A charity golf event on Friday September 28 raised more than £2,000 for Helford River Children’s Sailing Trust (HRCST), a charity dedicated to helping young people learn to sail.

The Budock Vean Hotel near Mawnan Smith played host to the event, which saw 11 teams of four tee off for the Cyder Cup – with bottles of cider and a new trophy up for grabs for the winners.

The ‘Texas Scramble’ format created close competition around the beautifully-prepared course, after which the golfers enjoyed a buffet tea, raffle draw and prize-giving ceremony back at the clubhouse.

Outstanding scores secured a convincing win for the Francis Clark team of David West, Duncan Leslie, Nick Barnes and Chris Madeley.

Dennis McQuillan picked up the ‘nearest the pin’ title, while Richard Rae and Nina Hann took the honours for men’s and ladies’ longest drive.

HRCST provides free sailing and kayaking lessons for children through 26 local primary schools as a means of building their confidence, self esteem and respect for the environment.

The organisation operates a fleet of more than 80 boats, staffed by a team of qualified sailing instructors from its base at Helford Passage near Falmouth.

The charity is currently developing its new site at Trevassack Lake on the Lizard Peninsula as a centre of excellence for teaching watersports, particularly for young people with physical, behavioural or educational disabilities.

“This year, HRCST welcomed more than 700 young sailors to its training sessions,” said co-chairman Charles Richardson. “We are helped by more than 120 volunteers on and off the water and rely on the generosity of our many local supporters to meet ongoing operating costs and to help fund our new Trevassack Lake project.

“The golf day is an important part of our fund-raising activities and proved a huge success,” added Charles. “We’re very grateful to the Budock Vean Hotel for providing the facilities, to the local businesses that offered sponsorship and to the golfers who supported the event with such enthusiasm. Many congratulations to all who took part.”

The organisers would like to thank the following for providing sponsorship or raffle prizes: Towergate Insurance, Microcomms, Trengilly Wartha Inn, West Country Foods, Hine Downing Solicitors, Bonython Gardens, Cornish Holiday Cottages, Sally Wills, Trebah Gardens, Merlin Golf Club, Maenporth Electrical, St Austell Brewery, PFS Helston, Roskillys, Currie & Brown, ARCO2, Digs Property, Robin Curnow, Pendennis Shipyard and Mylor Builders.