For the second time in ten years, when the trophy was first introduced, there are joint winners of the Harrogate and District Union of Golf Clubs Golfer-of-the-Year.

Events counting towards this award include Union Championships, Inter Club and Union Team Matches.

It comes as no surprise that one of the winners is 16 year-old Tom Hesketh of Oakdale. Tom has won numerous club and union competitions this season, and is to represent England Boys v Scotland this weekend.

The other receipient, sharing 305 points, is Chris Hughes of Ilkley. Chris won the prestigious Ogden Trophy in June, and is a regular member of the Harrogate Union team.

Third with 200 points is the popular Bedale player Roger Parry, and fourth with five points fewer is Carl Simpkin of Ripon City, the winner in 1999. Tom and Chris will be presented with the trophy at the Union's annual dinner at Pannal Golf Club on October 7.

Chris Hughes is hoping to forge a career on the professional circuit. Chris took up the game as a 10 year-old under the guidance of his father Nick.

He took him down to Ilkley Golf Club for the Saturday morning junior sessions.The young player quickly whittled his handicap down from 26 to 14.

It was in 1997 that Chris won his first major prize in an open competition by landing the President's Cup and the awards have come thick and fast since then.

Chris is currently the No 3 player in the Harrogate Union but he is looking to carve out a career for himself in the professional ranks.

There is plenty of encourage-ment for him when he reflects on the success of Ilkley members such as Ryder Cup hero Colin Montgomerie and James Hepworth on the bigger stage.

UNION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CUP: This competition is open to Union Executives, Vice Presidents, Past Presidents, Club Captains and Union Representatives. The format for this year's event was a full handicap stableford.

This year's winner at Oakdale was Paul Ridyard, the Otley Captain, with 41 points. One of Paul's playing partners was Ted Moore, the 1994 Union President, who donated the trophy during his year in office.

OTLEY: An impressive number of ladies battled the very windy conditions to participate in the monthly stableford. The Ladies' vice-captain, Mrs Diane Pattison, led by example and won the Second Division. Results were:

First Division - S Atkins (18), 31 points; A Wilson (20), 26. Second Division - P D Pattison (24), 27 points; H Marshall (26), 25. Third Division - P Bradley (36), 22 points; C Blears (36), 15.

The Chevin Cup, now firmly established as a one round competition having reverted from being played over two successive weekends, attracted the usual number of entries. A very closely contested competition resulted in countbacks having to be employed to decide the first three places.

Results - 1, J Smith and D Midgley (8/6), 63; 2, C Palmer and S Thornley (14/15), 63; 3, P Darby and I Thomson (14/11), 63.

COOKRIDGE HALL: With the summer season drawing to a close, this week's competition was a full handicap stableford, and the penultimate qualifier for the Top Senior. The three or four still in the running for this award were seeking that dream round that would put them ahead of the also rans and into top spot.

Peter Walker's win, with 39 points, will not quite do that for him but nevertheless a win is a win, and very welcome too! Two behind Peter was Dave Roberts and third place was hotly contested between Colin Wilson and Tony Cotton who both achieved 36 points, but Colin pipped Tony, as he had a slightly better last six holes.

Horsforth: The final of the Horsforth Cup was won by K Boocock, runner-up was J Pearson.

Saturday saw the first of the Christmas Fayre competitions in a Turkey Snowball, with one score to count on the first six holes, two scores on the next six holes and three scores to count on the last six holes. 44 teams entered.

Results: 1, N Luke (21), P Freeman (13) and P Shilton (8) 82 points; 2, J Richmond (20), B Gill (14) and A Padden (14) 81; 3, P Hamill (25), B Coverdale (27) and D Coverdale (17) 76; 4, D Brown (15), G Palmer (14) and D Ashton (12) 74; 5, A Jones (4), M Harrison (11) and R Verey (13) 71, best back nine.

The Ladies' September Extra Medal was played in very windy conditions, with 27 entries.

Results: Division One - 1, N Beck (17) 76; 2, F Hockin (19) 83; 3, C Sudron (19) 83. Division Two - 1, J Allan (21) 76; 2, W Dickinson (23) 76; 3, K Kershaw (24) 78. Division Three - 1, J Rothwell (36) 82; 2. J.Scott (32) 83; 3, B.Tomlinson (32) 85.

Annual Gold Medal, 36 hole competition: Division One - 1, N Beck 80 + 83, 163; 2, G Spencer 82 + 84, 166. Division Two - 1, W Dickinson 77 + 87, 164; 2, K Kershaw 82 + 83, 165. Division Three - 1, P Ryan 79 + 80, 159; 2, H Freeman 86 + 77, 163.