Cider Cup remains at Spa GC once again

Cider Cup remains at Spa GC once again

21 September 2022

VETERAN  Spa team captain Brian Collins delivered a major coup for the club last week when his squad won the Cider Cup for an unprecedented fifth time in a row.

The former headmaster’s victory over an American team was a masterclass in selection and tactics and continued the home side’s domination of the biennial competition.

But Brian’s American counterpart, Don Smith, and the USA team refused to be downcast at the result.

“We came, we saw and we were conquered - but only on the golf courses. It was a marvellous eight days, I assess, for all of us, veterans and newbies alike,” he said.

“Mark your calendars, Spa team, the 2024 Cider Cup will be held in Minnesota  and is set to open in Monticello on Wednesday, September 4,” Don announced in an invitation immediately accepted by his hosts.

Don, a former newspaper proprietor and editor, noted it had taken four years to get to Co Down to celebrate 20 years of the Cider Cup because of the Covid pandemic and emphasised how the friendship theme had been established and nourished over the past two decades.

Based on the same format as the Ryder Cup, play for the Cider Cup took place over three days last week.

Originally the first day was planned for the European Club in Co Wicklow, but had to be cancelled due to the inclement weather, but Spa organisers Jimmy Kelly (club president) and Philip Gregg replaced that venue with Greenore.

While the European Club may have been the number one choice with the golfers, Greenore on the Cooley Peninsula in north County Louth and with spectacular views over Carlingford Lough was voted a more than satisfactory substitute.

The other two venues for this year’s Cider Cup matches were Woodenbridge and Arklow, again venues that are among the most beautiful and challenging on the eastern flank of Ireland.

Newry, Mourne and Down Council chairman Michael Savage was guest of honour at a presentation banquet and entertainment in the Spa clubhouse last week attended by both teams and their guests.

Brian, the Spa team captain, paid tribute to Jimmy Kelly and his colleague, Phillip Gregg, for the magnificent way they planned and orchestrated the eight days of the competition with sport, culture and entertainment.

Thanking and congratulating his team for their tremendous golfing display he was “proud and delighted” to lead such a talented and determined group.

Spa, he added, were already looking forward to the challenge of Minnesota in 2024 and winning the Cider Cup for the sixth time.