kilbride. The best Scottish performance was by ex-Kilmacolm champion and Curtis Cup player, Maureen Richmond who has been a GP in England for some decades. Maureen was the overnight leader but her final round of 81, although a fine score in the conditions, was almost derisory in the wake of several wonderful scores in the seventies on Thursday - some almost beyond belief in a wind every bit as strong as had been on Tuesday, that day of portaloo-toppling force. The English lady, Bev New who lifted the championship, brought in an amazing birdie-strewn 73.

Next best Scottish performance was by Lorna Bennett of Ladybank, a member of the recent victorious Scottish team which won the European Team Championship. Although her opening score of 84 simply reflected the difficulties of the conditions on Tuesday, her scores of 79 and 78 on the two following days were the product of good steady golf, devoid of major tragedies.

This is an excellent championship, with great organisation going on behind closed doors. Everything was conducted with efficiency except of course in the LGU's complete ineptitude when it came to fixing the weather which quite separated the men from the boys, or in this case, the women from the girls. There is no getting away from the fact that some were luckier than others in their draw times, but it is accurate to say everyone will have had really foul weather at some time or another in their round - swings and roundabouts. The incredible hailstorm, seen coming over the water like a tsunami, was short sharp and quite destructive. Those on the first tee were forced out regardless when it was almost impossible to stand up in the face of it, not only from the sheer force behind it but also from the needle-like pain on the skin! One late group possibly thought they were going to complete their round dry when a flash flood just arrived halfway down the eighteenth. There was no time to struggle into waterproofs before being completely soaked. How galling to find that the minute they had replaced the flag on the green, and shaken corresponding dripping hands, the rain switched off and the sun had the nerve to come out. Just in time to witness the adding-up of a possibly ruined score or two!

An event like this allows friends from far and not-so-far to meet up. Certainly the clubhouse echoed with cheerful chatter but also many, many tales of woe, not only on the day when play was suspended for two and a quarter hours but at the usual gatherings socially of the Cocktail Evening and the Competitors Dinner. Lip-reading was a most useful skill as the noise level surely mirrored that of a football stadium rocking to the use of the vuvuzela.

Many thanks go, as already said to the efficient and pleasant LGU officials (with their constant supply of boilings and jelly babies), to the lost property department, and to the referees who seem much more compassionate when it comes to time faults or perhaps competitors see them coming and in sheer panic simply open up the throttle on their batteries. There are always characters. One who comes to mind was the ever cheerful starter Tommy (spelling?) who, having watched one poor lady drive her first ball straight out of bounds to the right, re-announced her with ---- "and on the tee for the second time -----".

Congratulations to all those lifting the honours. Wonderful golf. Congratulations to all those others for simply playing. You were a credit to yourselves.

Scottish results
239 Maureen Richmond (Royal Liverpool)78,80,81
241 Lorna Bennett (Ladybank) 84,79,78
244 Heather Anderson (Blairgowrie) 83,81,80
247 Mary Smith (Tain) 84,84,79, Fiona Anderson (Formby Ladies) 84,83,80
248 Fiona de Vries (St Rule) 84,83,81
250 Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie) (91,82,77), Jane Finnie (Troon Ladies)83,86,81
252 Alison Bartlett(Royal Dornoch)85,86,81
256 Noreen Fenton (Dunbar)86,87,83, Margaret Tough (Falkirk) 88,85,83
257 May Hughes (Lanark) 83,90,84, Catherine Garrett (W.Kilbride) 87,82,88

Non-qualifiers
174 Janice Patterson (Drumpellier) 89,85, Anne Ryan (Tain) 82,92
175 Anna Telfer (Milngavie) 90,85
176 Karen Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park) 92,84
177 Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) 94,83, Chris McAndrew (Nairn Dunbar) 93,84
178 Jennifer Mack (Haggs Casle) 90,88
183 Lorraine Campbell (Cardross) 93,90, Lynne Terry (Cruden Bay) 86,97
... Ruth Brown (Lothianburn) 98,NR
Withdrawn - Pamela Williamson (Baberton)

Latest at the Senior British

2010-09-15T12:19:00.004+01:00

Readers are referred to the reports on this championship to Kirkwoodgolf and the West Vets due to the webmaster finding it difficult connecting to a network and attempting to keep her feet,in the gale-force conditions here at West Kilbride. The stories of umbrellas being blown outside in, one every three minutes are almost true but the upside down portaloo is definitely true - thankfully no one was within although a substantial person have have managed to keep things to the upright and narrow. The latest situation here just after midday is that all games are proceeding nicely in bright if still very windy conditions - two and a quarter hours later than quoted. This might make things difficult for the top players who now won't be going out till mid-afternoon, should the light start to go. Players have all been warned about grounding their putters, as balls are oscillating but could quite definitely have minds of their own.

Hopefully a report on todays play will follow later - and who have managed to win through to the last day's play - top 40.

