Hi everyone, Welcome to the final Team News of the season, week 14 already! I cannot believe this is the last game and newsletter for this year. I hope you have enjoyed reading these little team reports as much as I have enjoyed putting them together. I am already looking forward to next season. This week we were away at Hartlepool GC on a very blustery night, with gale-force winds at times making golf extremely difficult. With promotion still to play for, this was a huge game for both teams. In the scratch section we faced a formidable challenge against possibly the strongest scratch line-up in the league, with players off +3, +2, three off +1 and one off 0. Our lads gave their best, but we had to admire the quality of Hartlepool, who took every game for a 12–0 section win. Our players were Marc Symington, who lost 5&3; Phil Chadwick 5&4; Josh Thompson 6&5; Graeme Nimmo 4&3; Andy Hood 3&1; and Graeme Speight 7&6 against ex-professional golfer M. Davies. Everyone should be proud of their performance. Scratch Section Result: Billingham 0 points – Hartlepool 12 points. The handicap section also faced strong opponents, with handicaps ranging from 3 to 5. On a tough night, we had mixed fortunes. Our winners were Darren Hurst, who won 3&2, and Nic Winstanley, who produced a great comeback from 4 down with 6 holes to play, winning 1 up — a brilliant performance. Our losing players were Taylor Briggs 4&2, Will Bellerby 4&3, Mark Odath 3&1 and Steve Smart 2 down, finishing in the dark at 9:25pm. Every player deserves credit for battling through severe weather conditions, which definitely favoured the home team as they are used to playing in them. Handicap Section Result: Billingham 4 points – Hartlepool 8 points. Overall Match Result: Hartlepool 20 points – Billingham 4 points. This result means Hartlepool go up as league champions, finishing just one point ahead of Rockliffe, who are also promoted to Division 1. Well done to both teams. As for us, we will be back next season, giving everything again to try and gain the promotion these lads deserve. A big thank you to the fellow team players who came along to support and caddies; Daniel Spence with Will Bellerby, and Chris Lavender with Mark Odath. Thanks also to Paul McGrath and Phil Earl for encouraging the lads around the course. Thank you again to our incredible band of supporters, who never fail to amaze us and our opponents, who regularly comment on how many people come to watch. That is the Billingham way! A special mention must go to our Captain, Albert Spence BEM, who has not missed a single team game all season. What a captain, a brilliant achievement, and one that deserves every bit of credit. Thanks also to Vice Captain Robert Kirton, President Stewart Openshaw, Colin Spence, Steve Carter, Mike Lee, Terry Conlon, and our senior citizen Howard Gill, who came along with his wife Jackie - there must have been nothing on TV for Jackie to watch! Your support, home and away, is phenomenal, and every time you turn up, the team players truly appreciate it. From Neil and me, a huge thank you to every team player for your commitment all season. Your camaraderie, support for each other, cheering and encouragement have been a joy to watch. You have made us both proud to be part of such a special group, and you are all a credit to Billingham GC. A final massive thank you to our sponsor, Peter Caswell. Each season, whenever we ask for something, he delivers. This year, he has sponsored new team shirts for the Men’s, Ladies, Seniors, Inters, Rabbits and Juniors teams. Long may this partnership continue, your generosity is appreciated by everyone involved. Well lads, let’s all enjoy our end-of-season get-together on Friday 7th August. Enjoy the rest of your golfing season, and remember - we do it all again next year! We are looking forward to seeing you all on Friday night and congratulating every one of you on the great memories we have shared this season. We are already looking forward to next season - unless we get the sack!! Regards, Tony Evans & Neil Kerr Team Managers