A STEADY showing helped Paul Jackson and Paul Smith win Colchester Golf Club’s Curtis Cup.

The duo returned plus eight to claim victory from their nine and 11 handicaps in the competition, played in pairs as a better ball bogey.

With two equal halves their round was not spectacular but it was steady on dry fairways and with the ball running and running, control was the key.

Russell Storey (14) and Ian Parry (eight) were the closest pairing to Jackson and Smith.

They finished just one hole behind on plus seven and safely tied in second place.

There were seven pairings a further hole back on plus six.

In third place were David Latta (10) and Mike Sutton (eight) ahead of the other pairings, who all finished on plus six.

They were Pete Manby (13) and Steve Moore (12), Iain Cruickshank (eight) and Don McBurney (20), Robin Tucker (20) and Mike Akin (14), Mike Blakebrough (10) and Andy Smith (six), along with Mark Culley (eight) and Paul Nunny (13) and Lorrie Austin (7) and Mike Smith (10).

Judith Robertson carded a score of five under par nett to win the ladies’ Charles Bland medal.

From a 16 handicap, she left the field four shots behind to return a 68.

Turning just four shots over, she wavered a little on the start of the back nine but got it under control to birdie the 15th and 16th, to settle for 68 nett. Marilyn Wood (18) was second on 71 tipping Fiona Prentice after the countback.

Gill Minns (17) and Cherie Clark both returned 72s.

Ann Salmon (31) just got the edge over Joan Cotterill (26) in the ladies' Long Handicap Cup.

Salmon’s nett 71 put her two clear of Cotterill and five clear of the chasing pack.

Ann Spurr (33) was fourth, with Hayley Joel (28) in fifth, Joy Bevan (32) sixth and seventh-placed Jill Baker playing off 36, after they all returning scores of 76 nett.

Colchester's men’s senior team enjoyed an 8½-2½ victory at home to Abridge. to progress to the semi-final of the county competition.

While the final score suggests a one-sided affair, the truth was that most matches were hard won.

Eight of the 11 matches went to the 17th or 18th holes.

David Humberstone’s win over Peter Wendleken at 6&5 and John Redden’s 4&3 victory over John Stroud were comprehensive but the rest of the matches were very tight.

Colchester GC team captain Tim Rogers said: “It was a good solid win and we'll go into the semi-final knowing that we have the experience to go on in this competition.

"Whoever we meet it will be tough, as there are no easy wins at this stage.”

Colchester’s Youth Shield (handicapped) team had a fine victory over Thorndon Park at Colchester.

Arian Masud, Theo and Ollie Baker, Charlie Allison and Edward Mason all won, to clinch a 5-0 win.