The Swindlers vs. The Ladies
2025
Debs Sparham presenting the trophy to Colin Reardon
The fourth Swindlers vs. The Ladies match took place during the afternoon of Friday 29 August with twelve players from each team.
The format was men playing off the blue tees and ladies off the red with 85% course handicap. 4BBB Stableford points counted for each team with the sum of the Stableford points being the winner.
Although the Ladies scored more Stableford points than the men in four of the six matches the men came out winners scoring more points overall - with Adam Witherington's and Kevin Poore's 44 points proving decisive!
On behalf of the ladies I would like to thank Colin and the Swindlers for a great fun day playing our yearly match ‘Ladies Vere Swindlers’, which is always taken extremely seriously!
From Debs Sparham:
This year we had twelve players in each team playing 4BBB Stableford.
The decision was made to total all of the six pairs Stableford scores together, with the team with the highest total winning the trophy.
It was a great shame the winning team was not decided on individual matches, as the ladies managed to win four of their matches with a differential of between 2-4 points and the men only winning two!
However the two matches they won were won by one team 5 points ahead and the other an impressive 11 points ahead! So we have to say a big congratulations to Adam Witherington and Kevin Poore whose differential really made the difference to their team winning.
So at the end of the day, it meant that the Swindlers managed to beat the ladies by 3 points with the final result 221 to 218.
We are looking forward to 2026 when we hope we can return the trophy back to the ladies again!
Match 1.
Debs Sparham & Froz Woolston vs. Tim Horan & Scott Browning
I can remember thinking Froz should be playing on the LET... straight down the middle, often alongside me or beyond and then pin high with the second shot, very rarely off line and when she failed Debs came in with a killer chip or putt to kill us off. All round good company and great competition. Really looking forward to next year and hope to be drawn against the pair of them again. (Tim)
Match 2.
Jo Brand & Barbara Owen vs. Colin Price & Colin Reardon
The Colins got off to a rapid start with two 3-pointers in the first three holes but Jo & Barbara hit back - Jo putting like Tiger Woods and Barbara taking full advantage of her 2-shot holes.
Jo & Barbara eventually posted an impressive 39 points with the Colins trailing on 35.
Match 3.
Jan West & Pat Hilton vs. Simon Lloyd & Roger Keen
Match 4.
Gill Wallace & Sue Vincent vs. Bryn Owen & Simon Hill
For our pairing Bryn laid the marker down early with some healthy sledging - no gimmes; is that really a scrape?; lucky putt, etc, they soon saw we were winners. And we had just three eyes to their four! (Simon).
I only remember getting a detached retina after 6 holes - we still won! (Bryn)
Fiona Browning & Chris Goss vs. Adam Witherington & Kevin Poore
Our match was just fun all the way round. Our opponents were a good laugh. (Adam)
Match 6.
Val Horan & Sue Price vs. Simon Cook & Trevor Vincent
Final results:
| Ladies | Points | Swindlers | Points |
| Debs Sparham & Froz Woolston |
38 | Tim Horan & Scott Browning |
34 |
| Jo Brand & Barbara Owen | 39 | Colin Price & Colin Reardon |
35 |
| Jan West & Pat Hilton |
36 | Simon Lloyd & Roger Keen |
34 |
| Gill Wallace & Sue Vincent |
35 | Bryn Owen & Simon Hill |
40 |
| Fiona Browning & Chris Goss |
33 | Adam Witherington & Kevin Poore | 44 |
| Val Horan & Sue Price |
37 | Simon Cook & Trevor Vincent |
34 |
| 218 | 221 |
Congratulations to the Swindlers on their second consecutive win. 