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Dale Brook and Dane Bairstow, kneeling, are the new Bradford Foursomes 36-Hole Medal champions

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Dane Bairstow is hoping his foursomes triumph with club-mate Dale Brook can land him a place in the Bradford Union representative team.

The West Bradford pair won the Union's first big event of the season - a 36-hole foursomes medal at Branshaw - with a three-over par aggregate of 145 (71, 74).

It came just a week after Bairstow had finished 12th in the highly competitive Hawksworth Trophy and now the 19-year-old has his sights set on breaking into the inter-district side.

He said: "I had hoped to break through last year but they had a strong squad.

"But there are a few missing this year so hopefully I can carry on this form and make my debut for Bradford."

He is sure to have impressed skipper Tim Wade ahead of his first team selection for the match against Halifax/Huddersfield on May 18.

A double bogey at the last prevented Bairstow and Brook from carding a level-par first round but they still held the halfway lead.

And then the pair held it together in awful weather conditions to win by three shots ahead of three groups all on 148.

Steve Mortimer rolls in a putt at Branshaw

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Hollins Hall pair Darren Wallis and Jamie Mountain (74, 74) claimed the runners-up spot on a countback over Keighley's third-placed James Marshall and Andy Fitzpatrick (73, 75) and Bingley St Ives duo Andy Brown and Martin Parnaby (73, 75), who were fourth.

Bairstow said: "We bogeyed the first two and I thought it was going to be one of those days. We played with Sam Jewell and Dan Chadwick, who were scrambling a bit while we were playing solid.

"But we stuck at it and then came a few birdies."

Bairstow's fine start to the campaign - his first since leaving the junior ranks - is all the more impressive considering he had not been able to practise much during the winter.

A broken thumb meant he was out of action for ten weeks until mid-February and he admits it is still a bit painful.

The former Queensbury Upper School pupil paid tribute to the role his 17-year-old partner Brook had played in the triumph.

He said: "Dale has struggled a bit with his game but that is probably the best I've seen him play.

"I remember him still wanting to play for Bradford's junior side last year just after his grandma had died.

"That showed the strong head he has on his shoulders.

"He has great potential. We all get stuck on a plateau at some stage and he's been going through that time but this could well be the turning point for him."

Bairstow was particularly delighted to win some silverware for his club and believes there could be more success around the corner.

He said: "It's great to put West Bradford back on the map as we have not won anything for quite a while."

Team-mates Richard Ellis and Chris Musgrave finished tenth to qualify for the top 16 matchplay stages.

Lidget Green-based Bairstow feels his team can more than hold their own following their return to Division One of the Scratch League.

With Paul Thomas back from Northcliffe and Darryl Berry possibly returning to play amateur golf, Bairstow said: "We could have real depth in our team which is something we've not had."

Best net scores at Branshaw: R1 D Bairstow & D Brook (West Bradford A) 66.5, R2 P Edmondson & J Tetley (Bingley St Ives B) 68.5.

Matchplay Draw: West Bradford A v Hollins Hall B at Shipley; Shipley A v Rawdon B at West Bradford; Bingley St Ives v Northcliffe B at Keighley; Riddlesden A v Bradford A at Baildon; Hollins Hall A v Woodhall Hills A at The Manor; Baildon B v West Bradford B at Rawdon; Keighley B v East Bierley A at Riddlesden; The Manor A v Baildon B at Bingley St Ives. Matches to be played by Monday, June 2.

11:39pm Wednesday 7th May 2008

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