Club captain Colin Hodges enjoyed twin success at Basildon over two days.

In the North of Thames qualifying round for the National Association of Public Golf Courses national championship, he recorded the best net score in a field of over 100, the ten-handicapper shooting a gross 80 for a 70.

He also took an award for the best net score in his handicap group.

The new towners fielded nine players and enjoyed success with four of them. Ron Wilkes had the best gross score with a 76 and Dave de la Haye was runner-up in category two handicap group.

Ian Flowers also bloomed with a 73 for a runners-up spot in his handicap group.

The following day, in one of the club's major competitions for the Yardley Cup, Hodges won the bogey with a score of plus seven. He actually finished level with Steve Hutchinson, but triumphed on countback with an incredible plus six on the last nine.

John Wilson emerged from a cluster of players on plus four to take third place on countback.

Castle Point's Millennium Bowl, a Texas Scramble, was won on a magnificent nine under par 60 by the team of Laurence Thomas, Perry Lodge, Tony Adams and John Gale.

A very good turnout of 17 teams raised £170 for the Captain's Charity, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

Charity cheer Smith takes route 66 to Cup glory

Belfairs' Charity Cup went to David Smith (net 66), two shots clear of Harry Smith (68).

Phil Hance was third, beating Ray Beadell on countback after both had net 70s. Belfairs won the Martin Foreman Shield for the third year running when the cadets beat their Southend counterparts 218-157.

Captain's prize for Kreyling

Stan Ferguson, club captain at Southend, held his own tournament and the 18-hole medal saw Paul Kreyling (11) take the top award - the Captain's Prize.

He had 13 pars and five bogeys for an outstanding net 64. Runner-up was former secretary Ray Threadgold (13) with 66 from Roy Thomas (10) 67.

Thomas took the longest drive prize and nearest the pin was competition secretary Alex Macdonald who, unprepared for the shot after rushing from the changing room and with no time for a practice swing, stuck the ball just four feet from the hole with a wind assisted effort.

Perfect round for Peter

Left-hander Peter Leslie held off some stiff challenges to land Rochford Hundred's highly prestigious Centenary Salver.

Leslie, who played off 10 handicap, chalked up 41 Stableford points to pip on-song Tony Hadley and Bert Freeman who both finished on 40.

Leslie had an amazing up-and-down round firing more birdies than pars and also suffering two double bogeys and a blob.

His birdies came on the 3rd, 9th, 11th, 14th, 15th and 16th while he also added five pars.

Hadley, fresh from success in the July medal which saw his handicap cut to two, was very consistent with birdies on the 6th, 14th and 16th plus 14 pars for a gross two under par 70.

Obviously Leslie and Hadley were the top duo in Division 1 while Bobby Locke edged out Geoff Coote on countback for Division 2 when they both scored 39 points.

Freeman tasted Division 3 success ahead of Bill Bragg, Ray Horn, Len Daden and Ken Trusler who all scored 37.

Brockes snatches win

There was a thrilling finish to Sally Smith's Lady Captain's Day at Rochford when the top prize was only decided after a countback.

In the end Margaret Brockes (91-16=75) squeezed in to take the honours.

Best scratch score on a blustery, cold day was from Judith Scoging with 86 while bronze scratch honours went to Pauline Richardson with a gross 105.

Other prizes went to Jackie Dawbarn, wife of the club's vice-captain, who triumphed in the Silver section with a 97-19=78.

Hammond captures captain's honours

Carol Hammond reigned supreme to win the top honours at Boyce Hill Lady Captain's Day.

She took the Captain's prize with a net 68 while scratch honours were captured by Dolores Foreman (net 80).

In the Silver Division, handicap honours went to Gill Blake (72) while Margaret Willett beat Chris Noden and Maria Barham for runners-up spot on countback. Jackie Soilleux was top putter on 29.

For Bronze Division 21-27, Jo Wilson won with a net 69 from Lin Martin (73) and Sally Garvey (75). Lil Page was queen of the greens with 31 putts.

In Bronze 28-45 Rita Moore (net 71) emerged triumphant from Brenda Rogers. She beat Kate Lincoln on countback after both had net 72s. Beryl Whitney and Jean Noble shared the putting honours on 32.

The afternoon competition went to Pat Skeels, Sue Kaye, Dolores Foreman and June Atkins on 37 points. Lil Page, Margaret Pattison, Rochelle Spector and Margaret Cook were tops on the back nine with 41.

The grandmas' prize went to Margaret Cook while Dolores Foreman was top past captain. Jackie Soilleux captured the committee prize. Jean Noble was nearest the pin on the 18th and the mystery prize, for the straightest drive on the 13th, went to main winner Carol Hammond.

Carol was again on form when she partnered Frances Spicer to victory in the Geensomes with 38 points, Jackie Soilleux and Terri Dennis were runners-up on 36.

Meanwhile, Thorpe Hall Ladies played their par competition with Anna Leslie winning the Silver Division on plus two.

The Bronze Division went to Margaret Shields (plus six) from Esme Beales (level). Pat Jeffery (minus two) was third. Brenda Price beat Shirley Dalman on countback for fourth place after both finished minus three.

Peter recovers for big day out

Up and about again - that's Thorpe Hall's Peter Lagden. He's been in Southend Hospital for a small operation and is seen with the superb Kindred Shield his club won in competition.

Now he's preparing to host his Captain's Day at the Thorpe Bay based club on Sunday.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.