2018 - #11

The 11th Carne Trophy event took place in St. Helen's Bay on Saturday October 13th.   Untypically we had a very rainy night and a wet start, but after an hour or so the weather cleared up very well and everyone managed to get in an enjoyable round.

As has now become tradition, the draw for the teams took place in the Kilrane Inn on the Friday evening.  While numbers were down a little this year for a variety of reasons, we also welcomed St. Helen’s Bay Golf Club member and now local resident, Brian Buttimer, into the Carne Trophy fold.

The draw threw up the following line-ups:

The usual scramble format was the order of the day and all four teams enjoyed the golf with the course being in great condition despite the all the rain that went before.  After the golf, some adjourned to the bar in the Saint Helen's Bay where notes were compared, and controversy arose when an enthusiastic ‘rules’ fanatic reported a technicality which the ‘offending’ team fully admitted to and honourably accepted that their score should be increased by one.  Thankfully this did not affect the ultimate outcome. Postmortems completed, everyone headed for the K1 where we were joined by Chloe Connolly, Grainne Ryan, Maura Butler and Eithne Butler.  Jim, Mark, Deborah and the team, as always, delivered a wonderful meal with service and a smile.

And so to the results……

This year’s Carne Trophy was a very close-run affair.  It was won with an excellent score of 67 (for 17 holes as the 8th was being repaired) by Guy Wheeler, Colm O’Shea and Dermot ‘Jock’ Kelly.  This was only on countback from Team B, one shot better than Team C which was in turn only three shots ahead of Team A

Longest drive was won by Stephen Connolly on the 13th.  Peter Ryan deprived young James Burke of the opportunity to win nearest the pin on the 11th for what would have been a remarkable four in a row (think Dublin!!) and then went on to be closest on the 17th also. Peter Ryan earned the Gay Reilly Golfer of the Day (or GOD as he’d now like it to be known) and the Carne Trophy Green Jacket, which is awarded only to extended family members, was won by Stephen Connolly.

As always, we remembered absent friends, including specifically Molly O'Donnell, Gay Reilly, Pat Hennessy and Joe Connolly.  A number of thank-yous were also made to Ellie Connolly for once again sponsoring the main prizes, Sonya McGarry for another incredible Carne Trophy Cake (see the photos), Paddy Burke for ‘turning’ the new wooden base for the trophy itself, Rebecca Connolly for nearest pin/longest drive prizes and to Susan Connolly for the goodie bags.

Finally we acknowledge the staff of both St. Helen’s Bay and the Kilrane Inn for making this a great day for all.  See you in 2019.