Team for the Senior Home Internationals announced

2010-09-13T22:57:00.004+01:00

The team to represent the Scottish Senior Ladies in the Home Internationals at Sheringham on the 28 - 30 September has been announced. It is the same team which recently won the gold medal at the European Senior Ladies Team Championship recently in Berlin together with Noreen Fenton of Dunbar who was the first reserve for that team. Great pressure as the Scottish Senior team won the Senior Internationals in2009 for the first time and will now clearly be the team to beat not only in the defence of that trophy but also in the light of their recent success in Berlin. The Scottish Ladies also triumphed in Cardiff last week in their Home Internationals.

Scottish team
Heather Anderson (Alyth)
Lorna Bennett (Ladybank)
Fiona de Vries (St Rule)
Noreen Fenton (Dunbar)
Anne Ryan (Tain)
Mary Smith (Tain)
Moira Thomson (Gullane)
Captain Pamela Williamson (Baberton)
First Reserve: May Hughes (Lanark)
Second reserve: Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie)
Third Reserve: Alison Bartlett (Royal Dornoch)

All members and reserves of the team (except Moira who has work commitments) are in West Kilbride challenging for the Senior British Ladies. The official practice day, Monday was the worst possible day and only the most keen or most something else attempted to play. One or two people walked the course. Tomorrow the weather promises to show a slight improvement but the chances of it being worse would be a virtual impossility.

Four East Vets have entered Senior British Ladies

2010-09-10T22:22:00.005+01:00

The Senior Ladies' British Open Amateur Championship at West Kilbride Golf Club is due to start on Tuesday 14th September. It takes the same format as the recent Irish Senior Ladies strokeplay - one round of 18 holes on each of two consecutive days - Tuesday and Wednesday 14th and 15th September and the top 40 go forward to the third round on Thursday 16th September. There are 90 entrants from thirteen different countries although the bulk are undoubtedly from the home nations - 24 ladies from Scotland. Four are from East Vets and are Karen Ballantyne from Craigmillar Park(East Vet Champion) Ruth Brown from Lothianburn, Pamela Williamson (Baberton) and Noreen Fenton (Dunbar). There are two practice rounds, one on Sunday and one on Monday after which the draw will be made.

Good luck to all.

Irish lady wins Irish Seniors

2010-09-10T22:04:00.004+01:00

Helen Jones of Strabane who played in the recent European Senior Ladies Team Championship (won by Scotland) herself won the Irish Senior strokplay in Laytown and Bettystown today. She was six strokes clear of her nearest rival and had an aggregate over the three rounds of 228 (74,78, 76). Two of Scotland's entrants were successful in qualifying for the third round - Sue Penman of Gullane and Barbara Biggart of North Berwick. Dorothy Thomson of Gullane failed to qualify. Pamela Williamson of Baberton was in the initial draw but did not play. According to the Irish report, it was extremely windy and the course played very long.

Scottish Results
Sue Penman 259 (92,85,82)
Barbara Biggart 276 (88,90,88)
Dorothy Thomson 99,94

Four East Vets Compete in the Irish Seniors

2010-09-07T22:52:00.003+01:00

Only four Scots are playing in the Irish Senior Women's Open Strokeplay Championship at Laytown and Bettystown but they are all East Vets. Pamela Williamson (Baberton) fresh from her triumph in leading the Scottish Seniors to a gold medal in the recent European Seniors Ladies' Team Championship in Berlin, is anxious to get her hands on a golf club rather than watching others doing it. Barbara Biggart from North Berwick and Dorothy Thomson and Sue Penman both from Gullane are also in the draw tomorrow.

The competition consists of two rounds of 18 holes, one on Wednesday 8th September and one on Thursday 9th. The top 40 will then play the third round on Friday 10th. This is a very high ranking championship and will include many of the international senior lady golfers who took part in the European Team Championship. There is also a strong contingent as always from Canada led by the defending champion Alison Murdoch. Many of those present are putting in a last minute practice before the British Senior Ladies at West Kilbride next week.

Good luck to our girls.

Karen Ballantyne wins Ramsden Cup

2010-09-06T23:03:00.004+01:00

Karen Ballantyne of Craigmillar has had a great season. Just last week she added not only the Ramsden Cup to her trophy cupboard but also the Dunbar Club Championship - this on top of winning the East Vets Championship at Haddington in July.

The two finalists in the Ramsden Cup, herself and Katy Gillies of Melville, had to have two bites at the cherry as their first attempt to play it, only lasted two holes. The weather was truly atrocious. The third green was unplayable and they understood afterwards what the professional had meant by telling them "to start at the shallow end" when they set off in their wetsuits. Their second attempt met with much better luck as it was a beautiful day and they had a very enjoyable game. Katy found however that Karen was very much on her game as she has been all this year, and was quite unable to take her any further than the fifteenth hole.

Well done Karen and good luck in the Scroggie Cup at Blairgowrie when you represent East Vets in a couple of weeks.