July 2026 update

NEXT UP – President’s Day at Copthorne, Thursday 23rd July.

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The annual match against Dulwich (the Old Alleynians) was played at Tandridge in early July, which means (this year, at least) that it was a very hot day. Nonetheless, 16 OAs turned up, full of optimism after last year’s win; and, well, only 15 OWs turned up if truth be told – the 16th was unavoidably detained by a hospital visit. He was replaced by an Old Tonbridgian who happened to be passing the car park when Jeremy Stanyard (the OW captain for the day) arrived. Knowing the OT to be the son of his opposite number in the OA side, and a very useful golfer, proved too great a temptation, and James Earl was instantly recruited as an honorary OW for the day.

It may therefore cause readers to raise their eyebrows when they learn that the OW side ran out eventual winners by 4 1/2 points to 3 1/2, but fear not, James Earl was not amongst the winning pairs – he is that good that he had to give too many shots to his Dulwich opposition, and therefore did not contribute the winning point (or even half-point). Those who did win from the Whitgift side were  Jeremy Stanyard/Nigel Bowthorpe, Ian Chicken/Peter Skeen, Andrew Carr-Locke/Mark Chatham, and Martin Hayes/Adrian McMillan, whilst Jerry Hamley/Alan Scovell delivered the crucial half point which tipped the final score in Whitgift’s favour.

The course was in great shape, and the Tandridge supper after the golf was as good as it normally is.

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