A message from Dan Park - 2010 County Junior Captain As a member of Cumbria Under 18’s for 3 years now, I am very privileged and honoured to be selected as captain for the 2010 season. Looking back over those three years, there are many things that stand out as defining features of Cumbria junior golf. The first I realised in my very first game. When you play in county matches , anyone can beat anyone. The standard of golf in the two teams is very evenly matched to a fantastic standard. After beating a 0 handicapper with my then handicap of 5 this became apparent - and it hasn’t stopped; even now games that look one way on paper are the complete opposite due to either a good putting day, or just a lucky day on occasions! The one that springs to mind is the ’09 match against Northumberland at Tynedale Golf Club. Captained by Brad Hannah, the team showed tremendous team spirit and determination after not having a good foursomes start to win the singles 5-1. This is a key factor for all the players selected this year to play under my captaincy, and for younger golfers it is vital to keep fighting no matter what. Again a memory for me was being 5 down after 10 at Brighouse bay. 4 straight birdies and a par later I was level. In the end I lost 1 down, but I certainly put the Scotland player on the rocks! In games so close, any point counts, so you must never quit.
The final part of Cumbria Golf for me is the atmosphere within the team. Off the course the 8 of us are like a big family, jokes fly around in the practice rounds and hotel, and the occasional bird noise from Jamie McDonald and myself, but once the lads reach the first tee, they are there for one reason, to win. This year I expect it will be no different. I have set both myself and the team a very high level of achievement. I aim to reach a plus handicap this year, in preparation for my USA scholarship in 2011. I also aim to become club champion at Kirkby Lonsdale and to give it my all in the knockout at Kendal. After having two club champions in the team this year, Oli Carr and Chris Thursby and a finalist in Kieran Waters, it’s only right the captain follows it up! For the team, I aim for us to win the E.G.U Northern Counties Championship (the Little 6) for the very first time and go down in history for completing the triple; the league, Northern Federation Championship and. of course. the E.G.U Little 6 at Furness Golf Club. I believe the team that John Smith and I have selected for this year can achieve this if we continue the motto set by John - ‘we're in it to win it’. Any younger golfers aiming to step into the team in 2010 or later, the main thing is attitude and results. It’s not always about how low the handicap is or how old you are, I certainly know I’m not looking for the youngest, lowest handicap. The people who play for my team are doing so for a reason, they have the desire to win, and have won in vital moments. With a strong management behind us in John Smith and Henry Thompson Cumbria Under 18’s 2010 are the strongest side I have seen in my 3 years and I’m sure my Vice Captain Oli Carr for the year will offer much support to me in my year of captaincy, and also to the other team members involved. Good luck to everyone this season and for the lads in the team, we’re gonna do it! |
IN IT TO WIN IT!
March 8th 2010
With the start of the season now almost upon us I would like to write about the current U18 squad and what I think we as a team are capable of achieving in 2010. Make no mistake these boys have the talent and the determination to win everything this year and are a team in every sense of the word. Despite savage cuts in funding resulting in less county coaching and squad sessions and despite the worst winter for over 30 years somehow they have emerged looking good and confident and ready to hit the ground running. I know that this is because they are all aware that 2010 is their best chance of glory and have devoted a lot of their time in the winter months to prepare themselves physically and mentally and to further develop skills. Led by County Junior Captain, Dan Park, they will prove to be a very difficult team to beat.
The number one priority for 2010 is the Northern Counties Boys' Championships, the Little 6, at Furness on July 14th. Cumbria has never won this event since its inception in 1984 so, following the Cumbria Men's success in their equivalent event at Seascale in 2009, the U18 team have set their sights on winning at Furness and making it a Cumbria Double! Furness have kindly offered the team the chance to practice as often as they are able to and there are plans to involve the Furness scratch team in practice matches to glean some local knowledge. Our young England International, Seb Crookall-Nixon, has agreed to play in this event despite a busy schedule and he will be a great asset to the team.
The second priority is to win the Northern Federation League. Cumbria has finished in second place to Northumberland for the last two years but would have won it in 2009 if not for a disastrous opening match against Northumberland at Carlisle Golf Club. All the games were very close and the 8-1 defeat was not a true reflection of how the match was played. We were simply caught cold on the day but went on to get revenge by winning the return match at Tynedale a few weeks later.
Finally, the third priority is to retain the Northern Federation Strokeplay Championship Trophy which Cumbria won magnificently last year at Dumfries and Galloway Golf Club. Not only did Cumbria win the team trophy but Kendal Golf Club's Jamie McDonald also won the individual strokeplay trophy with two superb rounds of 68, four under par.
I would like to take the opportunity to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to all parents and County executives for your efforts in supporting the team. I look forward to seeing you all in 2010 and I know you share my desire to see this team realise its true potential and as always your continued support is both essential and welcome.
John Smith - Team Manager
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