Golf: Schools out for Dispatch

IT'S more than 30 years since a school team lifted the Evening News Dispatch Trophy and, according to one seasoned Braids campaigner, Heriot's FP, Watsonian and Stewart's Melville will all have their work cut out to end that barren run in this year's event.

Since winning in 1979, Heriot's FP have twice reached the final – in 1982 and again in 1992. Watsonian last lifted the famous trophy in 1976 and have only made one final appearance since then while Stewart's Melville are winless since their amalgamation, although they did claim the silver medal as recently as five years ago.

A two-times winner with Westermont – in 1989 and 2002 – John Archibald has been a regular for Heriot's FP recently and believes it is becoming harder each year for the school teams due to a predominantly ageing membership.

"We don't have any youngsters coming through, which is why it's the same old faces who are involved year after year in the Dispatch Trophy," said the 52-year-old.

"It is a sad situation really and, while it would be fantastic for me to win it again with a different club, that really would be a major achievement."

Archibald, the club secretary at Dunbar these days, will be back in tandem with David Campbell, his regular partner in the double foursome event, which is being staged this year in association with Edinburgh Leisure.

They usually join forces with Gregor Munro and John Liddel but the latter has been suffering from back trouble recently and is rated as doubtful.

That may open the door for Ron Bradly to make a return and Archibald has revealed they'll also need to seek a replacement for him if they make it past the first weekend's play.

"I can't play on the Tuesday night as I've got to be at a Council meeting at Dunbar," he said. "Colin Rae plays for us in the Grafton Morrish, but he works in London, so I've not got a clue who we'll have to call on should we make it to the third round."

Archibald has played in the Dispatch Trophy for more than 30 years. Indeed, he's only missed one event since he started – and that was only because of a broken ankle.

Like many others, he's found it disappointing to see numbers dwindle in recent years and wishes teams would start taking part again simply for the fun of it.

"I don't think you get teams entering these days unless they feel they've got a chance of winning," he said.

"I remember the days when you used to find yourself up against players who had ten, 12 and sometimes 18 handicaps.

"Funny things can happen up at the Braids but I don't think the event has the same atmosphere as it once did, which is a pity. So, too, is that fact it doesn't attract the big crowds anymore. In 1989, the first year I won it with Westermont, I remember having a hole-in-one at the 17th in the semi-finals.

"There must have been 150-200 people around the green as well as another 150 down below at the 16th green."