Club Champion, Ian Rudd, led the A-grade field home and Robert Dykes, our captain, made every post a winner to claim the B-grade title after being somewhat demoted late in the season.

Earlier in the year he took out the B-grade division of the Club Championships and 'twas some years back that he did achieve the ultimate. Back up to top grade again today me thinks.

With the Group 12 Championship title he won last month at Wauchope, Ian was primed for Tuesday's 14-hole stroke and his 2-under 54 gross was no surprise. Sensibly this younger veteran's three handicap brought a 51 nett that stood the test.

Robert's win came from a round of 66 for a 6-under 50 nett and he was not really challenged at all for the coveted trophy. As has been said, our captain is back, that's after the handicapper yields his axe!

In C-grade there were many hopefuls and the sort of unexpected return to form by one Gregory Mayhew was certainly a talking point. He had qualified early in the year and was virtually lost in the pack (so to speak) ever since.

But, unlike Ian and Robert who would have been odds-on (in the red) in any betting market, double figures was a quote about Gregory. " Hard to fathom this fellow; lost all form; win will surprise" would appear in any form guide.

Despite a poor start that included a double bogey at the par-3 third hole and several others, too, a 51 nett resulted after all 14 holes had been completed. Comebacks do occur you know!

Could go on, but is not self praise of little worth?

The three Gold Medal winners all received their medallions from President Alan (Macdonald) and the boss told all that the Kempsey Heights Bowling Club had again sponsored the major event's tokens.

An increase in the prizemoney for the medal round winners will be a topic for discussion at today's Club Board Meeting and I am sure of that. But let us remember that glory is simply something that money cannot buy! H'mmm!

Again a putting competition was a rider and A-grader Paul McNamara led with just 19 putts, one ahead of Barry Pearson (B), with Doug Magennis winning C-grade with 21 strokes.

President Alan (Macdonald) claimed the nearest the pin double at the third and eighth holes, whilst John Terlich (B) and Jim Meldrum (C) figured at the former and Wayne Simmons (B) the latter.

Ball competition: Teerry Smith, Graheme Martin, Ron Ingall, Rod Maher, Bruce Morris, McNamara, Simmons, Meldrum.

To begin his usual presidential address Alan announced that Rod Maher was selling his raffle tickets for a worthy cause and that Wayne Simmons was having another happy birthday.

He also told of Dennis O'Brien's misfortune last week and heaped praise on our two chefs Graheme (Martin) and John (Inder) saying that they had had a sell-out of burgers, bacon, eggs and patties.

Anyway, what's better than a wholesome burger and a beer or two or whatever after the game! Captain Robert conducted his role with the utmoset aplomb and suggested that the course was in fantastic order. "Probably the best I have seen it for many a day," he did say. And the weather was ideal, too.

Today's event is a 14-hole single stableford, whilst next week sees a similar competition but for prizes of Christmas hams and prior to the Annual General Meeting and the Awards Presentation.

Yes, then it is Christmas Day and New Year's Day to follow on before we get the Year 2019 program underway.