THE LADIES’ Section at Sapey Golf and Country Club has reached its fundraising target of £2,000 for the MS Society in what has been a very challenging year for the members.

The club was under threat of closure in June before the last minute purchase by Wyldecrest Parks secured the future for the members and staff but not before the Ladies’ Section had shrunk from 43 to less than 25.

Ladies’ Captain Annie Kendrick handed over a cheque for £2,000 to Andy Jarrett, Area Fundraiser for MS Society.

She said: “I’m absolutely amazed that we reached our target. We only actually did two open competitions but the ladies have been so generous in their support, collecting all their 5p pieces in pots, a skittle evening and BBQ which raised lots of money”.

Sapey’s 2018 Captain, Dianne Urquhart, announced that her chosen charity for the coming year would be the West Midlands Air Ambulance.

She said:“It’s something that is really close to my heart as a few years ago I was kicked by one of my horses and I had to be taken to hospital in the air ambulance.

“Since then I have discovered that in this local area three or four of our local farmers have also been taken off to hospital in the air ambulance. It is something that in a rural area is really important and I would just like to raise a bit more money for them as they do a marvellous job”.

The Ladies have set themselves a target of £2,500 for 2018 to help the charity which needs to raise more than £9m a year to keep the service going and its three helicopters airborne.

There were celebrations at Ludlow Golf Club where Steve Wood and Miles Leach took the honours in the first of the Winter Opens.

They chalked up a Betterball score of 42pts, two ahead of Mike Dunn and Andy Davies who were second thanks to a better back nine than rival pairings Jeromy Wilson and Geoff Moor and Andrew MacWhirter and Steve Ross. The next event of the series will take place on Thursday, December 21.

Betterball specialists Phil Kinder and Peter Monk extended their winning habit in the Christmas Poultry Competition when their score of 47pts gave them a two-point cushion from runners-up Andy Ferriday and Mark Childs. Dave Fish and Simon Herdsfield were a shot further back in third.

Des Price and John Newsome both shot 40pts to tie for first place in the latest Seniors Roll-Up. They finished three clear of Eddie Rowland and Dave Isherwood who shared third place. The competition was very well supported with 59 entries.