CGU Annual Dinner
Monday 21st October 2013
Friday 18th October 2013 The Hotel Bristol, Newquay
The Cornwall Golf Union Annual Dinner took place on Friday at the popular Hotel Bristol venue in Newquay and was attended by some 115 golfers and officials from across the South West all of whom were richly entertained by the versatile Cornish comedian Johnny Cowling.
One of the highlights of the evening was the presentation of the Channel League Salver to County Captain Steve Rickard following the County's recent success in winning the title for only the second time in it's 42 year history. The presentation was made by the Immediate Past President of England Golf, Paul Baxter.
A number of other awards were presented on the night by CGU President Malcolm Jones. In his speech Jones paid tribute to the County Teams' performance this year. He also expressed the CGU's thanks to the clubs that make up the Union and to all the many volunteers and sponsors who assist in enabling competitions and matches to take place.
The Award for 2013 Young Player of the Year went to Bude & North Cornwall's 18 year old Adam Curtis - the full citation read as follows;
This award goes to a young man whose stature has grown immensely this year. He has been the Captain of the CGU Junior Section and team this year and has led by example from the front both on and off the course. His handicap is currently the lowest it has been at plus 1 and his general performances and attitude led to his selection for the full county team only a couple of weeks ago where he performed against Glamorgan with distinction, halving his foursomes match and winning his single.
The Award for 2013 Player of the Year went to St Mellion's Joe Yorke who received the Ben Enoch Salver - the full citation read as follows
The Player of the year is another young man who has quietly entered the county scene over the past year and made his County debut in April. Since then he has been an ever present in the County team, demonstrating a quiet yet fiercely determined character. He cemented his status in the team on winning the County Championship at Launceston in May. He was selected for South West Week and registered a number of matchplay wins for the county. Since then has also won the Cornish Closed Championship.
The award for Cornwall’s Golfing Man 2013 went to Tehidy Park Golf Manager and six time County Champion Ian Veale - the full citation read as follows;
The award this year goes to someone who has been on the scene for a considerable time now and who to this day exhibits a golfing ability and knowledge which is the envy of many. Whilst his day job may now find him more often than not confined to a parkland clubhouse when he does emerge he is still capable of mixing it with the best. His high self imposed golfing standards have probably prevented him from continued county representation but nevertheless he continues to support and encourage County Golf as an active member of the County Executive.
Veale was given a standing ovation on collecting his award and expressed his surprise at receiving it whilst at the same time making it clear to the audience that he was immensely proud to have done so.
The award for the 2013 Cornwall’s Man of Golf went to County Captain Steve Rickard and his citation read as follows;
The award for Cornwall’s Man of Golf 2013 goes to a man who has also been on the County scene for a long time. Whilst he may not have had the playing success of the previous award winner his legacy will be as long lasting in the leadership of the county team through two spells of county captaincy. Arguably he is the most successful County Captain the Duchy has seen. In 1997 he led the team to Channel League success and only 12 days ago he repeated the feat having assembled developed and gelled a young team of great strength and depth over the past three years.
Rickard had earlier told the gathering of his immense pride and pleasure at the Channel League title win and how his young team had promised great things for some time and had ultimately delivered the success they deserved. He looked forward to the team building on the success and suggested we would see them win more over the coming years.
Rickard also introduced County Vice Captain Richard Simmons to the diners. Simmons who will take over the county captaincy later this year expressed what a great honour it will be for him to do so.