On Saturday 5 October 2024, the Old Viking Society hosted its highly anticipated annual golf day at the scenic Badgemore Golf Club in Henley-on-Thames. The event brought together our Old Viking alumni for a day filled with camaraderie, competition, and celebration of the Old Viking spirit! 

Guests began arriving at the club at 11am greeted by the crisp autumn air, bright blue skies and the stunning views of the lush greens and welcoming fairway! A bacon roll and hot drink was served, allowing attendees to fuel up before hitting the course. The atmosphere was lively, with laughter and chatter echoing throughout the clubhouse as old friends reunited.

Golfers were divided into teams, with each group eager to showcase their skills on the course with Badgemore providing a perfect backdrop for the day’s events. Throughout the day, various contests and activities added an extra layer of excitement. Participants competed for prizes in categories such as longest drive, closest to the pin, and best team and individual score. 

After completing their rounds, players gathered for a well-deserved dinner in the clubhouse allowing everyone to refuel and share stories from the course. 

The day culminated in an awards ceremony, where winners were announced, and prizes were distributed by our wonderful event organiser Peter Webb (former Shiplake staff 1977-2004) alongside thanks from the Headmaster, Tyrone Howe. 

This year's deserving winners were:

Longest Drive - Harry Laflin 

Nearest the Pin - Cameron Dempster 

Individual Stableford

2nd Place - Mark Gilbart-Smith 

1st Place - Teddy Hewins 

Team Stableford - The Shiplake College OVS Cup 

3rd Place - Mark Gilbart-Smith, Rupert Bridgman and Peter Webb 

2nd Place - Tyrone Howe, Greg Tyne, David Squire and Iain Duckworth 

1st Place - Cameron Dempster, Robert Dempster, Harry Laflin and Teddy Hewins 

A massive thank you to the whole Badgemore Golf Club team for their excellent service and especially to Seamus Jeffs for his help with the scoring.  

Plans for next year’s event are already underway, promising to continue the tradition and celebrate Peter's 50 year connection to Shiplake College. Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to making this day a memorable one!