OOGS at Little Aston: Midland Public Schools Meeting

Wednesday June 17 2026

Since inception of The M K Foster Schools Cup in 1932, played at the stunning and highly rated Little Aston Golf Club, Oundle has only won it six times, firstly in 1982, then 4 times in the 90’s and lastly 24 years ago in 2002.

I’m very pleased to report our OOGS team of strapping youngsters, in no particular order (!) – in the 70+ bracket Nigel Hetherington, Nick Copestick, Peter Pentecost, Shane Dodd – and then the 60 year olds, John Outram, Steve Royle & William Rice, along with oh yes, those strapping youngsters I mentioned, Tim Carsberg & Mikey Outar, WON THE CUP!

We met as always for breakfast at 7.30 am … Doddy forgot to order the customary Bloody Marys, which President Pentecost then later blamed as the reason for a few of his slippery putts not quite slipperying in the right direction !

11 schools and 88 golfers did battle, with the best 3 pairs, stableford 4somes off handicap scores counting.

Copestick & Dodd + Hetherington & Carsberg tied in 3^rd = spot with 35 points each,

followed closely in 12th = by Rice & Outar with 33 points. A combined score of 103 pts beat Wrekin and yes, the old foe Uppingham in to 2nd= on 101 pts.

Lunch followed, and with our policy of youth still prevailing, we were joined by John Frazier D’59 of the 3 generation OO / legendary Solihull wine merchants. The President ordered the customary 2 Magnums of House Claret and Macon Lugny and we toasted John’s late father Ken who captained our first ever winning Halford Hewitt team in 1962, and remains the only OO golfer ever to have played for England. This was clearly not quite enough, since large Kummels & Ports were then downed on the terrace

before we once again attempted to play golf over 15 holes in the afternoon.

Whereas last year alcohol took its toll, this year with that extra year self-ageing in our own oak casked bodies, we sprung to life. Once again, the ever chirpy Chopstick with his definitely youthful partner Tim amassed 30 pts – 2nd -over 15 holes, missing out to a 31pts for the Repton/Uppingham Salvers for a combined age of 110 yrs. Doddy & The Pres came in close behind in 6^th with 28 points – combined age 141 yrs !! Royle & Outar followed with a very creditable 25 pts, but far too young to be considered for the 110+ comp.

All in all a wonderful day ….. enjoyed I believe by everyone who took part …. it was a special pleasure to welcome a complete newcomer to OOGS, John Outram, who I played 1^st V Squash with for two years at school back in the 70’s – we hadn’t seen each other in 53 years – we didn’t recognise each other in any way at breakfast – it was just the usual matter of who had lost more hair. Also great to welcome back Steve Royle for his 2^nd outing with us – far too good a golfer off WHI 3.6 to be left out of any OOGS team – huge thanks for stepping in at the last moment to complete our team for the afternoon’s golf.

Sadly prize-giving was very late and most of the team had to slippery off. However, we have a photo of the Cup with 5 of us at West Hill for the Mellin comps the following week.

CONGRATS TO YOU ALL!

Captain Shane Dodd (Doody, Doddy)