9 July 2018

BPIF NI Golf Day and Dinner 2018

The sun truly was splitting the heavens on Friday 29 June when the golfers at the BPIF Northern Ireland Golf Day 2018, sponsored by GPMI Reprocentre, set out off the first tee at Shandon Park Golf Club. The relentless sunshine and climbing temperature was in danger of creating some uncomfortable golfing conditions – fortunately a late dash to a certain budget supermarket provided an opportunity to purchase the necessary high-factor sun block and water supplies.

Once again there was some tremendous golf played, and numerous high-scoring cards handed in. Out in front this year in the Challenge Trophy, sponsored by GPMI Reprocentre, was Martin Bennett (RW Pierce); just a few points ahead of Simon Gardner and Adam Cooke (both from Boxpak).

A massive well done to Gordon Gratton from Impro Printing who can now add his name to the winners of the Stanley Little Rose Bowl (Directors' Trophy), again sponsored by GPMI Reprocentre.

For the third year running the Iddon Sherlock trophy*, sponsored by Alphagraphics, was on offer to the best placed two-person company team. It was the most competitive scoring yet for the team competition as a duo from RW Pierce (Martin Bennett and Charis Baird) secured the trophy the company won two years ago. In doing so they just pipped Boxpak (Simon Gardner and Barry Craig) to the title.

Boxpak clearly enjoy their golf – in the group of prizes sponsored by Canon, Adam Cooke produced a massive drive on the 17th and Michael White displayed pinpoint accuracy to be nearest the pin on the 10th. Furthermore, Michael and Gareth Parkinson where the only two able to produce two's on their scorecard.

Click here to view some photos from the day.

The full list of awards winners is:

Challenge Trophy - sponsored by GPMI Reprocentre
1st: Martin Bennett - RW Pierce
2nd: Simon Gardner - Boxpak
3rd: Adam Cooke - Boxpak

Stanley Little Rose Bowl (Directors' Trophy) - sponsored by GPMI Reprocentre
Gordon Grattan - Impro Printing

Iddon Sherlock Trophy - sponsored by Alphagraphics
Winners: Martin Bennett and Chris Baird - RW Pierce
Runners-up: Simon Gardner and Barry Craig - Boxpak

Longest Drive - sponsored my Canon
Adam Cooke - Boxpak

Nearest the Pin - sponsored by Canon
Michael White - Boxpak

2s - sponsored by Canon
Gareth Parkinson and Michael White - Boxpak

A massive thanks must go to GPMI Reprocentre for their continued and valued sponsorship for this event, to Alphagraphics for their additional sponsorship which has allowed us to expand the team competition and to Canon for sponsoring the targeted prizes for the longest drive, nearest the pin and to those golfers that managed to card only two shots on a single hole.

Thanks also to everyone for turning up and making the day so enjoyable. Please continue to promote this event amongst your workforce - and if you're still in contact with any retired employees; they would be welcome too.

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

Finally Barry, Margaret and their colleagues at Shandon Park Golf Club deserve a big thank you for helping the day run smoothly and looking after us on the course and in the clubhouse.

The Northern Ireland Printing Industries Golfing Association first played for the Challenge Trophy in 1920 (when it was won by a Mr F Strain). This means that next year will be the centenary year for what must be one of the oldest golfing societies around. Please make every effort to commit to it again next year.

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

Headline sponsor:

Additional sponsors:

*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.