KINGTON Golf Club Seniors’ Open attracted a good field of players from as far apart as Aberystwyth and the Wrekin.

It was very much a day of two halves with the earlier players enjoying reasonable weather and the later players experiencing very wet conditions. Unsurprisingly, those who drove off at about nine in the morning emerged as the prize winners.

First in the Gross section were Ron Davies-Jones and Andy Edey on 75 (Kington/Ludlow). In second place were Ian Scott and Mike Lloyd - 80 (Kington) and third (81) Rob Pritchard and Phil Jordan also from the host club.

The Nett (Stableford) result had three pairs locked together on 37 points and was won on countback by Howard Perry and Bert Meredith (Kington), with Tony Guest and Ray Chambers from Leominster second, and Mac Kidd and Mike Goddard (Kington) third. Neares-the-pin prizes went to John Jones from Builth on hole 12, Clive Warrington (Ludlow) for hole 18, and most impressively of all Charles Picken from The Monmouthshire finishing three inches from the cup on hole 5. The longest drive award on hole 16 went to Brian Matthews from the Herefordshire Golf Club for the over 70s and Andy Edey from Ludlow for the under 70s.

The Kington Seniors’ September Medal saw Joe James coming out on top of Division 1 with a round of 84-14-70. Frankie Burke came second with 85-15-70 and Ray Kellard (88-15-73) was third. The comfortable winner in Division 2 was Ken Canton (97-24-73), second Craig Mayo with 98-20-78, and third Dick Lee with 108-27-81.

Cradoc Golf Club’s Midweek Competition attracted 30 entrants but was reduced to 16 holes because of the treacherous conditions underfoot on the 10th and 11th holes. Nine-handicapper Dai Lewis emerged as the winner with 33 points from Rod Bowen, second, on 31 off 8. Martyn Jones was third on 30 playing off 7.

Cradoc’s Matchplays moved a step closer to completion with the final of the Rabbits competition for handicappers over 18 being won by Robert Hudman who beat Alex Morgan.

Cradoc Seniors’ disappointing friendly match form continued with a five-and-a-half to two-and-a-half home defeat by Belmont Seniors. Graham Harris and Ray Morgan won 2 & 1, while Derek Lloyd and Tony Bell won 4 & 3. Bob Hughes halved his singles match. Of the five losses, four were decided on the 17th green. The Seniors will be hoping for a return to winning ways when they take on Pontardawe at The Gower in their South Wales Seniors Classic Cup Final.

At Burghill Valley, Adrian Lunt took top spot in the Seniors’ Division 1 Medal with a nett 65 strokes (86-21-65). Runner-up was Terry Bottomley (89-19-70) and Brian Dix was third on 93-20-73. Brian McDonnell was the victor in Division 2 with a score of 96-25-71, Tom Inglis second on 101-27-74 and Arnie Morley third with 98-23-75. Fred Soobhany won the Lowest Gross with 88 strokes.

It was a particularly good week for Arnie Morley who followed up his triumph in the David Mathias Putting Competition on 26 putts with a win in the Captain’s Away Day with 36 Stableford points. The Division 1 Stableford competition was won by Mike Hooper with an excellent 39 points. Jeff Kramer beat Stuart Randall on countback to take second place with both players finishing on 35 points. In Division 2, David Bateman claimed top place with 33 points. George Bissell and Barry Watkins both scored 28 points to take second and third places respectively.

At Leominster, the Bob Proctor Cup was held in slightly curtailed fashion over 16 holes. The winners with 40 points were Shane Jones and Martin Powell. Second place went to Kevin Room and Gerald Cooke with 38 points, and third were Paul Creasey and Bob Holloway on 37 points.

Amongst the Seniors competing in the September Medal, the most conclusive winner was John Haynes in Division 3. The 24-handicapper netted a round of 77 to beat Geoff Skelton (111-28-83) into second place and Colin Barnard (107-23-84) in third. Division 1 saw a victory for Ray Chambers (73-5-68), with Bill Brown beating Richard Cattermole for second place after a countback - both players finishing two strokes behind Chambers.

Division 2 was won by Tony Guest (86-18-68) on a countback from Ian Robertson (83-15-68). Andrew Timmer was third with 90-20-70, also after a countback.

A week later 150 members teed off in support of Peter Morris’s Captain’s Day. Although the course was playing long in wet conditions under glowering skies, several good scores were recorded. In the 0-12 section, Dan Davies was the winner with a highly commendable 41 points. Second place was filled by Terry Webb on 40 points, with Steve Codd one point behind in third.

Mike Boutcher led the way in the 13-18 section. Level with Wayne Barton on 36 points, his success was determined by countback. Billy Harris pipped Tony Guest for third spot by the same method on 35 points.

In the 19-28 section, Malcolm Davies was the day’s most comfortable winner with 38 points, two ahead of Norman Greener and Tony Williams third also on 36 points.

The prize for the longest drive among the under 50s went to Kevin Gibbons, while Dave Stephens won the over 50s award.

Graham Leader won the Captain’s Day Prize with 44 points.

Leominster secured a 3-0 victory over Shifnal in the Shropshire & Herefordshire Union of Golf Clubs, Ken Smith Trophy.

Richard Cattermole and Ray Chambers beat Dave Morgan and Graham Roberts 4 and 3.

Ken Watson and James Lindsay beat Bob Clarkson and Mike Edwards 4 and 3.

Terry Richards & John Hinchliffe beat Bill Cox and partner 3 and 2.

Leominster were therefore 3-0 and 11 holes winners.

After losing two friendly fixtures to the weather, Ross Golf Club Seniors captain Tim Rigden and his squad were keen to return to winning ways against their visiting Monmouth counterparts.

Jim Rees and his team, seeking to avenge an earlier home defeat by Ross, got off to a good start with a well deserved half in the first match.

Unfortunately, the Welsh challenge faltered badly and Ross took full advantage against their close rivals.

The South Herefordshire club went on to complete an emphatic win by six-and-a-half to one half.