IAN Fraser and his partner George Beattie found the shortened Leominster course to their liking when they posted a fine nett 52 to win the Daily Mail qualifying competition.

With the river holes at Ford Bridge still holding standing water, the event was played over 15 holes.

Daily Mail qualifier: 1 Ian Fraser and George Beattie 64-11-52, 2 Richard Francis and Martin Davies 68-14-53, 3 Roger Griffiths and Ray Powell 69-14-54.

The ladies also played the short course for their February stableford. Results, silver division: 1 Lesley Turbutt 28 pts, 2 Pat Owen 23; bronze division: 1 Dot Rogers 22.

n Burghill Valley senior Bob Faulkner made light of his 85 years to win the annual Age-Less competition yet again.

In this unusual medal event the competitor uses his age as a handicap and Faulkner swept to victory with a splendid nett nine, six clear of runner-up John Tyler, who beat Dennis Brown on a card countback.

Unusual competitions seem to be in vogue at Burghill with the ladies playing a waltzing stableford, a format for teams of three in one, two, three time, where one score counts on the first, two on the second, three on the third, and then the sequence is repeated.

Sue Lodge, Audrey Wintour and Betty Thomas were in step to the tune of a winning 94 points. Rita Morris, Glenda Sandford and Margaret Newcombe carded 93 for second place, beating Joyce Busby, Wendy Jones and Anne Allen on a countback.

n Competitors in Kington's better-ball winter pairs ook full advantage of Spring-like weather and a course in excellent conditions to post remarkable scores.

Junior member Matthew Burgoyne joined Vic Baggott for a superb 52 stableford points, two clear of runners-up Bob Bowen and his junior partner Nick Crum. The in-form Murray Macintosh and Mike Waygood took third place with 48 points, beating Mike Richards and Tom Moorhouse on a card countback.

The senior team lost the first semi-final leg of the Ken Smith Trophy, a scratch team event, 3-0 at home to Ludlow.

Senior Winter league, division 1: 1 Richard Archer 42 pts, 2 Bob Kelley 42, 3 Joe James 39; division 2: 1 John Allen 44, 2 Derek Herbert 42, 3 Wilf Hughes 37.

Barbara Radbourne topped the list in the ladies' latest 12-hole Winter Accumulator with a fine 28 stableford points.

Results, silver: 1 Gill Lloyd 24 pts, 2 Carolyn Jones 24, 3 Jane Burgoyne 24; bronze: 1 Barbara Radbourne 28, 2 Enid Crow 25, 3 Anita Dart 25.

n Hereford Municipal's Jack Larkin is hoping to keep his good form going when he partners junior colleague Mark Keddie in a National Junior Pairs competition at Burhill, Surrey, where the youngsters will be aiming to win a place at the Nick Faldo Coaching Academy.

Larkin tuned up for the event by winning the February stableford with 36 points, two points clear of runner-up Alan Leake, who beat Lesley Turbutt on a card countback.