There was a total of 61 in attendance at John O’Gaunt for our first shotgun event of the season with the 34 members almost out numbered by the 27 guests. The perfect weather was matched by the superb condition of the course, although many of us paid the price if we strayed far from the fairway, resulting in the lowest winning points tally in recent seasons.

There was a huge round of applause when I announced that with 35 points Tristan Drane was the winner of the newly named Anthony Barnes Award, formerly the Order of Merit.

Emma Sanders from Magpas Air Ambulance reminded us how important fund raising initiatives are for the survival of their life saving service and encouraged misdemeanours leading to donations/ fines ! After owning up to two misdemeanours of my own, I was able to kick the fines off ! Followed by a number of other members who paid up with the customary good grace.

One member failed to turn up but later admitted to playing at the Gogs with another member and had totally forgotten about her booking. The member in question will, of course, be offered the opportunity of making a charitable donation at Northampton County !

The event was sponsored by Competition Golf with Karl providing excellent prizes to the lucky winners.