The latest veterans to visit Sidmouth to challenge their counterparts here were our neighbours from East Devon, writes Charles Oram.

There are close links between the two clubs. One of the Sidmouth team is even a member of East Devon as well.

On weekdays, John Serle enjoys the easy-going atmosphere at Sidmouth, but at weekends he experiences the fiercely competitive side of the game when he plays against his wife at East Devon!

Serle and his playing partner, Doug Goodall, were taking on the East Devon captain, Robin Grenyer, and John Thatcher, who was a member at Sidmouth in 1980 when he was in the Royal Marines.

It was Thatcher who kindly donated the bell which now hangs in the bar at Sidmouth, but which was once used at the marine base in Lympstone - for boxing matches!

Goodall and Serle were soon on the ropes in their match, thanks to a virtuoso display by the East Devon captain, which belied his 18 handicap.

The knockout blow came on the 12th green, with the away pair inflicting a thumping defeat on the home duo by seven-and-six.

Peter Spooner and Charles Oram levelled the team scores in match two, thanks to a four-and-three victory, with Spooner scooping the prize for nearest the pin on the 12th hole. Although Spooner plays off a nine handicap, he was receiving two shots from East Devon’s Barry Devetta. Sidmouth were soon in deficit again, after Terry Carter and Brian LeMasurier were beaten by opponents who strung together a run of six pars. The dependable Brian Cole and Nigel Sharp managed to right the Sidmouth ship, with an emphatic four-and-three victory, before John Townsend and John Bainbridge edged the home side in front with a solid

Two-and-one win.

Peter Emery has a knack of picking winners and he certainly found one in his partner for the day, Chris Timms. The in-form Timms recently won the seniors’ medal competition and was appearing for the veterans’ side for the first time. Despite giving shots to both his opponents, he steered the home pair to a victory by six-and-four. This sealed a win in the tie for Sidmouth by four matches to two.

Although Sidmouth won on points, their adversaries are likely to come out fighting when the bell goes for the second round of the contest at East Devon next month.