The masses assembled for breakfast at 8.30am in various states of disrepair especially Winz who had still to recover from the outrageous way the 2^nd XI lost their Cup Final the previous day.

Interest focussed on whether Dave Cook could pull off a hat trick of consecutive Normans and if this meant he would get to the keep the trophy.

Rhino said he wasn't sure whether to buy golf balls or a bottle of whisky when he found out he was playing with Dave Pointon and Bill Shackell.

However, the day was nearly abandoned when several people went into hot sweats and became delirious having drunk the treacle acidic solution that passed for coffee.

The course was damp and played long mainly due to the fact that every hole appeared to be into the wind.

News spread across the fairways after the first few holes, Cookie was not last! Big Al Rogers and his mate Pat were struggling and Winz, Turves and Bill Shack were also finding the going tough.

The Shropshire is quite an open course but this did not stop the intrepid OW contingent from regularly disappearing into the bushes, naturally not always in search of lost balls.

The lack of on course alcohol, however, reflected the seriousness of the event and the determination of all to win……. well ok, not to finish last.

As the first group finished so the drizzle began. The round was long and arduous but gradually the combatants drifted in bemoaning a lost shot here or there or desperately asking, eyes wide with fear, "How many has Cookie got?"

Eventually everyone except the last group were in………an hour later a search party was being organised to look for the Phillips, Henzell, Stentiford, Turvey quartet with many theories about what could have happened including; Henz lost in the long grass, Shack another heart attack (Cookie said this would not exclude him from getting Norman posthumously) and Turves deciding to quit the rat race and live in the bushes on the course as a Japanese sniper.

Finally our organiser, Steve Stanier, to whom many thanks must go, called for order and the results were read out. Winner with 32 points off 8 was Barry Cooper from Claverley, 2^nd with 31 points just beating Rich Bowyer on count back was Mick Henzell and last with 11 points, an exceptional effort and one for which many people will be eternally grateful, was Bill Shackell.

Our thanks again to Steve Stanier for organising another very popular and successful event although, it must be said that there were comments that Steve's trousers were rather less flamboyant than usual.

The OWFC tour now moves to Devon and Cornwall in late June but anyone prepared to organise an autumn event in say October please contact Steve or Dave Cook.