The Upper Crust Bakery Trophy was contested at Sidmouth last Saturday, writes George Carr.

This very generously sponsored and popular annual competition, which attracted a field of over a hundred golfers was blighted by heavy rain throughout the afternoon and certainly it was the early starters who had the advantage.

The early bird catches the worm, so it is said, and Kym White, Keith Trivett and Hugh Doriac it was, who made the most of an early tee off time and a dry morning to score an excellent 81 points before the heavens opened!

They were the lunchtime leaders in the clubhouse and stayed put throughout the competition to take the trophy as the heavens opened during the afternoon leaving the course barely playable at times!

Two shots adrift in second place with 79 points came Steve Milton, Nigel Sharpe and Craig Melluish. Messrs Cowler, Barnard and Searle and Hastie, Knowles and Kerridge all on 77 points had to settle for the minor placings

The likely-looking three ball team comprising Sheila Thomson, Yvonne Anning and Lady Captain Ros Eaton won the ladies prize with a hard-earned 72 points in the afternoon - well played indeed; in second place for the ladies, a point behind on 71 came Margaret Thomson, Janet Humberstone and Angie Coles - a very competitive threesome.

A big thanks then to Upper Crust Bakery (Fred The Bread ) and well done, also, the competitors with only four no-returns in a very large field in spite of conditions.