Mad rush to get team ends in glory

ER Black Cup champs . . . The Poverty Bay team who won the ER Black Cup interclub teams’ tournament for the first time since 2005 at Te Puia Hot Springs course on Sunday are (from left) Lynne Holmberg, Bill Simpson, Peter Hakiwai, Alex Kirkpatrick, Bruce Talbot, Lou Kriel (front), Kirsty Shaw, Debbie Kirkpatrick, Garry Pellett and Pen Wanklyn. Picture supplied

A Poverty Bay team cobbled together at the 11th hour returned from Te Puia Hot Springs course on Sunday with the coveted ER Black Cup.

The city club had inadvertently overlooked the annual interclub teams’ event — last held in 2021 — but when it was brought to their attention mid-last week, members stepped up late in the piece.

A flurry of messages on Facebook, some ringing around and even a carpark conversation resulted in Poverty Bay getting a full team of five mixed pairs — husband and wife Alex and Debbie Kirkpatrick;  Peter Hakiwai and partner Lou Kriel; Bill Simpson and Lynne Holmberg; Bruce Talbot and Kirsty Shaw; and new member Garry Pellett and Pen Wanklyn.

Simpson didn’t need his arm twisted too much when Alex approached him in the Poverty Bay carpark although he was told “there’s no time to think about it”.

Simpson had a wonderful experience when he went to the Springs course for the first time a few weeks ago for the Peter Rouse Memorial tournament.

That clearly played a part in Simpson and Holmberg racking up 38 stableford points at the ER Black Cup, Poverty Bay’s equal-best effort alongside Talbot and Shaw’s 38.

Pellett, a former member of Ohope Beach who shifted to the Bay in January, and Shaw had 37 points as Poverty Bay totalled 180 to win the cup for the first time since 2005.

Waikohu stalwart Ike Ruru presented the trophy on behalf of the defending champions.

Te Puia Hot Springs were second on 177, thanks to 39-point hauls from couples Aomihi and Dick Cook, and Iritana and Pete Ngarimu.

Waikohu were third on 170. Andrea Reeves, fresh from her Jack Glassford Memorial tournament success at Electrinet Park, and Richard Reeves were their best with 39.

Māhia were fourth on 164, with Viv Kyle and Bruce Maher (36) and Renee Hiko and Pete Bremner (36) their best.

Patutahi were fifth on 154. Shelley Robertson — the club’s newly crowned women’s shootout champion, and John Neilson posted — the team’s best stableford of 35 points.

Once again, Te Puia Springs turned on the hospitality and a clubhouse feast for which it is famous.