OB Golf: Cyril Gray 2022
The Old Brightonian Golf team have had a busy summer already.
Thank you to Adrian Wood (Al. 1971-76) for his write-up of last month's Cyril Gray tournament.
Join us now – please contact Julian Hunt (Du. 1984-87) at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Old Brightonian Golf team have had a busy summer already.
Thank you to Adrian Wood (Al. 1971-76) for his write-up of last month's Cyril Gray tournament.
In April, the Old Brightonian Golf Team completed their annual pilgrimage to Kent (Deal and Sandwich) to compete in the Halford Hewitt Cup which is a scratch foursomes event for teams of 10 former pupils of 64 public schools. We were without Ben Roberts (Al. 2009-11), Freddie Pett, (Ha. 1999-2004) and Mike Mudie (Ha. 1998-2001) from the previous year, but welcomed back Riaz Rattansi (Ch. 1985-90) and Mark Budd (Du. 2004-09).
The Old Brightonians Golf Society is going from strength to strength and has had a great year - including some giant-killing in the Halford Hewitt Cup...
Nigel Dearsly (L 1960-65) died over Easter as a result of Covid-19, aged 72.
The Old Brightonian Golf Society played in the Halford Hewitt in April.
In the annual quadrangular fixture against Hurst, Lancing and Eastbourne the OB’s recorded 8 points out of 12, with 3 wins, 2 halves and 1 loss.
We met at Ashridge 26 June 2017 to play for the Solstice Cup. Six of us Justin Wash (B/C. 1979-84), Joey Appleton (Du. 1979-84), Duncan Shaw (D.1979-84), Ben Stott (R. 1979-84), Alan Chesterfield (D. 1973-78) and Mark Green (A. 1972-78).
Sixteen OB's of different vintages and abilities assembled into two teams in a friendly match which pits the Secretary against the President. Only on this occasion our Hon. President Chris Pett, had more important business to attend to as he is currently leading the Seniors on tour in Australia. Geoffrey Bush kindly agreed to provide Locum cover.
Malcolm McVittie recently wrote a letter to the Head Master, describing his father’s experiences after leaving school. This letter recounted a story of bravery and perseverance.
Last Thursday, 8th September, the College travelled to The Dyke Golf Club for the annual match against the Old Brightonians. The sun shone, but a fierce wind was blasting across the downs, making conditions tricky for all parties.
Old Brightonians are delighted to report an emphatic victory in the Sussex Cup held at Walton Heath on Sunday 30th August. In the annual quadrangular fixture against Hurst, Lancing & Eastbourne the OB’s recorded 11 points out of 12, with 5 wins, a half and no losses.
The Cyril Gray tournament is a scratch foursomes School team event for over-50s with 32 schools playing and 6 players making up each team. Owing to there being a good chance of 36 holes having to be played on one day, it is desirable to have a squad of players. This year we went into the main event with a group of seven players, ably supported by Watson Failes who lives nearby and was able to play if needed. Watson turns out to be our secret weapon for the Super Seniors event on Saturday 27th June which requires two golfers with a combined age of 140, with both being over 65.
After last year’s chastening performance 6 OB’s set off for Knole Park ,Sevenoaks more in hope than expectation. The top 7 out of 16 schools from the South region would qualify for the Grafton Morrish Finals, to be held 24-27 September at Brancaster & Hustanton, Norfolk. The format, on a tight and windswept course was 3 scratch stableford foursomes, all scores to count.
The Old Brightonian Golf Society made their annual pilgrimage down to Sandwich in April for the Festival of Foursomes that is the Halford Hewitt. Early confidence in the team was rocked by the unfortunate withdrawal of reinstated pro Michael Mudie (Ha. 1998-2001) due to work commitments. However this was viewed as the strongest squad we had assembled for many years and there was a sense that we might be able to pull off a shock by beating last year’s champions Merchiston.
The Society took on the Brighton College Masters in the Inaugural Event staged at the West Sussex Golf Club on Sunday 10th June.
The OBGS annual Spring meeting was held at West Sussex golf club as an early preparation for members of the Halford Hewitt squad.
This year's Autumn Meeting was held at The Royal Ashdown Golf Club. A strong OB presence was guaranteed with the influx of the "Class of '84" comprising, Duncan Shaw (D.1979-84), Justin Wash (B/C. 1979-84), Tony Nash (S. 1979-84) and Ben Stott (R. 1979-84). The Class of '84 were made most welcome, showed true class by staying away from the winners' enclosure, clearly had a great time and promised to come again with increased numbers!
