The SPA hosted their 75th Anniversary Summer Party, in collaboration with RICS Matrics, last Thursday 6th July 2023 on the John Lewis Roof Terrace, the weather held strong with a balmy evening, kindly sponsored by Lester Aldridge and Bargate Homes. Around 130 property professionals from across Southampton attended the event, with all tickets sales going to the 2023 SPA Charity, Scratch. Attendees heard from Mike Smith, Senior Manager (Operations) at Scratch to share a little of the work the charity does in the Southampton area, followed by SPA Chair, Emma Bartlett. Items were available to purchase throughout the duration of the event for attendees to donate to Scratch for their ‘home packs’. Read more about the fantastic work Scratch do here: Scratch Fighting Local Poverty Introducing Scratch and their Projects The SPA Charity for 2023 – Southampton Property Association. The event raised a grand total of over £800 for the charity, which will be gratefully received. The committee would like to thank the sponsors and attendees for a fantastic atmosphere at a new, unique venue which was the perfect way to celebrate the SPA’s 75th Anniversary! The next event will be our Friday Frolics on July 28th, at Figurati, Southampton. Hope to see you there!

Basking in glorious sunshine the course at Meon Valley Golf & Country Club was all set up for the Annual SPA Golf Day with 76 players battling to become champions for 2023. After some great golf and some not so good golf 2 teams came out tied on top with 90 points with the eventual winners being the team from Ridge & Partners LLP by virtue of countback on a better back nine. Following golf there was a chance to network, enjoy a 2 course buffet and prize presentation. Our thanks must go to our sponsors Vision Architects, RB Private Finance and the South Coast Commercial Property Show. Full Results: Winners – Ridge & Partners LLP – Steve Cross, Will Wyley, Libby Hillings, Ryan Greenhalgh. Runners Up – Scot White Hookins – Nick Groves, Tony Deacon, Justin Galloway, Paul Conway. 3rd Place – Simpson Hilder Associates – Dan Preddy, James Thompson, Pete Smith, Rob Horton. Nearest the Pin 7th – Rob Cude, Highwood Group Nearest the Pin 12th – Roy Partridge, SPA Longest Drive – Dan Preddy, Simpson Hilder Associates Winners – Ridge & Partners LLP Runners Up – Scot, White & Hookins £rd Place – Simpson Hilder Associates Nearest the Pin 7th – Rob Cude Nearest The Pin 12th – Roy Partridge Longest Drive – Dan Preddy

After a 3-year Pandemic gap, SPA held their 2023 Clay Shoot on Friday 19th May.  The venue was Beacon Hill Farm, the new home of the long-established Acorn Shooting School, owned and run by Des Sturgess. The threatened rain never happened, although at one point there were thunderstorms all around, and the shooters enjoyed dry weather shooting, with ample refreshments provided all afternoon. 15 Teams of 4 turned out, shooters varying in ability from complete novices to Olympic Standard. Acorn provided an excellent, and at times challenging, variety of clays from 7 different stands, over which each shooter attempted 50 clays. In addition we had the Team Flush, and this year thanks to the generous sponsorship of Simpson Hilder, each Team had the excitement of a 100-clay flush. The scores were totalled at the end of the day and the team prizes went to: TEAM FLUSH (sponsored by SIMPSON HILDER) was won by BADDOW’S BANGERS, Mike Pennock, David Allsop, Alex Foster and Paul Dunlop. RUNNER- UP TOP TEAM (sponsored by SPA) was GUNS AND DOZES, Jonathan Brown, Alice Toop, Jennie Cartwright and Andrew Watling. THE DAVID OLDS MEMORIAL PRIZE along with prizes provided  by DUTTON GREGORY went to this year’s TOP TEAM, which was BLAZING SADDOS, Mark Hiskett, Howard Jenkins, Harry Cliffe-Roberts and Alan Sydney. This year we decided to make the awarding of the Top Gun prize (a magnificent glass trophy and magnum of wine both provided by E3 Consulting) more of a “spectator sport” and the four highest individual scorers of the afternoon were entered into a shoot off, watched closely by all of the other entrants. The four highest scorers were Jennie Cartwright, Ollie Noble, Harry Cliffe-Roberts and Mark Hiskett (scores 45,37,39 and 37 respectively). The shoot-off comprised 3 pairs each of very difficult clays. The first round eliminated Mark, but Jennie, Ollie and Harry drew with 5 out of 6 clays hit each. The second round eliminated Harry, and the third round produced a winner by one clay – Ollie. RUNNER-UP TOP GUN (sponsored by 820 GIN)                    JENNIE CARTWRIGHT TOP GUN (sponsored by E3 CONSULTING)                            OLLIE NOBLE      Full results table: TEAM TOTAL TEAM SCORE (EXCLUDES FLUSH) TEAM FLUSH HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL Baddow’s Bangers 108 73 29 Blazing Saddos 122 63 39 Shoot Happens 75 55 33 Clays of Glory 97 58 34 Guns and Dozes 115 68 45 The Hammer Falls 93 68 35 Clay Protection Society 64 65 20 Triggernometry 66 40 24 Darcy 45 NS 17 Send the Dog 91 49 37 Banditos 102 69 35 Pooping Pigeon Poppers 69 66 24 Blazing Bullets 99 55 34 Shotguns, Bricks & Mortar 75 56 24 Last Blast 101 62 29 A HUGE thanks again to our sponsors: Top Team BLAZING SADDOS Runners Up Top Team – GUNS & DOZES Team Flush Winners – BADDOWS BANGERS Top Gun – Ollie Noble Runner Up Top Gun – Jennie Cartwright Team Flush in Action

The SPA and Omnia Consulting hosted the second Solent Speed Networking Event on the 20th April 2023, sponsored by Paris Smith LLP. The event was held at the Ageas Bowl, with sunny views across the pitch. Around 40 property professionals attended the event to make new connections and learn some key networking skills for their future careers.  The session started with networking tips from leadership coach, Astrid Davies, to set the room at ease before the structured networking began. Over 90 minutes of fun and relaxed networking followed, which allowed each delegate to meet up to 28 new people across the session and engage in meaningful conversations to get to know other local property professionals. We have received fantastic feedback following the event, with many requests for further events such as these in the near future…… watch this space!!

Another well attended Friday Frolics, held at the Grand Cafe in Southampton last Friday lunchtime 31st March. Entertained admirably by Tim Clarke from our sponsors for the day Harrison Clarke, Chartered Surveyors in Woolston.

The SPA have been challenged to a couple of cricket matches for 2023. The annual cricket match against Portsmouth Property Association and a challenge match from the BPA (Bournemouth Property Association). No experience required but if you have played for Hampshire then great, we would love to hear from you! All abilities, men and ladies. Matches are usually followed by a BBq and drinks and a great opportunity to network. If you would like to join/sign up, please register your interest here.

Over 150 revellers attended the annual SPA Charity Ball at St Mary’s Stadium on Thursday 4th November. A night packed full of entertainment and fun raised a huge amount for the very worthy Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, the SPA’s chosen charity for the year. The evening kicked off the traditional game of Heads and Tails, with a silent auction and raffle compared by Russell Parker. The 3 course meal was followed by dancing by the fantastic live band Ruby Entertainment, with the evening finishing at midnight.