14 June 2017

Everyone's a winner at the BPIF Northern Ireland Golf Day

A pleasant day sandwiched between wet and windy spells meant that the golfers at the BPIF Northern Ireland Golf Day 2017, sponsored by GPMI Reprocentre, found the Shandon Park Golf Club in pristine condition and the weather offering a perfect climate for some fine scoring.

The Northern Ireland Printing Industries Association Golfing section was inaugurated in 1919 and the Challenge Trophy found its first winner in 1920. Here's a list of the earliest winners:

1920 F Strain
1921 J Timbey
1922 TH Graham
1923 TH Graham
1924 JK Farrow
1925 TH Graham
1926 JB Prenter
1927 W Aiken
1928 DS Caldwell
1929 R Nicholl
1930 MB Sproull

(Next time I get hold of the trophy I’ll attempt to complete the roll of honour. In the meantime, if you happen to know anything further about any of these early winners I’d be interested to learn more.)

Some excellent scoring lead to a tight completion but ahead of the pack this year was Ernest Culley from Impro Printing, finishing just ahead of Adam Cooke (Boxpak) and John Porter (Multi Packaging Solutions) to win the Challenge Trophy for the seventh time in his illustrious golfing career; and 43 years after his maiden victory!

Congratulations also to David Bell from GPS Colour Graphics for claiming the Stanley Little Rose Bowl (Directors’ Trophy).

For the second year running the Iddon Sherlock trophy* was on offer to the best placed two-person company team. Again some very competitive scoring lead to a tight competition, just pipped by the Multi Packaging Solutions Team consisting of Johnny Preuss and John Porter.

Click here to view some photos from the day.

The full list of awards winners is:

Challenge Trophy - sponsored by GPMI Reprocentre
1st Ernest Culley - Impro Printing
2nd Adam Cooke - Boxpak
3rd John Porter - Multi Packaging Solutions

Stanley Little Rose Bowl (Directors' Trophy) - sponsored by GPMI Reprocentre
David Bell - GPS Colour Graphics

Iddon Sherlock Trophy, Team Competition - sponsored by Multi Packaging Solutions
Johnny Preuss and John Porter - Multi Packaging Solutions

Ladies Competition - sponsored by BPIF
Caroline Irvin - Impro Printing

Longest Drive - sponsored by Multi Packaging Solutions
Sonny Vance - GPMI Reprocentre

Nearest the Pin - sponsored by Multi Packaging Solutions
Johnny Preuss - Multi Packaging Solutions

2s - sponsored by BPIF
Darren Vance - GPMI Reprocentre

A massive thanks must go to GPMI Reprocentre for their continued and valued sponsorship for this event, to Multi Packaging Solutions for their additional sponsorship and to everyone for turning up and making the day so enjoyable. You can always rely on some top-drawer banter amongst our industry colleagues!

Further thanks must also go to Whitewater Brewery for the lovely bottled ales and branded glasses that we gifted to each attendee - and to Belfast Crystal for producing some fine engraved glassware for our prize winners.

No date or venue has yet been set for next year. Any thoughts, comments, suggestions and offers for sponsorship would be greatly accepted.

*The Iddon Sherlock was kindly donated to the BPIF by the families of two deceased and well known printers. Ken Iddon MBE was the Chief Executive of NB Colour Print in Chorley and Peter Sherlock the Managing Director at Deanprint in Stockport. The trophy was originally played as a regional team challenge between Northern Ireland and the North West, initially won by the North West and subsequently by Northern Ireland. However, after several years without a challenge to reclaim it, it has now been converted to a company team trophy. Company teams from any BPIF members are most welcome to come to Northern Ireland and challenge for it.

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