Shandon Park Golf Club in Belfast marked the 25th anniversary of its treble winning side of 2000 at its Annual Awards Night last week.
Shandon Park is one of a small number of golf clubs on the island of Ireland to accomplish the category-one amateur double and is unique in its treble winning achievement.
The Club won Senior Cup and Barton Shield honours at Lahinch in County Clare in the autumn of the year 2000, before going on to claim the European Club Championships at the Parco de’ Medici Golf Club, in Rome.
Members of the winning teams, who were guests of honour at the recent Prizegiving Evening, included Barry Hobson, Michael Hoey, Gary Lynas, Alistair McKinley and Philip Purdy.
Not present on the night were Dr Neil Anderson and non-playing team captain Roy Archibald who were otherwise engaged, and Gary Wardlow, who sadly passed away in 2022. Gary Wardlow was represented at the occasion by his wife Susanne and son Jaxon.
Speaking at the special celebration evening, Shandon Park Club Captain, Michael Simpson, said: “What an honour it is to acknowledge the unprecedented achievements of Shandon’s ‘millennium marvels’ of twenty-five years ago.
“While it was a hugely impressive feat to win both the All-Ireland Senior Cup and the Barton Shield in the same year, to go on to become only the second team from Ireland – North or South – to lift the European title, remains an historic and unprecedented achievement.”
Following the presentation of men’s and ladies’ trophies for the 2024/25 season on Saturday 23rd, the Class of 2000 took part in a lively Q&A discussion, covering personal recollections of the treble triumph and individual highlights of a busy couple of months.
As winners in 2000 Shandon Park GC were invited back to Italy to defend their title, with Michael Hoey, Gary Lynas, Alistair McKinley and Philip Purdy achieving back-to-back wins – the first by an Irish club – at the Parco de’ Medici Golf Club.
Leave a comment