You know when the festive season starts at Stoke – when the Lady Vets and Seniors get together for the annual mixed Greensomes event.

A victim of the weather last year, this was the first gathering since 2022 and a total of 16 mixed pairs took part.

Playing the “traditional” 13 hole competition on the Gainsborough course (1-9, then 10, 11, 17 and 18 ) it was all very close. But the winners on the day with 28 points were Lesley Hitchcock and Gordon Bryan.

After the golf, the players enjoyed (probably) the first Christmas lunch of the year, with turkey and all the trimmings – and Christmas pudding for those who dared.

Ladies Captain Jill Pottle organised a raffle which raised £205 for her charity Parkinson’s UK and…. as if that wasn’t enough fun….there was also a general knowledge quiz.

With a slight re-organisation in the Ladies section, the Lady Vets will now be amalgamating into the main group, so as a thank you for all her hard work in organising these events in the past, Barbara Rowe was given a special presentation by Jill Pottle.

Roll on Christmas!