SHARON Helps made a little bit of golfing history at Hereford Municipal Club when she became the first woman to win an open event.

The club's junior organiser, playing off a handicap of 21, posted a fine 40 stableford points to hold off the male challenge of runner-up Jack Larkin, on 39, who pushed Brian Dix into third place on a card countback.

Terrence McDonald-Smith was fourth with 37, and Averil Magee finished ladies' runner-up with 35.

Senior captain Eric Williams won the November 12-hole medal with a nett 42, two clear of runner-up John Davis, with Bill Waygood a further shot behind in third place.

n Ross-on-Wye lady captain Maureen Turner chose a Bowmaker competition as her final event.

This was clearly an inspired choice as she and her partners, Joan Malim and Mary Palmer, posted a winning score of 69 stableford points in a competition where the two best scores counted on each hole.

In thanking all members for their support throughout the year, the captain reported that the Christmas Fair was a great success and raised in excess of £1,600. This lifted the final total for her chosen charity, The Parkinson's Disease Society, to an impressive £2,200.

n Recent ladies' golf at Burghill Valley has been fraught with peril, with members taking part in both Yellow Peril and Pink Peril stableford competitions.

Both events were for teams of three. In the Yellow Peril competition the yellow ball had to count on every hole, plus one other, and in the Pink Peril competition, in aid of Breast Cancer Awareness, all three scores counted.

Results, Yellow Peril: 1 Sybil Prout, Barbara O'Sullivan and Cynthia Howard 74 pts, 2 Caroline Bunyan, Sally Davis and Carla Doyle 74, 3 Lynda Vaughan, Pauline Smith and Irene Gallagher 73.

Pink Peril: 1 Ann Allen, Wendy Jones and Jane Salter 114 pts, 2 Rita Buffey, Anne Price and Anne Towne 101, 3 Trish Clews, Tilly Hare and Sally Thomas 100.

Ken Thornton won the seniors' November medal with 94-26-68, edging out runner-up Chris Furber, 91-22-69, with Dave Goodall third with 89-18-71.

John Tyler fired the best gross score of 87.

New senior captain Wilf Jones made Ken Williams happy when he drove the ball 217 yards on his drive-into-office as Williams won the sweep for the best estimate. All proceeds from the drive-in will go to the Acorns Children's Hospice Appeal.

Senior November stableford: 1 Max Cooke 41 pts, 2 Brian Blower 38, 3 Cliff Evans 36.

n Jean Griffin beat Mary Parker to take the Sonia Davies Knockout Cup at Brockington in a closely-fought final. Joyce Donaldson and Barbara Andrews were the beaten semi-finalists.

Children in Need stableford: 1 Brenda Loose 43 pts, 2 Jane Cowell 41, 3 Jean Pierce 41, 4 Maureen Brodie 39.

n Summerhill captain Chris Morris reported on a successful season at a well-attended annual general meeting.

His team had won nine and drew three of the 17 matches played, with one match, against neighbouring Rhosgoch, abandoned due to torrential rain.

Bob Harris was confirmed as the new captain and one of his first duties was to give a present to stalwart George Long to mark his 80th birthday.

Mike Harros was the winner of seniors captain Dennis Clark's annual day out at The Monmouthshire, Abergavenny. Ron Rosier won the longest drive and Evan Bayliss, nearest the pin.

n Henry Topham fired a nett 67, the best score of the day, to win his section in Sapey's November midweek medal.

Results, division 1 (0-14): 1 Jonathan Briggs 77-8-69, 2 Sean Sewell 83-14-69, 3 Richard Holgate 80-10-70; division two: 1 Henry Topham 86-19-67, 2 Tony Hamilton 89-17-72, 3 Brian Daly 89-15-74.

n Peter Bruton and David Hart took advantage of the weather, a Kington course in good condition, and a full handicap allowance to post a winning 50 stableford points in a winter better-ball competition where the pairs were drawn prior to a shot-gun start.

Phil Jones and Adrian Gale took second spot with 48 points, beating third-placed Dave Haley and Barry Wilson on a card countback.

Club captain Derek Brookes fired a top score of 44 stableford points in the third competition of the Senior Winter series.

Results, division 1: 1 Alan Maude 40 points, 2 Reg Burgoyne 40, 3 Craig Mayo 37; division 2: 1 Derek Brookes 44, 2 John Weaver 40, 3 Wilf Hughes 38.

n Neil Lloyd and Lee Bright combined to win the latest Belmont Winter League pairs stableford with a fine 46 points, one clear of runners-up Martin Dent and Steve Hughes, with Luke Williams and Dave Lilley third on 44.

Seniors' November medal, division one (0-16): 1 Bob Ing 82-16-66, 2 Paul Gosling 78-10-68; division two (17-28): 1 Colin Rowan 94-27-67, 2 Lofty Wiseman 87-19-68.

Senior Texas Scramble: 1 Alan May, Ron Fell and Bernard Parsons 64.2, 2 Brian Turner, Tony Ball and Tony Body 64.8.