Masham Golf Club’s premier competition and fundraiser for the Captains’ Charities was held last Friday.

In the past, there have been some years when it was difficult getting full entries, but this year, entries went beyond the organisers’ wildest dreams.

Alan ‘Bronc’ Sturdy and Jon Bain had an entry of 23 teams, comprised of local businesses, families and friends and Masham’s own membership, which, for a nine-hole course, took a bit of organising.

The weather played its part too, no rain, gentle breeze and plenty of sun.

Spirits were high and full of expectation of winning one of the many and varied prizes on offer provided by at least 11 sponsors.

A halfway house provided sustenance for those who felt in need during their game and there was a fine meal after, provided by Pam and her staff, and Helen kept everybody from suffering from dehydration while waiting for the prize giving ceremony.

Alan eventually called everybody together to announce the winners and present Chris Verity representing the two Captains’ charities being supported by Masham Golf Club for 2022, and to present the prizes.

Chris’s daughter, Lucy, living in Masham, has Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer, which was first diagnosed in February 2021. Realising how little was known about the disease and the help needed by Lucy and her parents, Gaynor and Chris, they set about raising £30,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust and the Bone Cancer Research Trust, both small charities in some ways. That target has been reached but the fundraising has not stopped, hence Masham’s determination to help as much as they can.

Alan thanked Jon, his co-organiser, and all those involved in making this year’s AM/AM, a very special and successful day (too many to mention), although the day would not have been possible without the generosity of the sponsors for which they all got a special mention. The prizegiving began with the announcement of all those that had won spot prizes for each hole, again, too many to mention.

The main event was the awarding of the Team Prizes of which there were five.

In first place, sponsored by Swinton Park, with a £200 voucher for each team member, was team Captain’s Crew Penny Nicklas (Masham Lady Captain), Dave Nicklas, S Newby and P Harrison with a remarkable 109 points.

Second place, sponsored by Black Sheep Brewery, Wensleydale Creamery, Rosebud Preserves, WS Rogers and Sons, Corks and Cases, Heck Food, Taylors of Harrogate and Morrisons, with a very substantially stocked “Best of Yorkshire ” hamper for each player, was team “The Auctioneers”, Chris Hanby, Chris Milner, Christopher Hanby and P Hill on 103pts. Third place, sponsored by The 59 club, a fourball at The Forest of Arden, was team “Misfits”, Jon Bain, Paddy Lafford, Adrian Lamb and Paul Sowden, with 100pts.

Fourth place, again, sponsored by The 59 Club, a fourball at any one named on a list of 84 golf clubs in the UK and Ireland, was “Marching Together”, Greg Nelson, G Dunn, C Swiers and A Nelson, with 98pts, won on the back 9.

Fifth place, sponsored by T&R Theakson, a hamper for each player, was team “I’Anson”, Will I’Anson, R Mawer, M Bierby and Chris I’Anson, also on 98pts.

Following the prizes, an auction of eight items followed, made up of mainly 4 ball games of golf at local and not so local clubs. Chris Hanby enthusiastically led the auction and raised a very creditable £855.

Final figures for the day have not been finalised but it would appear the sums raised for both charities will be in excess of £3,000.