The morning started with blue skies and a gentle breeze. Suddenly a dark cloud hove into view and conditions deteriorated into a vicious squall with strong winds mixed with stinging hail, the whole effect making you feel like hot needles were being fired at you. All in all, not unlike a sudden visit from my mother-in-law! Edinburgh beat Haileybury to set up a quarter-final match against Loretto who beat Berkhamsted. Watson’s ran out comfortable winners against Rossall and will play Cheltenham
The late great Gerald Micklem used to say that the key to a successful Hewitt was firstly to get rid off the holders and then to get rid of Eton. Both happened on day two of this year’s Hewitt which contained some significant upsets and ended with one of the finest match-winning shots in the history of the Hewitt. The day started grey and overcast with a real threat of rain and the biting Easterly wind which has been gnawing away
Under difficult playing conditions at Deal with an unusual Easterly wind blowing across the course rather than up or down it, this was always going to be a slowish day. By the end of it, the final groups were taking 5 – 6 minutes over 4 hours. We fell behind the target time of 90 minutes for the front nine early on and after that there was no way back. The attached link identifies those games at Deal which were
The Peter Kenyon Bowl has now been completed. The winners were Westminster, represented by D B Weinstein and T Smith with 36 points, beating J Balgarnie and H Kingsbury (also Westminster) on countback with 20 points over the last nine holes. Westminster played on the Tuesday and conditions have been difficult all week so 36 points is a very creditable score.
The first day of the competition proper dawned with leaden skies and a firm wind from the East, the resulting effect in terms of wind-chill being to give the competitors and spectators the impression that they were playing in or watching the Siberian Gulag Open Foursomes. It was in fact so cold that the faint background headache caused by my researches into the quality of beer in East Kent was gone by the time I stumbled across the car park. The
Wednesday of Hewitt week was much more pleasant in terms of weather, blue skies but with still quite a fresh breeze from the North-East it was decidedly chilly. The Hon Sec headed over to Littlestone to play in the Peter Kenyon Bowl. Littlestone was in fine condition with slick greens, firm fast fairways and great beer. Unfortunately, due to an inability to hole any putt longer than 3″, the golf was of less importance than the beer in the general
Tuesday marks the start to Hewitt week and is one of the more relaxed and low-key days. Many schools get down to Kent early and like to practice on the Tuesday, which is less crowded than the Wednesday practice day and therefore pace of play is faster. This year we start with slightly subdued spirits because our President is unable to be with us due to a heart condition that will result in surgery during the week (NHS willing!) Our thoughts
WINCHESTER WIN THE 2018 HALFORD HEWITT Winchester won the 2018 Halford Hewitt at Deal, beating Ampleforth by 4 games to 1 in the final. The Wykehamists last won in 1948 when the Gerald Micklem was in the side and the winning game was won by Willie Whitelaw, future Home Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister. Famously, Margaret Thatcher said that “everyone needs a Willie” however Winchester proved her wrong in a final that was without any real stress for them. The top
Aldenham had retired to their hotel with that warm rosy feeling that comes from beating a side to whom you were supposed to lose in order to celebrate the great occasion. Their success was at least in part due to a couple of ‘new recruits’ so it seemed only fitting that, after dinner, one or two of the “old hands” would show these youngsters the delights of Margate. Cutting a long story short, they arrived back at their hotel to continue
