Alex takes Vale trophy in style
THE Redmoor Holden Trophy is an annual event contested by Reddish Vale, Heaton Moor, Denton and Houldsworth Golf Clubs.
It is played over two legs each year with the host clubs varying in successive years and the format sees three of the best four Stableford scores counting for each team.
Reddish Vale hosted the first leg with their star being Mike Oates who posted a best-of-the-day 38 points to help the home team to a good score of 97 points.
Vale stepped up the pace in the second leg at Heaton Moor as their fab four of Captain Tony Barnes, President Derek Wilson, manager Dave Sanders and past Captain Ian Doyle carding a fine haul of 103 points for a winning score of 200.
It is the first time that Reddish Vale has won the trophy since 2000 and a delighted Dave Sanders said: “The three best just got us past the winning post and thanks to the players who managed to get us in the lead in the first round including top scorer Mike Oates.”
The Reddish Vale Trophy attracted a big field of over 80 players from across the region and the convincing winner was Andrew Rexstraw from Romiley Golf Club with his card of 78-11=67.
It left him three shots clear of Andrew Keane, Jack Brooks and Steve Daley and the top Vale player was Nick Carroll with 71.
Romiley’s men enjoyed an Exchange day with Reddish Vale as they played a team competition won by Mark Jones’ team with 81 points two more than Ian Smith’s team and Peter Milnes’ team.
Back at Romiley they played for the Rhodesian Trophy which had a clear winner in Nick Madden with 38 points, three more than D Lawton, Joe Smith, J Mawdsley, M Reid and Phil Roberts.
Romiley ladies were in medal mode with Audrey Jones winning a cpo on 77 from Sally Hebden.
The coveted Israel Sidebottom Trophy at Disley was won by five-handi- capper Simon Wright with his neat 68 taking him three shots clear of Dave Brown, Ian Eeles, Neil Curry, Warrick Dawson and Simon Carter.
A Pink Stableford for Disley Ladies was led in by J Nesbitt with 36 points ahead of D Eyre 35 and I Fell and J Esplin, both 34.
Medal action for Cheadle’s men had cricket legend Chris Maudsley bossing division one with 61 from Martin Lloynd 62 and Bill Venables 64.
In division two John Sandford was unstoppable with his swinging 57 being seven shots clear of Peter Duggan.
A singles Stableford for Cheadle ladies was won by Irene Wright with 32 points from Gill Day 27.
The Club Trophy at Gatley was won by John Hardman who went clickety click to finish three ahead of Chris Whitehead, Graham Fletcher and Keith Paterson.
Gatley ladies played a singles Stableford with Marie Gordon in firm control with 30 points from Angela Griffiths 26 and Pamela McKeon 25.
Heaton Moor’s men played for the Mauldeth Trophy and it needed a cpo on 65 to see Jon Milner into top spot from Mark Stonehouse with Peter Milner a shot off the pace.
Medal play for Moor’s ladies saw Pauilne Poole win a cpo on 79 from Jill Howarth, one less than Doreen Roberts.
The Vets Cup at New Mills was taken by Arthur Oliver with his nett 66 seeing him first past the post from Rod Taylor 68 and Ian Harding 71.
The Whittington Plate for Mellor and Townscliffe mixed pairs was won by Jacqueline and Chris Lee on 66.0 from Sheila Young and Alan Little 67.8 and Jean Rogerson and Neil Clark 69.6.
Medal action for M and T’s men had division one won at a canter by Darren Lytham with 60, four less than Stephen Crosthwaite.
In division two Danny Jameson posted 67 to finish one ahead of Paul Taylor and Philip Cooper.
The Manchester and District Golf Alliance’s Inter Club Knock Outs are the biggest of their kind in the country and they often provide some thrilling nerve-jangling finishes on finals day.
The Archie Preston Trophy for Mixed Foursomes has been played for over 20 years and grown in popularity with a great entry of clubs each season.
This year was no exception with over 80 teams looking to make finals day at Pleasington Golf Club who provided a magnificent setting for both teams and their supporters.
Pleasington won the trophy in 2015 and the winning club host the final in the following year.
Looking to take the coveted trophy were Tytherington, one of the early winners of the trophy, and Sale who have picked up plenty of team trophies in recent years including the Bell Cup, the City Glass Foursomes and the Mersey League.
The first match in the competition features the Captain and Lady Captain of each club and David Moore and Maria Walmsley of Sale gave their team an early boost as they won their match on the 20th hole against Penny Clark and Gareth Lover and set the tone for another dramatic day.
Janet Ions and Neil MacLeod levelled for Tytherington with a oneup win against Martin Ash and Jenny Page.
Sale regained the lead with a 6/4 win for John Russell and Gill Ross and youngsters Mark Marshall and Elly Rawthore increased the lead with a big 8/7 win over Gary Cook and Eileen Jones.
But Tytherington showed their battling spirit with wins for Stephen Pinnington and Jane Ambler, two up against Mike Smith and Sue Barrett, a score repeated by Leigh Turner and Carole Ryder against Ian Bullough and Rebecca Hyde.
So it all now rested on the last match on the course as Tytherington went to the 18th green one up and needed a two-foot putt for a half that would have won the trophy but it was missed to take the game into sudden death between Sale’s Mobi Rawthore and Caroline Croxton and Ian Mathers and Anne Dutoy of Tytherington.
The thriller went to the 21st hole before Mobi and Caroline secured victory for their club who won the trophy for the first time and will host the final in 2017.
Sale Captain David Moore said: “It has been a remarkable year for Sale with the ladies section winning the Mersey Shield and the Mens first and second teams retained the Mersey League title.
“The team spirit was tremendous at Pleasington with a never-say-die attitude in last ditch wins in away matches in the quarter and semi-finals and it showed again in a nail-biting finish.
“We are the first club in the Mersey Valley to win this wonderful trophyanother great achievement!”