After three years of trying, C&C Leeds finally had their moment in the sun at the annual C&C sponsored Sale Sharks Golf Day. Although arguably, a much bigger prize was at stake!
The annual event, hosted by Sale Sharks legend Mark Cueto, took place at Champneys Mottram Hall on Friday 2nd October, bringing together Sharks players, sponsors and guests for a day of golf, competition and, inevitably, a fair amount of friendly rivalry.
Representing C&C Leeds this year were Director Tom O’Connell, Max Middleton – son of C&C Employee Benefits’ Andy Middleton – Jake Noble and Tom Jackson. And after a near miss last year, the Leeds contingent finally made the podium!
“We’ve been coming to the Golf Day for three years and had never managed to trouble the top three,” said Tom. “Last year we even hung around for the presentation because we thought we’d won something, only to discover we hadn’t actually made the podium! So, whilst we were keen, expectations were perhaps slightly more measured this time.”
Those expectations soon began to rise, however, as the team put together an impressive round in glorious conditions at the Mottram Hall course.
The individual highlight came courtesy of Tom, who faced a 30-foot putt after taking what his teammates considered a beard-growingly long time lining it up. With Max and Jake’s barracking still ringing in his ears, Tom promptly sank it for a five-point birdie!
By the end of the day, the C&C Leeds team had amassed an excellent 96 points; enough to secure second place and just a single point behind the winning score of 97.
There were prizes too, including Pro V1x golf balls and Under Armour jumpers. But for the Leeds team, their second place prizes weren’t the most rewarding aspect of the day. That came at the presentation.
Waiting to hand over their prizes was Malc, whose own team had finished somewhere behind the Leeds quartet.
The significance wasn’t lost on anyone familiar with the friendly East versus West rivalry that’s developed within C&C over the years. Particularly as Malc rarely finds himself on the less successful side!
Tom said: “The prizes were great, but I think we all enjoyed the fact that Malc shook our hands and congratulated us on beating his team! We have a long-running white versus red rose rivalry, and it’s fair to say MC has enjoyed the bragging rights more often than we have. We’ll be making the most of this one.”
Malc was, of course, gracious: “I was delighted for Tom and the Leeds team. Obviously, I’d have been considerably more delighted if they’d finished one place lower than us, but you can’t have everything. They played really well, and 96 points was a great score. I shook their hands, presented the prizes and smiled for the photographs. Which I think demonstrates exceptional professionalism – on my part! For this year only, I’m more than happy to lend C&C Leeds the bragging rights. But it’s only a loan!”
As the longest-standing current commercial partner of Sale Sharks, the annual Golf Day is always a firm favourite in the C&C calendar. It provides a wonderful opportunity to bring together the club, its partners and commercial supporters away from the pitch.
And after three attempts, C&C Leeds finally have some silverware. Or at least some Pro V1x balls and Under Armour jumpers to show for it. Those – and a buggy-full of bragging rights.
Until next year, at least!
