It's a very venerable effort in the Venables

The 55 entrants enjoyed themselves in superb conditions on the Cathedral course for this Stableford contest and a third of the field managed to score par or better. It was crowded at the top with several 39-pointers and three players on 40.

In the end it turned out to be a close contest between last year’s captain and next year’s intended captain with the younger man coming out on top.

Campbell Goldsmid must have thought he’d done enough to win the trophy with 42 points – he even scored par on the notorious fifth hole to score four points.

His only score over par was his last hole, the 18th, where he scored just one point – and he was left to rue this mistake. Nigel Wood had a tremendous round including two significant birdies, one on the 16th and the other on the 13th, which gave him the five points needed to achieve 43 points and win the cup.

The final event of the summer was the Autumn Trophy, a Stableford played on the Tower course.

The course is reckoned to be a few shots easier than the Cathedral but an increasingly-freshening wind made conditions difficult and this was reflected in the scores of the 62 competitors.

Several players scored 38 points but once again it came down to a contest between just two who made 39 points and could be separated only on countback.

John Styles had one no score on his back nine but otherwise played really well recording eight pars and three birdies. His back nine of 17 was not enough as eventual winner George Bell played steadily throughout and his back nine of 20 enabled him to win the coveted trophy whilst at the same time clinching the Order of Merit title for the season .

Chichester’s vets completed their inter-club matches with two significant away fixtures.

The first was against Goodwood on the Downs, where the best team aggregate from the home and away fixtures wins the Jim Robertson Cup.

Following last year’s heavy away defeat there was a much improved performance from the team as they fought back from losing the first two matches to gain a creditable 3-3 draw. But it was not enough to retain the trophy as Goodwood’s excellent victory at Chichester earlier in the year gave them the cup 6½-5½.

A new fixture meant a trip to the Isle of Wight to play Shanklin & Sandown, Chi’s first ‘overseas’ match.

With more than half the team travelling the day before and acquainting themselves with the course it was a surprise to have just half a point from the first three pairings.

The fightback came in the last two matches where Norman Moore and Lawrie Pirie and Chris Penny and Wyndham Halswell both had 4&3 victories to enable the match to be drawn 3-3, exactly the same result as the home fixture.

It was an enjoyable trip and an excellent new fixture for the section .

It has been a successful season for the veterans, chiefly because of the victory in the Cyril Blake County Foursomes.

In addition 32 friendlies have been played with 20 victories, seven drawn matches and just five defeats.

BOGNOR

Bognor seniors held their Fletcher final, a culmination of three previous rounds during the year, where points are awarded for places. The top 40 players are invited to play in the final.

Winner this year with an excellent 43 points was Stuart English, closely followed in second by Ron Stevens with 42. In third was Mike Watts with 40.

Watts’ two excellent scores in one week brought his handicap down from 16 to 12.

Sandown and Shanklin made their annual pilgrimage to Bognor and were beaten 6½-1½. The result was forgotten as both sides enjoyed the after game meal and entertainment.

Results: Gary Steventon & Mike Wadley won 6&4, John Owen & Brian Wolstencroft won 3&2, David Turner & Trevor Till won 3&2, Ron Stevens & Steve King won 2 up, Frank Hodder & Clive Millett lost 4&3, Roger Selway & Rob Walker won 3&1, Barry Vanstone & Bob Young won 1 up, David Chalmers & Barry Appleby lost 6&5.

COWDRAY PARK

Cowdray Park held their Monthly Medal on a fine sunny day.