OHJGS annual Match against Old Eastbournians – 22nd April 2021

We enjoyed another great match against our old friends from Eastbourne College on a dry and sunny afternoon on a rather parched Walton Heath Old Course. A new face this year for us was Rob Huxford, a handy single figure player who with the help of our Hon Sec GJ, managed to bring in the crucial win to secure a half in the overall match.

For Eastbourne, the only new face was that of Pat Seath who also became the first lady to play in this event. She is one of the key staff in the OE organisation committee and paired with the dependable Chris Walker, they managed to see off IPC Fraser and Tricky Holgate.

Our second pair in the form of Clapham and McCowen went 3 down after three (Claps having rather overlunched apparently!) – more drama was to follow when at the tricky 7th hole par 3 into a strong headwind, Rob McCowen scored a hole in one! The members nearby promptly texted ahead to get the champagne on ice and Rob kindly obliged with a bottle of champagne for every table – top man and well done again. This is now the second hole in one over the years of this match, the first one being recorded by Richard Kelly also with a driver, but this time on the par four 3rd hole…..

Fulch and Waudo managed some rare escapology as they battled throughout the match to stand 3 down with three to play and achieved the grandstand finish that we promised them with a 20 ft. put on the last to square a very exciting match against their organiser Hugh Price and past organiser Mark Winstanley.

In match4 Julian Knott reported his golf as being rubbish, this clearly didn’t matter however as our seasoned campaigner John Waterfall played a blinder and they recorded a solid 3/2 win over Walton Heath man Mat Grover and David Sibree.

Dan Burstow and Andrew Heath had a tough draw in match 5 playing another Walton member, Paul Wickman and past member Grant Leonard who recorded a solid 5/4 win for the OE’s.

The 29 year series is still heavily tilted in Hurst’s favour with 16 wins to Eastbourne’s 7, there have been 5 drawn matches and one Covid cancelled year, that of course being 2020. Next year we are planning an all day foursomes match with a good lunch to celebrate the 30th anniversary of this great friendly match.