Dear Old Brightonians
At Walton Heath on Sunday 22nd September, Brighton College once again prevailed in the annual competition between Hurst, Lancing and Eastbourne.
The Cup was retained in dramatic fashion in a putt-off against Hurst as dusk was settling. The OB Team comprised your Secretary, Roly Ainsworth (D 1992-97), Julian Tate (D. 1982-87), Petri Hitches (A. 1984-86) , Freddie Pett (H. 1999-2004) and Michael Mudie (H. 1998-2001).
Tom Hayward (D. 2002-06), former Brighton College pupil and first class honours graduate is entering his second year as a tournament professional. Having only been playing the game since Oct 2010 his progress to date has been impressive, competing upon The UK's developmental tours and in Asia. In 2012 Tom recorded six top 25 finishes, three of which were top 5 positions.
Last week the senior golf team took on the Old Brightonians at East Brighton Golf Club. Exams knocked out a few of the pupils so a depleted BC team of 4 pupils took on 5 OBs - with Mr Sperring making up the numbers.
We couldn’t have asked for better weather for the Brighton College Golf Day Friday 30th September 2011. With a back drop of the beautiful Albourne Countryside, Old Brightonians and parents headed to the fairway for a day at Singing Hills Golf Course.
This year’s Autumn Meeting was held at the beautiful Mannings Heath Golf Club. We were greatly indebted to local member Tom Hayward (D. 2002-06) for organising an excellent day at a heavily discounted rate.
In this year's Cyril Gray Trophy (team scratch matchplay foursomes for the more mature golfer) Brighton faced a tough battle against regular finalists Stowe in the 1st Round. So it proved. Warwick Sabey (B. 1959-65 )and Geoffrey Bush (H. 1965-70) played first pair and lost to some very steady par play. Nigel Dearsly (L. 1960-65) and Robin Colbourne (H. 1960-65) played second and went down quite close to home. Chris Pett (H. 1962-67) and newcomer Adrian Wood (A. 1971-76) played well and were all square after 17 and called it a half when the top two games had gone. 2½ - ½ to Stowe.
Arguably the strongest OB team ever assembled were in boisterous spirits during the practice days. There were strong grounds for optimism that we would win our first round for many a year.
The Brighton College golf team took on the Old Brightonians Golf Society last Thursday. The event was held at the Dyke Golf Club. Both sides fielded a slightly depleted team - as a result of injuries or important cricket fixtures.
In this scratch, foursomes team match-play competition for three pairs of golfers over the age of 50, played at Worplesdon, Brighton were scheduled to meet Ampleforth in the opening round, followed by either Chigwell or Framlingham in the main event or the plate.
A first round draw against Canford offered some ground for optimism that we would progress this year. As is usual, there were some players unavailable that we might have liked to include, though we still raised a fair team of mostly middle single-figure players. Unfortunately, hopes were dashed again. In a very stiff north-easterly wind that made maintaining rhythm extremely difficult and the front nine at Royal Cinque Ports seriously testing (many a good drive failed to reach the third and fifth fairways), we went down 5-0, though not without some individual heroics. The fact was that Canford's highest handicap was lower than all but one of ours!
The Autumn meeting last year was held in October at Puttenham Golf Club, a little gem full of glorious autumnal colours tucked away near Guildford and where one of our longer-standing and loyal members has held just about every office a Golf Club can offer. We don't think (and hope he hasn't) been Head Chef, but that is about all!
The following letter is in response to comments made by Christopher Pett (H. 1962-67) in his golf report of the Summer of 2006.
Dear Editor,
Please remind young Christopher Pett that Aldrich House had plenty to shout about in 1962. We had recently moved from the anterooms of the Hall into the main body of the College, and under Geoff Lees’ “really” canny guidance, Aldrich was proving it could challenge the dominance of the boarding houses in all aspects of school life.
After last year's success, we sadly failed to qualify for the Grafton Morrish Finals this year. We again played in the Cyril Gray Cup at Worplesdon in June where we lost 3-0 to a strong Whitgift side containing two former county players, and the first round of the Plate competition was lost 2-1 in a much closer game that could have gone either way against Framlingham. None of these setbacks has dented our resolve to try to get back to more successful ways in 2007.
The 2nd OBA US Dinner was held in the Pacific Room at the Carnelian Room which is in the City's Bank of America building. Ingram Losner (D. 1973-1978) organised a sensational dinner in an extraordinary setting. The Pacific Room was for those of us not used to eating dinner on the 52nd floor of a skyscraper quite the most wonderful experience! The view alone was worth the trip...
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