Staying power swings it for Andy

MARATHON MAN: Winning team captain Andy Bottomley (third, left) is pictured with Dena Platt (left, Skin Deep Foundation), Amanda Delaney (organiser), Debbie Howarth (organiser), Brian Hurst (Dr Kershaw’s Hospice) and Jan Bolton (of Pennine Acute Hospital’s charity Link4Pink Appeal).

GOLF:

AFTER 14 hours of driving, chipping and putting, Andy Bottomley and his four team-mates emerged victorious in a 72-hole charity event at Crompton and Royton.

Andy, the captain, played all four rounds of the competition — to raise money for the Link4Pink Appeal — and had just about recovered three days after it had finished.

The nine-handicapper and member of Crompton and Royton said: “All the rounds merged into one in the end, but it was a really good day and that made it worthwhile.

“I was ready for a long soak in the bath, but I had to climb the stairs to get there.”

Andy’s team was made up of son Jack Bottomley-Clift, Andy Hurst, Rob Riley and Tim O’Leary.

Teeing off at 5.30am in a foursomes format, he had a different partner each round, before walking in shattered at 7.30pm.

By the end, his team had accumulated 141 Stableford points to take top honours.

The prize for the winning team is a round at Prestbury Golf Club in Cheshire.

Unfortunately, it is for only four people, so Jack will miss out.

Andy explained: “Jack is going to play there anyway quite soon, and he’ll also be at school when we’re planning to go.”

In second place on 140 points were Pauline Givvons (captain) Keith Ward, Danny Heap, Alex Givvons and Simon Higgins, followed by Mike Challen (captain), Jordan Flint, Chris King, James Frizzell and Dave Hopkins on 139 points.