Ulbster Cup (Reay - re-arranged) - 15 & 16 September 07
Wick win in change of venue at last minute

Wick Golf Club emerged as worthy winners of the Ulbster Cup played over the Reay links.

The competition was scheduled for Thurso a couple of weeks ago but well-founded concerns about the weather led to the change of venue. Reay was subjected to a fair amount of rain on both days but the course was in fine condition and was unaffected by the weather.

Friday's draw saw Wick ''A'' grouped with the ''B'' teams of Thurso and Lybster as well as their own ''B'' team. In the other group, Reay ''B'' had to contend with their own ''A'' team and those of Thurso and holders Lybster.

In reasonable conditions on Saturday morning, Wick ''A'' and Thurso ''B'' had comfortable wins over Wick ''B'' and Lybster ''B'' respectively.

Wick's Ulbster Cup winners receiving their silverware from Bob Parsonage (second from right), vice-captain of Thurso Golf Club - (from left) Nicky Klimas, John Harper, John Hunter and Aly Mackay. photo by Mario Luciani

The big result in the other group was a win by Reay ''A'' over their fancied Thurso counterparts who won the trophy when last played in Reay, with the same players.

David Dunbar and Colin Paterson were the architects of the victory, beating Doug Thorburn and Brent Munro by two holes.

Lybster, meanwhile, beat the Reay ''B'' team by four holes, although their second pair lost by one hole.

The heavens opened in the afternoon, making things difficult for the players. The Wick and Lybster ''B'' teams called an early halt to their match, with Lybster winning the point, but all of the other teams battled on.

Thurso ''B'' first pair Ewan Mackenzie and Michael Henderson did themselves proud with a two-hole win over the Wick ''A'' first pair of Nicky Klimas and John Harper but Wick's other pair, John Hunter and Aly Mackay, were too strong for Alistair Bell and Jim Meiklejohn so Wick ended the day with maximum match points.

In the other group Reay's ''A'' team showed that their victory over Thurso was no flash in the pan with an excellent win over Lybster ''A'' who won the trophy over their home course last year. Once again it was Dunbar and Paterson who did the damage with a four-hole win over the formidable pair Eric Larnach and David Nicolson.

John Munro and Alan Larnach did their best to make up the margin against Grant Maxwell and Alistair Gunn but needed to win an extra hole and so, like Wick, Reay ''A'' also had maximum match points from the Saturday matches.

Thurso ''A'' had a comfortable against Reay's second string in the other match.

The major talking point on Sunday was the non-appearance of trophy-holders Lybster ''A'' which left their opponents Thurso ''A'' kicking their heels. In sharp contrast, the ''B'' teams of Thurso and Wick not only turned up but played four extra holes before Thurso were declared winners.

Meanwhile, the ''A'' teams of Wick and Reay warmed up for the final with comfortable wins over the ''B'' teams of Lybster and Reay respectively.

Wick made a superb start in both matches in the final and they never looked like being caught. Klimas and Harper ended four holes up over Dunbar and Paterson while Hunter and Mackay, unbeaten over the weekend, were five up over Maxwell and Gunn.

The venue for next year's match is Wick, who will surely start as favourites after this year's display.

report kindly provided by John O'Groat Journal

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