Firstly, all thanks must go to Walmley, notably to their Greens Staff and then the 'seconded' squeegee operators of Present and Past Presidents, your County Secretary and the championship management team.

Walmley did everything to make eighteen holes playable, and despite the heavens continuing to 'top up' the rain from the past few days, the course stayed playable when all around were closed. Walmley is an excellent test at any time but today, playing its longest, only an excellent ball-striking round would do.

'I committed to my routine', said the repeat Champion Tom Ibbertson, 'And I made sure I was prepared for the weather - I had five dry gloves in the bag'.

Whist others, including his brother Harry, found things difficult (Harry was tied with Tom with seven to play only to go OOB and to drop three in the last four holes), Tom was 'Faldo-esque' with 16 pars and a solitary birdie and bogey.

'I didn't hole anything from under 6ft and the bogey was a three putt from 20ft. Walmey must get all the credit for making the championship playable', add Tom, who now goes to Woodhall Spa later in the year to represent the County in the English Champion of Champions Tournament.

Walmley had some good news from the day, with Rob Holland (76) and Jack Ronan (77) taking second and third, and the hosts also provided the Runner-Up in the U16s, in the form of ever improving Jamie Calvert, some of one of Warwickshire's best players from the recent past.

The U16s title will be back at Shirley Golf Club, after George Allen broke 80 (which few did) and with his 79, took that trophy. As for the Team Championships, playing for the Coventry Evening Telegraph Trophy, that Cities' daily paper will be more than pleased to report that their cup has stayed with Coventry Hearsall, courtesy of Tom and Harry and Rhys Ibbertson who defends his U14s title in three weeks time.