Golf: Carrickvale still hungry

THE Dispatch Trophy may have been wrestled from their grasp but the 2010 campaign is still going to be one to cherish for Carrickvale Golf Club.

It's been onwards and upwards for the Capital club since their winning run was brought to an end by Silverknowes at the Braids after three trophy triumphs in a row.

They lifted the Lothians title, added the Scottish crown and, most recently, made their mark at European level.

Representing Scotland in the European Club Trophy in Portugal, the Carrickvale trio of Allyn Dick, Craig Elliot and David Ewen finished sixth in a field of 23 teams.

They were the best of the British representatives at Estela Golf Club, a real feather in the cap of an any club never mind a municipal one.

"There's no way anyone could have foreseen the level of success the club has enjoyed in recent seasons," said Elliot, the longest-serving Carrickvale member of the trio.

According to the former Scottish Mid-Amateur champion, the catalyst for such success was the addition to the ranks initially of Ewen and then his close friend Dick.

"Before they arrived I think the best Vale could have hoped for would have been getting to the quarter-finals or semi-finals in the Dispatch," added Elliot.

"Davie and Allyn have made a huge difference and there's a real buzz about the club at the moment on the back of those successes.

"It has provided motivation for the other members, especially the younger guys who aren't in the so-called A team at the moment - they're all trying that bit harder."

In Portugal, French club Ormesson proved a class apart as they romped to a 15-shot victory. But the Carrickvale team came home with their heads held high.

"It was a great experience," said Elliot, who enjoyed the added thrill of recording a hole-in-one during the final round.

"And even more important than how we performed was that fact we met a lot of nice people and moulded some great relationships in the process."

To the delight of the three players, they had some welcome support out on the course thanks to a surprise trip by four fellow members. "We were sitting on the Wednesday night talking about how nice it would have been if (club stalwart] George Alexander could have been with us," revealed Elliot.

"Then we turned round to see George standing there along with Tam Wootten, Dave Edmond and Bill Huish.

"They had all paid their own way to get out to Portugal and we appreciated their support."

This year is certainly going to be a hard act to follow but Vale are not finished yet.

"We don't mind hogging the headlines for a bit longer - and we want to be back in the field for the European event in Turkey next year," declared Elliot.