The Pish Cup is one of the least coveted prizes in sport, but in 2010, a host of players seemed desperate to win it.  The 2008 record match aside, 4&3 had been the biggest margin of victory in Beve history when all four players managed to complete the round (more on that later), yet that would have constituted a close match in 2010.

 

After Bickley and Hoy had succumbed to a 6&5 humiliation in the morning greensomes, they seemed nailed on for the prize, which is given to the partnership which takes the biggest beating.  Yet, just 10 minutes later, news came through that Strain and Kealey had suffered the same fate.  It would almost certainly come down to which two of these four players had the worst afternoon.

 

Bickley quickly moved to shoot down the suggestion that he was pishworthy, with a stunning performance of his own to singlehandedly thrash McGill and Montgomery 6&5. 

 

The news was not so good for Hoy.  Up against Kealey in the afternoon, it seemed certain that one of these ginger warriors would be walking home pish handed.  And so it was to prove.  A fine performance by Pish Cup alumni Jim Goldie and Joe Kealey saw Hoy and Adam Lee crumble to a 4&3 defeat.  Derek’s overall margin of defeat on the day was 10 holes - a Beve record, and he was now certain to see his name in yellow lights.

 

But who would join him?  Could Strain pick up a half point and pull himself out?  It looked promising; he and Parker reached the last green with two putts for the hole from 15 feet.  Parker was in charge.  He stepped up confidently, and boomed the first putt 6 feet past.  Could he hole the return?  Well, obviously not, since Strain is now the proud owner of the Cup.  Parker didn’t care; the Beve Trophy had been decided and it wasn’t him who would win the Pish Cup.  Ian wasn’t so pleased.

 

In truth, it was time Strain picked up this award.  He had been part of the heaviest defeat in 2009 when he and McGill (him again) lost 5&4 in the afternoon fourballs.  But when it turned out Strain had walked off after 11 holes due to a back injury, the judging panel declared this result ineligible for pish purposes.  But it always gets you in the end.

 

Well deserved boys. And with 2 Beve Trophies and 1 Pish Cup from 2 appearances, Derek became the most decorated player in BT history, a tremendous honour. He's also the lowest ranked player in the Hall of Fame to bring clubs, shoes and a bag to the event.