The Past Players 150th Anniversary Golf Day at Bath Golf Club proved a resounding success this month, with eight teams of former players joined by Matt Banahan, Rhys Priestland and Chris Cook.
The winning team of Phil Hall, Chris Neal, Colin Brint and Cook beat the team of Matt Perry, Priestland and John Monahan - on countback - both with scores of 85 points. Third placed went to Phil Scilly, Roger Elliott, Tim Carson and Dai Richards. Scrum-half Cook also won the nearest-the-pin prize, while Tim Beddow won the longest drive.
In the evening, at the 150th Anniversary Dinner at Graze, eighty-four Past Players were joined by Stuart Hooper, Priestland, Cook, Managing Director Tarquin McDonald and Business Development Director Matt Powell. A brilliant evening of fun and reminiscences, plus great food and refreshments, was enjoyed into the early hours (with thanks to the generosity of Great Western Wine and Bath Ales).
Mike Beese, former President, welcomed Past Players spanning 64 years from Dan Hinchley and Cliff Weston in 1952 to Stuart Hooper in 2016 (with the latter's retirement meaning he now joins this group).
Thanks were given to all Past Players who had served the Past Players Association over many years and a group, led by Geoff Pillinger, who continue to devote time creating the Bath Rugby Heritage database and website.
Jeremy Guscott and Roger Spurrell received applause as representatives of all six inductees into the Bath Rugby Hall of Fame, which was launched at the inaugural 150th Anniversary celebrations at Farleigh House last September. Beese lauded Guscott and Spurrell for the profound effect the duo had on Bath Rugby - in their own unique ways.
Hooper presented the prizes to the winners from the Golf Day, before Matt Perry coaxed anecdotes from Past Players from the 1950s to the present day, including some unprintable stories by Brian Jenkins and tales between Jerry Guscott, Phil de Glanville and Mike Catt.
"It was fantastic to be able to get all these players who have represented the Club down the years together for two great occasions," said Tarquin McDonald. "Bringing the past and present players together in such a way has been really beneficial, and something we will continue to support in the future."
Bath Rugby would like to thank Graze Bath for hosting the event.
