Allyn Dick chalks up 'sweet' sixth Dispatch Trophy triumph at Braids

Sixteen years ago, Allyn Dick had “never heard of the Dispatch Trophy and never played at the Braids”.

Duddingston's David Miller, Connor Scott, Jamie Duguid and Allyn Dick celebrate winning the 123rd Edinburgh Evening News Dispatch Trophy at the Braids. Picture: National World.

Yet, in a relatively short time, he’s now earned a place among the legends in the historic team tournament at the stunning Capital course.

Having already been on five winning Carrickvale teams, the 44-year-old now is the proud owner of six gold medals after helping Duddingston pull off a dream debut in the 123rd edition of the Edinburgh Evening News event.

“Just as good and just as sweet,” said Dick of his latest success, which was landed with a 4&2 win over Heriot’s in Saturday afternoon’s final.

“From a personal point of view, I would have loved to have recorded six wins continuously with Carrickvale, but I’m now delighted to be part of a fantastic Duddingston team.”

In a tough run over the course of the week, Duddingston beat Turnhouse, Silverknowes, Hailes, Dalmahoy and Murrayfield before finishing off the job against three-time winners Heriot’s.

Dick, who plays off plus four, had plus-three man Jamie Duguid alongside him in all six games, but it was a different story for Connor Scott in the back Duddingston pairing.

Taking advantage of a substitute rule introduced in recent years to give teams a bit of flexibility, Scott was partnered by David Miller three times, Gary Thomson twice and Ben Alexander once.

In the final, Dick and Duguid played some phenomenal foursomes golf, which produced an eagle at the 11th and birdies at the first, second, fifth, tenth and 14th in a strong westerly wind, to finish six up on Sam Hall and Steven Sinclair.

At the back, Heriot’s duo Stuart Langlands and Scott Dickson did their best to try and keep the contest going as long as possible before eventually running out of holes as they finished two up Scott and Miller.

“We played amazing golf all week and this afternoon was no different,” said Dick, a former Lothians champion along with Miller. “We knew the boys at the back were losing, so we had to keep our foot down.”

Duguid had already helped Dunbar win the Lothians Team Tournament this season and now has his sights set on adding the County Cup in East Lothian with his home club.

“This is brilliant,” said the 24-year-old, who works as a policy officer for the Scottish Government, of his latest team triumph. “The standard of golf the full week has been outstanding.

"We didn’t have an easy game and, after the guys at the back had got us out of jail in some of the earlier rounds, it was nice that we helped them out this afternoon.”

It was Miller’s second win in the event, which is now run in association with Edinburgh Leisure, after teaming up with Brian Smith, Mark Chambers and Scott Knowles to land the trophy for Carrick Knowe in 2004.

“I caddied up here for my dad, Derek, when he played for BT Ampere in the 80s and 90s and I’ve always thought it’s been an under-rated event,” said Miller, a 45-year-old who is head of sport for insurance company Howden Sport.

Scott, 29, a chartered surveyor for Montagu Evans in the Capital, described his first medal in the event as “absolutely brilliant” and spoke with real pride about representing his club.

“I’ve been a member at Duddy now for 17 years and we’ve got a lot of good golfers,” he said, reflected by the fact the club are record ten-time winners of the Edinburgh Summer League. “This has been a tiring week as we had tough game after tough game, but it is fantastic to be part of this triumph.”

Semi-finals

Duddingston (Jamie Duguid and Allyn Dick 3; David Miller and Connor Scott 3); Murrayfield (Grant Adkins and Lloyd Dunlop 0; Stuart Thurlow and Archie Wyatt 0).

Duddingston won 6&5

Heriot’s Quad (Innes Christie and Dave Campbell 0; John Archibald and Scott Johnston 1); Heriot’s (Sam Hall and Steven Sinclair 2; Stuart Langlands and Scott Dickson 0),

Heriot’s won by one hole

Final

Duddingston (Jamie Duguid and Allyn Dick 6; David Miller and Connor Scott 0); Heriot’s (Sam Hall and Steven Sinclair 0; Stuart Langlands and Scott Dickson 2).

Duddingston won 4&2