Demolition specialist Ed McIlvaney has an uncanny ability of choosing the best weather for his annual golf day and this year was no different.
Two dozen golfers, including representatives from various shipbroking houses, took to the greens at The Essex Golf & Country Club in ideal conditions — sunshine and a cool, refreshing breeze.
From the cash buyer community came Narinder Dheir of NKD Maritime and Rob Reid of Somap UK, and among the brokers were Darren Lepper of Clarksons and Dave Cundy of Gibson Shipbrokers.
Key prizes were the EBM Challenge trophy, which is open to shipping competitors, and the Sean Hadfield Memorial trophy, open to everyone including family and friends.
Among shipping retirees was Leigh Roberts who each year makes a 450-kilometre (280-mile) round trip from his Gloucestershire home to attend.
The annual event, now in its 14th year, saw six golfers amass more than 30 points.
Milestone
One milestone was set by Sue Ballard, formerly of SSY, who won the Ladies’ trophy for the third time.
Industry retirees Tony Masters and Leigh Roberts, as well as Dheir, have each won the EBM Challenge trophy twice. Masters came close this year but was pipped at the post by Ballard'shusband and ex-SSY tanker broker Steve who claimed the honours with 36 points.
McIlvaney’s son-in-law Lee Virgin lifted the Sean Hadfield Memorial trophy for the second time.
“In my eyes, everyone is a winner,” McIlvaney said as the golfers, and several others simply enjoying the day, returned to the clubhouse for a beer and meal.
Stuart Jones, a friend of McIlvaney, won the Longest Drive award, Sue Ballard Nearest the Pin, and Dave Cundy of Gibson Shipbrokers the Good Job award (originally meant to be Nearest the Pin in Two trophy but nobody claimed that prize).
George Willett, partner of McIlvaney’s granddaughter Sarah, went further by taking the Even Better Job award, beating Cundy by a single point.
