The Chicken Trotter Winter Season wrapped up in fine style on 11th April, with trophies galore up for grabs and the coveted Booker Prize to be decided for the best five-round aggregate score across the winter.
A total of 27 competitors took part, with the ‘middle-aged’ section not only fielding the most players but also dominating the leaderboard. All three top spots went to this age group:
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3rd – David Waters (33 pts)
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2nd – Neil Dickinson (33 pts)
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1st – Chris Lawrence, who claimed the 70+ Cup with an impressive 35 points – despite nursing a bad back!
The Hutton 80+ Shield, donated by Marion Hutton in memory of former Chicken Tommy Hutton, was hotly contested.
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3rd – Bart Youll
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2nd – David Lamb
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Winner – Stan Hudson (31 pts), in his debut in the 80+ category, having aged out of the 70+ group he won last season!
The Danny Carew Putter, awarded to the ‘Junior Section’ (under 70s), saw a podium of Steves – almost:
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3rd – Steve the Organiser
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2nd – Steve Allen
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Winner – Ian J. Thomas with a tidy 32 points
The Points Eclectic Cup saw plenty of lead changes throughout the season. It was David Lamb’s par on the 9th in the final week that gave him a total of 51 points and victory on countback from Phil Carpenter. This earns him the recently rediscovered and re-commissioned Norman Badham Cup, named after another Chicken founding father.
The Booker Prize for the best five scores over the season was a tight affair. Five players averaged par or better (30 points per round over the 15-hole course):
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5th – Adrian Palmer (151)
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4th – David Waters (152)
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3rd – David Rees (155)
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2nd – Neil Dickinson (160)
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Winner – Robin Hagley (161), who becomes the season’s Chicken Supreme. Robin also takes home the John Mabe Trophy, an engraved tankard in honour of another legendary Trotter.
Since its start in 1982, the Chicken Trotters have gone from strength to strength. This success is thanks in no small part to the generosity of Marion Hutton and long-time Trotter Peter Williams, who provides the John Mabe tankards. But above all, it’s down to those who sign up, show up, tee off (with varying degrees of success), and share stories and a drink or two afterwards.
We’ll be back again next winter. If this sounds like your kind of Friday fun, join us and don’t forget your 30p entry fee!
Steve Cole
