The SCC: 2007

Thursday 27 December 2007

Aberdovey Gears Up for the SCC

Locals in the sleepy village of Aberdovey have begun their preperations as the area awaits the arrival of eight golfing greats aiming to cement their place in sporting history at the Second City Challenge 2008.

Allan Jones, leader of the local neighbourhood watch told us earlier that "we can't wait to welcome the teams to our village, 'specially Ben - he's a bit of a hero of ours".

Daffyd Jones, local prostitute and welsh speaker commented "ccccllllllhhhrr cccclllgggghhhh araf".

For more details of the area AND THE LOCAL PUBS, try the official Aberdovey web-site;

http://www.aberdovey.org.uk/

Merry Men Agree Kit Deal

The Merry Men of Team Nottingham have nobly agreed to take on responsibility for players shirts for the coming competition. Speaking recently, Mr D. Williams announced that "it was the least that we could do, me duck, but more importantly it'll mean we won't have to wear lime green this time around!"

Earlier, it had been agreed at a board meeting that team colours should remain constant from year to year, with new colours alocated to new cities only. New players representing cities that have previously participated must wear the colour originally reserved for the city.
Also, one star is to be worn on the players left tit to represent each victory.

The 2008 colours will be as follows;

Birmingham - Blue
Leeds - Orange
Manchester - Red
Nottingham - Green

Player Accomodation Unveiled

Current SCC captain, Mr N. Guyton has confirmed that the players competing in SCC 2008 will be staying in two traditional Welsh cottages, ideally located close to the centre of the picturesque village of Aberdyfi on the Cambrian Coast. Superbly located in close proximity to Aberdovey Golf Club, these cottages offer the ideal base from which all four teams launch their bid to become 2008 Second City Champions.

Located on the same street, 3 doors apart, both residences have been awarded a 4-star rating for self-catering accommodation by the Welsh Tourist Board.

For more details and directions, please visit their respective websites;

Anchor Cottage - http://www.anchorcottage.co.uk/
Chatts Cottage - http://www.chattscottage.co.uk/

Tuesday 18 September 2007

Provisional Tee Times Announced

Following the recent bad publicity surrounding the SCC, attention is now firmly focused on golf once more.
Earlier this week, provisional tee times were ageed. and Mr Guyton has confirmed the following to be accurate first tee timings;

FRIDAY 18th April

10.00
15.15

SATURDAY 19th April
14.08

The order of play, as is customary, will be decided "down the pub" on the Thursday evening, with Team Manchester already confirmed in group one as reigning champions.

Friday 14 September 2007

Merry Men are Merry no More

In an unprecedented day of events, further controversy has beset preparations for SCCIII.

It is understood that Team Nottingham is experiencing a period of team unrest and we can exclusively reveal, here on the SCC official pages, that Dominic "Maid Marrion" Williams has deserted Simon "Tuck" Porter and relocated to Leicestershire.

It is understood that the house move is down to "family" reasons and rumours are rife about the iminant arrival of a child in the cap. It would be in good company, as both Nottingham players are widely regarded on tour as "a pair of big babies".

This set-back is the last thing that the tight-wearing sissies would have wanted following their wooden spoon winning performance last year, and will send shock waves which are sure to reach the deepest roots of the Major Oak.

Nobody at Team Nottingham was available for comment this afternoon, but an official statement is due from Nottingham Castle early tomorrow.

Is it Leeds or is it Amsterdam?

Controversy has hit the SCC in a massive way, with breaking news that one of the competitors has decided to move outside of British borders and currently resides in Amsterdam of Hollandish fame.

Matthew Atkinson (pictured above right in yet more rough!), has stated "I have only moved for a 6 month period due to professional commitments, my heart and soul is with the SCC and should it threaten my place in Team Leeds I would back to the UK in a heart beat".

Atkinson's partner for 2008, Daniel Kelsall is also very nervous at the thought of his partner spending at least six months in the city of sin. "I don't think that half a year of smoking illegal substances and indulging in professional ladies is the best way to prepare for such a big event"

This isn't the first time that Atkinson has been involved in controversy. In 2007 not only was playing as a one ball in what is clearly a better ball format, but he was representing Team Liverpool. He claimed at the time that his goldfish's auntie once went there but this is yet to be ratified. He came 2nd in that event and Team Birmingham are reported as 'disappointed' that someone has illegally represented a city, and they are pushing hard for the SCC to award them the silver medal retrospectively. We should have definitive decision posted on this website in the coming weeks.

Tuesday 11 September 2007

Team Birmingham New Strategy For 2008 Event

Team Birmingham called an emergency meeting to analyse their recent performances in the SCC. In the last 2 years Birmingham, represented by Nick Brooker (aged 25) and Ben Williams (aged 34), have come a rather disappointing 2nd and 3rd. This disappointment is made even more painful by the fact that they were partly responsible for inventing the competition which has been dominated by some incredibly lucky gits from the Manchester region.

Ben Williams is extremely saddened by Team Birmingham's recent performances, "I have a big nose (and big ears) but even that doesn't hide the fact that we have been very poor in the 2 events and it something that we really need to sort out before next year".

In the light of this a number of potential approaches for next years event have been speculated in the national presses from 'playing left handed', 'not being ill' and perhaps the most likely suggestion of 'joining a golf club and playing golf prior to Wales'. It is believed that both Ben and Nick are looking into a couple of options, namely Sandwell Park and Handsworth Golf Club.

