27 May 2008

MORE THAN £4,000 was raised in support of Shetland’s fishermen’ mission when 81 competitors participated in Saturday’s 12th Annual Charity Golf Tournament.

This year’s Shetland Fish Trades Golf Cup goes to a team from the whitefish boat Tranquility, but the real winner is the mission work across the isles.

The event, hosted by the Whalsay Golf Club and sponsored by local pelagic fish processor Shetland Catch is now the largest tournament in the Shetland golf calendar.

Port missioner Peter Dade said the event had been both a fun day out and a “vital fundraiser” for the mission.

In total, £4,200 was raised through entry fees and a raffle, which benefitted from generous prizes donated by NorthLink Ferries and a number of local engineering companies.

Twentyseven teams, consisting of three players each, enjoyed one of the sunniest days so far this year with a northerly breeze adding a challenge to playing on the Whalsay course.

Second place were the team Charisma 1, followed by Shetland Catch 1. The bandit prize went to George Andrew Anderson of team Antares 2.

Special guest Captain Dan Conley, the chief executive of the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen played his part as member of the mission team, Mission 101, appropriately named to highlight the organisation is now in its 101st year on the isles.

Mr Dade, who is leaving to take up the post as port missioner in Scrabster later this summer, introduced his successor Paul Govier, adding that he would miss the hospitality of the people of Whalsay and throughout Shetland.