Inter Corps Championship 23

INTER CORPS

championship

13 - 14 July 2023 Saunton Golf Club

The draw for the Inter Corps Championship, generously sponsored by Army Sport, was made by the Tournament Director, Lt Col (Retd) Keith Seddon, on Wed 12 Jul, after the Matchplay finals and Prize Giving had concluded and prior to the AGM. 17 teams entered; the field comprised 12 “A” teams (RCAM did not enter a team) and 5 “B” teams.

RA A (1) and R Sigs A (2) teams, as winners and runners-up from the 2022 Championship respectively, were the 1 and 2 seeds with the remainder being drawn out of the hat. The draw was evenly matched with AAC playing RLC, AGC (A) playing AGC (B), Int Corp playing RA (B), and REME (B) playing RA (A) in the top half. R Sigs (A) playing R Sigs (B), RE (A) playing RAPTC, INF playing AMS, and RAC playing REME (A) in the bottom half. This year it was difficult to see where the winners would come from particularly as last year’s winners, the RA (A), were not at full strength.

Unfortunately, with 17 teams, one was balloted out. This year it was the RE (B) team, and so the subsidiary competition was not held for the first time since its introduction.

As usual, the Championship moved completely to the West Course, a tricky course and one to be navigated around carefully.

Unfortunately, the weather conditions deteriorated further with more heavy rain and gusty winds. It was going to be a stern test only for the brave. In round

one there were convincing 5 – 0 wins for the AGC (A) team over AGC (B) team, as was the case between RA (A) over REME (B). RLC had a 3-2 win over AAC, RA (B) had a 4-1 over the Int Corps. In the other side of the draw the two R Sigs teams could only manage a draw with the A team winning on a play-off hole.

The RE overcame the RAPTC 3½-1½, the Inf beat the AMS 3½-1½ and finally the REME (A) beat the RAC 3-2.

In the second round the draw had pulled together the two RA teams in the second match out, the A beating the B team 4 – 1. In the other matches the R Sigs A continued their charge with a 3 - 2 win over the RE, the Inf A beat the REME A, again by a 3 – 2 margin and finally AGC A beat the muchfancied RAC again 3 – 2. With last year’s finalists still in the hunt it was difficult to see who would come out on top.

The Main semi-final line-up would see the AGC (A) versus last year’s winners RA (A) and the finalists from last year the R Sigs (A) up against the 2021 winners the Inf. Four strong teams where matches could go either way.

All players performed well given the conditions, but the eventual finalists saw the AGC (A) beating the RA (A), 3-2 and the R Sigs (A), beating the Inf 3½-1½. So, a re-match of last year’s semi-final between the AGC (A), and the R Sigs (A), beckoned.

STABLEFORD WINNERS RA B SSgt Adam Hayward collecting the REME Salver on behalf of RA B

REME were all smiles despite the moody weather conditions

In the REME Shield for day one losers, each team is required to play 18 holes scratch Stableford, with all 5 scores counting. Friday morning started with a severe weather warning of torrential rain and gail force winds, it was debateable whether the competitions would be played. After discussions with the gold club staff the only reason to stop play would be if the ball would not stop on the greens; it was close but not quiet at that point so the waterproofs were

donned, and play commenced.

On completion of play, it was clear the weather had won the day when comparing the scores from last year; there was almost 50 pts difference between the winning teams. After battling the wind and rain the RA (B) team won through on a mere 100 pts, up next was the R Sigs (B) on 94 pts with the RE coming in 3rd on 85 pts. Individual scores saw WO2 Cornelis Mostert RA leading the way on a commendable 24 pts, followed closely by LCpl Cameron Weir RLC and WO1 Michael Shipp REME on 23 pts. RA (B) are the 2023 REME Shield winners.

In the Plate (Singapore Trophy) for the firstround losers, AGC (B) had a close encounter with the Int Corps; after a drawn match the Int Corps won through on the play-off hole.

On the other side of the draw, the AMS inspired by Lt Col Stu Campbell won through against the RAPTC 3-2. Setting up a Plate final of the AMS and the Int Corps. This set up a closely matched final, on paper! On the day, against all the wind and rain the Int Corps triumphed 3½ - 1½. Int Corps are the 2023 Singapore Trophy winners.

PLATE WINNERS Int Corps L to R: Maj Stephens, Capt Thomas, Sgt Ware, Sgt Timson, Lt Bean

In the Main final and with light fading fast and after a very long day on the course, it was always going to be a tough ask for either team and the fact that they both persevered to the end was to their credit. After such a long week for all the players in such demanding conditions the final was still a close-run match, but this year the R Sigs (A)

managed to get over the line, winning on the last pairing with a 3-2 win over the AGC (A). R Sigs (A) are the 2023 Royal Irish Rangers Bowl winners.

The AGA was once again hugely indebted to everyone at Saunton Golf Club for allowing us take over their club for the week!

INTER CORPS CHAMPIONS R Signals A Top L to R: SSgt Reeves, Sgt T Gurung Lt Col Pace, SSgt S Tamang, WO1 Gibbs, Cpl B Gurung Bottom L to R: Capt S Rai, Rob Tickell

KEY RESULTS Inter Corps Champions

R Signals A

Runners-Up

AGC A

Plate Winners

Int Corps

Runners-Up

AMS

Stableford Winners

RA B

Runners-Up

R Signals B