A spokesman from Handsworth had the following comments:

"Thus far its only speculation so myself and the whole club don't want to get too excited, but should they opt for our club it would certainly be a great day. Needless to say we all have our fingers crossed and either way we will be cheering on the boys in Wales next April".

In the light of the recent speculation Team Birmingham have moved up in the bookmakers expectations and are currently second favourites for 2008 event behind the spawny gits from Manchester.

Thursday 6 September 2007

2008 Invitations Issued

Official invitations to the 2008 Second City Challenge have been sent out today. As expected, there is little change to the line-up. Guyton and Bramwell form the formiddable Manchester pairing, whilst Brooker and B Williams aim to shake off the tag of "under-achievers" representing Birmingham. Porter and D Williams will be aiming not to return to Nottingham again with the wooden spoon and in the only surprise of the day, Atkinson is joined by Kelsall to form a new pairing representing Leeds.
Mr N Guyton wrote the following in his first communication as in-coming captain;
"As the in-coming captain of our illustrious club it is my pleasure to inform you that the date is set and the course has been chosen for the 2008 Second City Challenge. The course selected to be host to Team Manchester's 3rd successive victory is Aberdovey, again based in North Wales and included in the top 100 courses in UK (actually ranked 69th and 5th in Wales). Check out the website at: http://www.aberdoveygolf.co.uk/. Green fees will be in the region of those paid this year. The weekend in question is 18th - 20th April 2008 - could you all confirm/put in your diaries as soon as possible so I can finalise the bookingsLet the banter commence. Cheers, Neil."

2008 Venue Announced

The venue to host the third year of Second City Challenge has been announced today. It is with great pleasure that the SCC committee declare Aberdovey Golf Club as the winning application for the 2008 event.

Aberdovey Golf Club has been chosen ahead of several other strong contenders because of its strong transport links. Due to its huge following, the event has caused major traffic congestion and Aberdovey has provided sufficient evidence to the SCC committee of their intention to implement a robust traffic management plan for the entire North West Wales area over the period.

For further information about this fantastic course, please visit the official web-site;

http://www.aberdoveygolf.co.uk/index.htm

2007 Royal St Davids

2006 - Nefyn

SCC History

The idea of an annual golfing challenge between Birmingham and Manchester was first proposed at some time over the Christmas of 2005. Since that time, two-ball teams have fought over a gruelling weekend for the honour of calling their city ‘Britain’s Second City’.

Royal Nefyn Golf Course in North Wales hosted the first competition over the Easter of 2006.

The representatives of Birmingham, Nicholas Brooker and Benjamin Williams fought to the last hole of an intense weekend of golf, over three rounds, only to succumb to a world-class put on the final hole from Peter Bramwell, representing Manchester. Neil Guyton, the other member of the Manchester pairing carded an estimated two under par for the final round to help the Mancunians to the title of Britain’s Second City, 2006.

The success of the competition in its fledgling year was enough to generate interest from other cities around the country believing they can stake a claim to the title of Britain’s Second City.

The competition moved to Royal St Davids in 2007 and witnessed a swelling in competitor numbers with the introduction of groups from Liverpool and Nottingham. Mathew Atkinson playing for Liverpool and Simon Porter and Dominic Williams playing for Nottingham were unable to mount any sort of a challenge in the new format competition. Manchester retained their crown after another tense final hole in which Nottingham could have won either the title or wooden spoon. They ended up with the latter. Birminghams challenge was dealt a cruel blow as Ben Williams was struck down by tonsilitus.

SCC2008 was hosted by Averdovey over a cold and windy April weekend. For the first time, competitor numbers were at capacity with the addition of Chris Seddon to the Liverpool team. As seems to be the tradition with the competition, the title went to the last hole where Birmingham held their nerve against a rejuvinated Nottingham pairing. Liverpool collected the wooden spoon.

SCC2009 tooks the competitors to South Wales and the Pennard Golf Club, near Swansea. With a surge of golf club membership over the summer, the event promised to dish up golf of an even higher quality than had been witnessed so far. However, the extreme challenge presented by Pennard reduced the competetors to wrecks of the former golfers they once were! Manchester secured their 3rd title at the 16th hole of the final round against a highly competitive Team Liverpool. Birmingham narrowly beat Liverpool to second place with a final round victory over the wooden spoon winners Nottingham.

2010 was a big year for the SCC. The 5th year anniversary competition saw the teams take on a the new challenge of Tenby Golf Course. In a break with tradition, this years captain was elected from outside of the original foursome and all agreed than Matkinson did an excellent job. Neil Guytons absence from the Team Manchester line up did little to change the recent trend. Pet Bumwell, partnered by Matt Miller, chalked up another victory on the excellent Tenby track. The only thing counting against the course was the huge journies faced by all.

2011 saw Nick take up the captaincy reigns. The SCC went back to it's roots and introduced Nottingham and Liverpool to the wonders of the old course at Neffyn.

2012 is a seminal year in the history of the competition. The format and name were both changed in order to expand the number of competitors to 9. The Second City Challenge from this point on became simply The SCC. The new competition now pitches 3 3-ball teams against each other, drawn according to handicap this year, but in future years based upon performance in the previous years competition. The first test of the new competition was held at Pyle and Kenfig. 'Getting blobby' was born amidst some high scoring as a result of the usual SCC weather.

2013 took The SCC to North Wales Golf Club, Llandudno in the hope of providing a slightly less harsh golfing test for the players. The rain and wind stayed away for the most part and scores were must improved. An early target for best individual score was set by B Williams of 46 points (off a handicap of 20).