The 73rd Cheshire County Dinner returned to the county town after many years and was held at a new venue for the event-The Pavilion Suite at Chester Racecourse.
Over 280 attendees from Cheshire Golf, affiliated clubs and other Northern Counties were given a night to remember in dining, entertainment and awards of trophies and prizes after a glorious year for the county at all levels in the first full season for Cheshire Golf following the unification of Cheshire men and ladies last year.
Cheshire President John Heggarty, the former head professional at Royal Liverpool GC, led from the front as he welcomed chief guests Alistair Booth the England Golf President and guest speaker John Parrott, snooker and broadcasting legend.
With so many awards to hand out some were given before the meal and the rest later in the evening.
Undoubtedly the most deserved and popular award of the night ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ went to a true legend of Cheshire Golf, Roy Smethurst (Crewe GC) for his playing success and records at County, Regional, National and International levels plus plenty of administration work for the county and being President of Cheshire in 2016.
At the other end of the age range was another Crewe GC star Morgan Bollan (age 13), the Welsh Girls champion who received a special award for her achievement.
The Cheshire Boys team were English Boys County Champions for the first time in 27 years, Lucy Jamieson (Heswall GC) was English Women’s Champion, Sarah Naden (Wilmslow GC) was English Senior Women’s champion and also helped England England Senior Ladies win the European Championship along with Cath Rawthore (Sale GC).
Junior Organiser of the Year went to Dave Robinson of Wallasey GC. He has been particularly successful in what is a real challenge: attracting girls into the game.
John Parrott, 1991 World Snooker Champion and 1 handicap member of Formby GC entertained everyone with amusing anecdotes from his years in snooker, broadcasting and his other passions of golf and horse racing. He also ended his speech with some very wise and relevant words of advice to the young aspiring golfers in the audience.
This was a wonderful celebration of an incredibly successful first season for the county under the new Cheshire Golf banner.
Image (top of article) Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Roy Smethurst
Copy & images: Geoff Garnett
