YORKSHIRE Union of Golf Clubs’ president Eric Wainwright has praised the work of junior co-ordinators on the back of a big season for the county.

Wainwright, who is coming to the end of his term, was speaking at the Bradford & District Union of Golf Clubs’ annual dinner and prize presentation at the Midland Hotel in Bradford.

Proposing the toast to the Bradford & District Union of Golf Clubs, he said: “We (Yorkshire) won the National League, the Boys’ National Team Championship, the Men’s National Team Championship, the Brabazon Trophy (by Nick Poppleton) and the Carris Trophy (by Barclay Brown).

“We appreciate that this success all starts with the junior club co-ordinators.”

This is the Yorkshire Union’s 125th anniversary, and Wainwright revealed that there will be a new Nine-Hole Championship competition for clubs in Yorkshire in 2019, as well as a commemorative book to celebrate the Union’s milestone.

Bradford & District Union of Golf Clubs’ president Graeme Anderson, responding to that toast and the second person from East Bierley to hold that office, said that there had been 38 competitions, including matchplay events, over the course of the 2018 Bradford season and that Cleckheaton’s Chris Foster would be replacing Martin Gaffney as Bradford Union team captain.

He also asked the audience to remember the efforts of Scratch League competitions’ secretary Colin Taylor, who has passed away.

Jimmy Sidney (Clayton), senior vice-president of the Bradford Union, proposed the toast to the guests, and Halifax comedian Pete Emmett responded.

Howard Thorpe (Bingley St Ives), past president of the Bradford Union, was Master of Ceremonies.

Awards – Yorkshire Matchplay champion: Max Berrisford (Skipton). Yorkshire Club Foursomes Championship: Terry Brushwood & Andy Town (Bingley St Ives).

Bradford honours – Open: Dan Thomas (Shipley). Karl Curran Trophy: Terry Brushwood (Bingley St Ives), presented by former Telegraph & Argus sports reporter Bill Marshall. Amateur Strokeplay: Dane Bairstow (West Bradford). Amateur Matchplay: Andy Town (Bingley St Ives). Club Foursomes: Terry Brushwood & Andy Town (Bingley St Ives). Team Championship: Bradford. Captain’s Salver: James Darcy (Northcliffe). Nine-Hole Club Championship: Ghyll. Champion Club: Branshaw.

Men’s League – Division One: Cleckheaton. Division Two: West Bradford. Division Three: Bracken Ghyll.