This, the fourth of our annual matches against the OTs proved as successful as our outing last year - we lost. Played on Saturday 9th June on the Old Course at the fabulous RAC in Surrey, we enjoyed not only wonderful friendship and some good games (and, later a Springbok rugby victory) but near perfect weather.
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| The imposing RAC Club House |
It's a strange OD phenomenon that we seem to peak at the warm-up and then take 18 holes to slowly unravel. But despite that, or perhaps because of it, our games against the OTs are competitive and fun. Through David Walsh, great friend to Bishops and the ODU, we have established a wonderful relationship with the OT Golf Society and we look forward to many more years of friendly rivalry when, once in a while, we will win.
That said, Doug Mallett (M, 2007) has not in the four years of this tournament lost a match, which is a pretty remarkable accomplishment, given his aggressive approach to rehydration at the halfway house.
Alex Price (M, 2008) is the OD captain, convenor and disciplinarian. He works tirelessly to put the team together, wake them up on the match morning and motivate them through the testing moments. Greg Baldwin (O, 1975) battled with a dodgy arm and Dave Riches (K, 1996) helped him push through the pain barrier - a true team. Zandy Macdonald (F, 2007) put himself through a warm-up routine which would have made a Russian gymnast wince while Nick Dowdall (G, 2008), applied his doctoral studies in psychology to get the team mindset into match condition. Looking every inch the professional, Seb Golding (F, 2011) played text-book strokes alongside Eric Allan (S, 2010) who watched in admiration and executed one or two awe-inspiring shots of his own.
So 1-3 down, but with enthusiasm and motivation in spades, expect next year's result to be a wholly different. Before then, though, we take on the Old Haileyburians in August.
Click on the individual photos to enlarge.
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The ODs
Back: Greg Baldwin, Dave Riches, Alex price, Eric Allan and Seb Golding
Front: Nick Dowdall, Doug Mallett and Zandy Macdonald |
The OTs: James Mitchell, Martin Colvill, David Walsh, Ed Dickinson, Henry Sanderson, Robin Berkeley, Richard Dalzell and Robert Butlin
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| Nick Dowdall and Zandy Macdonald discussing game strategy over a breakfast sandwich |
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| Getting kitted out in the ODU strip |
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| Eric Allan and Seb Golding |
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| A supremely confident Greg Baldwin |
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| Zandy Macdonald taking himself through an agonising stretch routine setting himself up for a near-perfect back nine (much later) |
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| Seb Golding thinking it through |
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| Zandy Macdonald and Doug Mallett squaring up with Henry Sanderson and Ed Dickinson (obscured) |
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| Richard Dalzell and Robin Berkeley starting as they mean to finish |
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| Alex Price and Nick Dowdall |
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| Alex Price |
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| Ed Dickinson and Henry Sanderson (OTs) |
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| Robin Berkely and Richard Dalzell (OTs) and Eric Allan and Seb Golding |
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| Dave Riches, Martin Colvill and David Walsh (OTs) and Greg Baldwin |
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| Doug Mallett |
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| Zandy Macdonald (those exercises again) |
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| David Walsh (OT) - not a position you want to be driving from |
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| Greg Baldwin and David Walsh (OT) |
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| Alex Price and Nick Dowdall |
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| Henry Sanderson (OT), Doug Mallett, Ed Dickinson (OT) and Zandy Macdonald |
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| James Mitchell and Robert Butlin (OTs) and Alex Price and Nick Dowdall |
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| David Walsh (OT) and Dave Riches |
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| Post-match call-in: Doug Mallett |
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| SA v England: Dave Riches, Seb Golding and Eric Allan |
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| Alex Price, Richard Dalzell (OT), Eric Allan and Seb Golding |
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| Ed Dickinson and David Walsh (OTs); Dave Riches and Greg Baldwin |
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| Zandy Macdonald, Nick Dowdall and Alex price |
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| Zandy Macdonald and Doug Mallett |
