News
Darren Clarke Schools Golf League 2012.
The Red High golf team are celebrating winning the Darren Clarke Schools League in only their 3rd year of competing in the competition. This competition has 61 schools from all over Ulster competing who are divided into 14 sections.
St Patrick’s emerged out of their section with victories over St Colmcille’s, Shimna, St Malachy’s and a narrow 4-3 victory over neighbours De La Salle, former winners of the competition 2 years ago.
First up in the knockout stages were St Malachy’s Belfast at Rockmount GC and a solid performance was capped by a fine win on the 18th by Jack McKenna to secure a 4-3 win.
In the quarter finals the boys travelled to Shandon Park to play Bangor Grammar and a fine display saw them home on a score line of 5-2. Dale Baker won the vital match on this occasion.
The semi final was against the strong team of Knock and it was a return again to Rockmount. The Red High boys stormed home to a 5-2 victory again with Thomas Dillon holing out on the 18th to seal victory.
The boys entered the final, played at Lisburn Golf Club, full of confidence and in a very exciting match came through again on a 5-2 score line. Matthew Fitzsimons was the star performer coming from 2 down to win on the 18th.
The end of year tournament was held on the 15th June at Banbridge GC with competitors from all competing schools. The presentation of the trophy, medals and golf equipment was made to boys by Tyrone Clarke on behalf of his father Darren. In return the boys presented a cheque for £600 to the Breakthrough Breast Cancer charity set up in memory of his mother, Heather. The money was raised by the boys and staff of the Red High who sponsored Mr D Swail for completing the Gaelforce North Endurance race and the Wicklow 200K cycle.
What makes this achievement all the more remarkable is that the team included 4 Yr 8 pupils and the entire panel are able to play next year. Many of their older Yr 11 competitors thought they were in for comfortable victories but they were to be proved wrong!
Many thanks are due to the following people;Gerard McStay(Competition organiser), Bernard Lavery(Parent who supervised boys), Ardglass,Downpatrick,Shandon Park, Rockmount,Lisburn and Banbridge Golf Clubs(for the free use of their courses), Paul Vaughan(Ardglass Pro) for golf ball sponsorship, and to everyone who contributed to the sponsored events which raised over £600.
Team who played in final-Ryan Lavery, Matthew Fitzsimons, Jack McKenna, Thomas Dillon, Dale Baker, Neil Lavery, Conor Hynds.
Squad members-Declan Trainor, Luke Mulhall, Jamal Dupree, Connor Annett, and Christian Keown