SpoonGolf
PUTTING OUT
and the children they support.
Ten teams of four from each charity
FOR SPOON
with a celebrity cricketer and rugby player
in each of the teams challenged each
other to a Stapleford competition, best
SpoonGolf is an important part of the two scores to count, and the top five team
Charity’s fundraising calendar and three scores from each Charity would determine
events at the tail-end of last year concluded the destination of the Dominic Welham
a fantastic celebratory year for Spoon Trophy. The celebrities from cricket included
golfers, contributing in total from all events Mike Gatting (team captain), Angus Fraser,
over £250,000 to Spoon. John Lever, Alec Stewart, Hugh Morris and
Mark Ramprakash, and from rugby, Ian
Rugby Clubs Golf Championship Robertson (team captain), Sean Fitzpatrick,
National Final 2008 Jerry Guscott, Matt Perry, David Trick and
Sixteen teams eagerly set off in the early morning Adrian Davis.
dew at Walton Heath Golf Club on Friday 17 Spirited competition was enjoyed on a testing
October to contest the Rugby Clubs Golf Sandmartins golf course before sitting down to a
National Final. As the sun rose higher over the splendid meal and an evening hosted by the MC
heath, the players were left with perfect Mike Gatting. Sadly Wooden Spoon got stuffed!
conditions on a top quality course and everyone Taverners won 1st, 2nd and 3rd team prizes and
enjoyed the challenge. The concensus was that won the inaugural Dominic Welham trophy.
keeping the ball on the fairway and out of the The good news is that event will take place
heather was key to scoring and many teams again this year and Spoon have a couple of
must have done so, as the scoring was the winter training camps in the pipeline.
closest in recent times on the New Course. Both Taverners and Spoon are grateful for the
The sponsors played on the Old Course and it support of Andrew Hall, the MD of Sandmartins
was good to see them together with Golf Club and his staff for his generous support
Tony & Tessa Mann, the founder of the RCGC of the event and their hospitality; to Callaway
Tournament. Teams representing RAM Rugby, Golf for golf prizes, Wolf Blass for their wine and
(that included former England cricket captain, Guinness for their refreshing drink on the gamble
Nasser Hussain), Laithwaites and Sport Abroad hole. Finally thanks to Terry Wheeler, Ken New
all contested the Sponsors’ competition with and the support team, Lords Taverners, Sandra
David Higgins from Sport Abroad claiming the and Mike Eland and Joan Wells and of course,
Sponsors’ prize. Caroline Welham and family. It is estimated that
The main competition was fiercely contested. each of the charities will have raised in excess of
Third place was secured only on count-back, £8,000 from the day and a new event has been
with Pontefract RFC edging out Bishop’s established in both of the calendars.
Stortford RFC. Well done to Anthony Smith,
Stephen Hough, Andrew Wiltshire and Regional Golf Day Final, St Pierre
Robert Wigglesworth. One point ahead in Spoon’s finalists enjoyed a magnificent late
second place was the team from Feltham summer’s day over the testing, tree-lined premier
RFC - Nick Aldridge, Bill Stone, Bill Bassett course at St Pierre. 32 teams representing all but
and Jeffrey Stone. The National title was won by The catalyst for four of the regional winners in a series that
one of the teams from Cleckheaton RFC. The the event was the untimely death from cancer of started last April convened at the South Wales
club had two teams in the Final and Andrew Dominic Welham. Dominic died on Christmas eve venue for the 8th Wooden Spoon Grand Final.
Caygill, Martin Rothera, Andrew Umpleby and 2007 having fought the illness for a year. During the year the Regions held 36 Regional
Craig Kelly carried off the Championship and Dominic’s wife Caroline and sister Louisa take up Golf Days raising just over £236,000. The success
prizes from Wooden Spoon, including a golf the story: of these events is down to the hard work of the
holiday, courtesy of sponsors, Golfbreaks.com, “Thinking about Dom’s characteristics and volunteers all over the country and the sponsors.
and a new set of shirts for the Rugby club, strengths, we started thinking further afield. Dom Spoon is grateful for the support of Callaway
supplied by RAM Rugby. was clever, successful, funny and sporty. Sport Golf, Wolf Blass and Masters Golf who provided
David Trick, a great friend of Wooden Spoon, really was his passion. He would throw himself the prizes and auction items.
entertained the players and guests after a into any sporting event whole heartedly either All the golfers enjoyed on-course hospitality
sumptuous meal in Walton Heath’s historic playing or spectating. He was never happier than and the on-course challenge run by Mike Eland
clubhouse. The last act was to draw the Winner on the side lines either watching his three that raised over £1,400. As ever at the Golf Final,
of the Kuoni Sport Abroad trip to the Hong Kong children, the Law Society or best of all, England. everyone enjoyed a fine meal and excellent
7’s in March 2009; won by an elated Oliver Hall The sheer volume of noise he and his friends entertainment from Colin Price, and Riccardo.
of Ipswich RFC. could generate was painful and frankly anti- Thanks go to Kerry Hammond and her team
Many thanks go to everyone who participated social. But that was Dom - if there was a team to from Events Unlimited together with Mike and
throughout the year, all the sponsors and the be supported he was there. Even during his Sandra Eland for their enthusiastic support in
Wooden Spoon volunteers who helped during treatment he would be joined by friends in his organising the event.
the qualifying rounds. Spoon looks forward to room to watch the mid-week football match. So Congratulations to Guernsey who won the
welcoming all rugby clubs into the Championship a charity that combined sport, with good Grand Final narrowly by one point from
in 2009. humour to help children, who might otherwise Manchester. The real winners once again,
get overlooked, seemed perfect - the answer was however, were the disadvantaged children Spoon
Taverners vs Wooden Spoon Celebrity Golf Wooden Spoon.” supports.
Challenge It was decided, therefore, that Taverners and For further details about all Spoon golfing
On October 15th Wooden Spoon took on The Spoon should play for the Dominic Welham events in 2009 please contact Tony Richards:
Lords Taverners in an inaugural golf challenge. Trophy and raise money for both the charities arichards@woodenspoon.com
8 Spoonews Winter 2009
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