On Saturday, the Palairet team, the League team, the B team, the Emerton Court team and a Captain’s team competed for the Claret Jug, writes John Barnard.

This is one of the great events in the Sidmouth calendar, played at the end of the playing season and is followed by a meal, speeches by the team captains and the then, the Jug is filled with port by the winning team!

There were a few team selection headaches for the captain’s. Weddings tempting away players along with holidays, illness etc. On Friday, all the team line-ups were confirmed and the matches were played in stunning autumn weather.

The course is now beginning to change, with the trees showing their true autumn colours and in the current Indian summer, particularly the back nine the views and shades are spectacular. All year the course has been in great condition with the greens currently playing as well as many can remember.

Taking advantage was the Bob Webber’s Emerton Court team. This is the team of oldies; you need to be at least 60 by the end of February to qualify and many of the team look back at their 60th with fond memory.

Leading the way were Trevor Kerridge and Dave Cowler with 41 points and their team mates also played consistently well.

They ‘racked up’ 153 points winning by two from the Palairet team. There was some discussion during the evening, trying to decide when the Emerton Court team had last won and no one really knew.

It was great effort by the old guys and they celebrated in style. In third place was the B team with the same number of points as the league team, two ahead of the captain’s team. It was another great day, one of many involving the Claret Jug.