What are we talking about?  The Far North Golf Challenge, completed successfully by all eleven men who took part, of course!  The day dawned "beautiful" at Reay, more mixed but still enjoyable at Thurso where a big breakfast was served up in the Clubhouse by Chris and Alison, brightened up considerably at Lybster where a mobile feast was served up by Elizabeth, Della and the team, ending with a flourish at Reiss, the home of Wick Golf Club.  A delightful hot meal awaited there, as well as a few liquid refreshments.....well, they did deserve it!

By 9.30pm the last ball had been played, the last club was put away for the day, and all weary golfers were thanked sincerely by Chairman of the Neurological Group Willie Sinclair. Willie presented the golfers with a small memento of their day, a tot glass suitably decorated commemorating the day.  As it was Alan Paul's mother's birthday, a bouquet of flowers was presented to Elizabeth as a small "thank you" for giving up her birthday to run round the county for her son and his mates!  Alan accepted a bottle of something bubbly in recognition of his huge contribution in organising the day.

We do not yet have a figure for the total raised, but keep watching and we'll keep you posted.

Thank you is a small thing to say, but meant sincerely to all eleven who took part, who are in alphabetical order:

Left to right as they stand in the picture they are:-

• Ian Gordon, Lead Operator from Cupar Fife

• Sandy Drysdale, Electrical Technician from Leven Fife

• Andy Newlands, Process Operator from Crieff Perthshire

• The "Handsome one in the middle" is organiser Alan Paul, Control Room Operator fae Week (from Wick, for those of you unfamiliar with the lingo!)

• Jimmy Hawthorne, Lead Mechanical Tech from Bo’Ness West Lothian

• Ian Muir, Multi Skilled Operative from Motherwell

• Ian Duncan, Mechanical Technician from Aberdeen.

These "shining examples of manhood" are just some of the intrepid crew who took part in the "Far North Golf Challenge 2003", pictured on their offshore platform.  

We think they have the makings of a new saucy fundraising calendar for 2004 - what do you think, girls???  Send in your comments to the visitors book!

Reay, Thurso, Lybster and Wick golf Clubs all kindly agreed to waive their fees for the rounds played.  Organiser Alan Paul, of Wick, was delighted that the sponsored event went ahead despite the amount of organisation involved.  The men, many of whom work for Talisman Energy, came from all over Scotland to take part and gave up much of their own time and money to help out the cause. Talisman Energy's Claymore Alpha Welfare Committee have already donated £500 towards the fund, for which we are enormously grateful.