The AGM which was chaired by the Union President Andy Woodhead, covered all the election of officers for the coming year, reports from the Secretary himself, the Treasurer and the Members'  Registrar, was a very positive one with many items on the agenda which were good news about the past present and future of the Union.

Highlights included the victory of the Yorkshire Inter District Union Six Man Team Championship, which included none other than the 2018 President himself, Andy Woodhead (Hessle). Other notable achievements included the election of Jack Maxey (Hornsea) as the Yorkshire Junior Team Captain this coming season, Alan Wright (Hessle) winning the Scratch Championship for the second time in a row, Lewis Hunt (Burstwick) winning the Men's Order of Merit.

A vote of thanks was awarded to Andy Woodhead as the outgoing President, and Chris Clarkson (Brough/Bridlington Links) was elected as his successor for 2019. From this point the new President put it to the floor to elect the rest of the Officers of the Union for another year, without any objections.

Finally, a vote of thanks was given by Edward Clark the for the retiring members of the Executive Steve Thornton and Lesley Davies. The President thanked the press for their continued coverage of Union events and John Deeming gave thanks to Beverley & East Riding Golf Club for provided a fantastic facility to hold the Union meetings and AGM year after year.

In 2018 Maxey won the South of England Boys Championship and was tied 10th in the Scottish Boys Open Championship. He also has considerable match play experience and was a member of the Yorkshire Boys team that won The English Boys County Title at Rockliffe Hall.

A strong team player with an unbeaten record, when leading Yorkshire in the singles games at Rockliffe, impressed both his team mates and County officials. He was also a member of The victorious East Riding Union Team, which secured the 2018 Mens Yorkshire Inter District Union 6 man team title, having won the Junior Yorkshire IDU 6 man team event in 2017.

In 2018 Maxey successfully defended both the East Riding Union boys Matchplay and Strokeplay titles which he had won in 2017.

A member of the 2019 England Golf Boys regional squad Jack Maxey is a respected golfer with an impressive golf CV. We look forward to seeing Jack lead The Yorkshire Boys Team in 2019 and wish him every success.

The day started in overcast and cool conditions, but very little wind!

Unfortunately George Davies injured his arm the day before playing golf at Ganton and had to withdraw, thus allowing Jack Maxey a walk over to the final. The other semi was between Charlie Milner and Tom Duck with a steady start for both players over the first couple of holes, before Charlie took command of the game winning 4 holes to the turn. Unfortunately Tom could not produce a come back and Charlie was through to the final against Jack.

The final was similar with Jack taking control from the first with a birdie start to go 1up. By hole 8 Jack was 3up, but a birdie on 9 and a par on 11 from Charlie pulled the game back to 1up. Jack steadily moved to 3up winning on 16, 3&2 and retaining the trophy for another year.

The match was played in the true spirit of the game and it was a delight to watch. My thanks to all players who have taken part and congratulations to Jack who has had a tremendous year!

The early portents weren’t good for the East Riding preparations as perennial representative Alan Wright had to withdraw with a bad back on the Saturday morning leaving Team Manager and Union President Andy Woodhead having to step into the breach. However, the team meeting on Saturday evening was calm and positive but with an undercurrent of steely determination.

Sunday dawned and early players were at the course by 6:30am. Played over 36 holes of scratch strokeplay, the Championship is decided on the best cumulative total of all 12 cards. Led off by Hornsea’s rising star Jack Maxey at 7:35am, his tee shot on the eighth and his first hole flew unerringly down the middle with a confidence that belied his 17 years. It was business as usual for young Jack.

His team mates didn’t quite set the scoreboard alight but neither were they out of the reckoning. The solid team spirit was personified by Nick Raybould who recovered from a disastrous 7 over after 7 start to complete the rest of his round in 1 under to post a 78 on the par 72 layout.

Lunchtime arrived and talk across the table was positive. Disappointed with some of the performances it was clear that the Union were still in it. Bradford led at half time on 457, closely followed by Harrogate and Sheffield on 458, Leeds on 459 and the East Riding 6 back on 463.

Following Maxey in the afternoon was Burstwick’s Lewis Hunt, a bundle of boundless enthusiasm, who was disappointed with his morning 77. An afternoon 3 over 75 was 2 better, Raybould was 4 better on 74. Brough’s Dan Digby put his morning disappointment behind him when he was 9 better on 73.

The excitement was building as the 2nd round scores came in and were posted on the screen. It was always going to be close, it was a question of who would hold their nerve. Into the back nine the East Riding, on the Howard Palmer “shot watch,” were only 7 over par collectively. Could they go on and win for the first time in 45 years?

Shots started to drift away as tired bodies hindered golf strokes and putts.

Hornsea’s Leigh Gawley, ever consistent, posted a 5 over 77 to beat his morning score by 2. In the clubhouse East Riding topped the leaderboard after first man out Maxey posted a superb 2 under 70 – one better than the morning.

Out on the course in the last group, President and Team Manager Andy Woodhead was fighting his own demons on a mentally demanding back 9. A birdie would be followed by a couple of bogies. Everyone knew it was tight, the tension was palpable.

In the trees on his 17th Woodhead played a marvellous iron out of trouble pin high followed by 2 putts for par. His tee shot split the fairway down the last. Taking the risk of one club less he hit his 8 iron hard. In the air the ball had spectators holding their collective breath as it appeared to be heading for the greenside pond. The Championship was potentially slipping away. For our rivals, however, it was not to be. The ball drew in to the green and finished 10 feet away from the flag. The closing birdie was a fitting touch for the reserve who held his nerve under 45 years of history.

Fittingly Maxey won the lowest gross on the day. His 71, 70 was 4 clear of his nearest rival and demonstrated the talent of this modest and likeable young man.

A somewhat disbelieving yet ecstatic team had done it. As Gawley pointed out “on paper we weren’t the best players, but we were the best team.”

Job done – Champions.. and I was there !

John Illingworth

ERUGC Hon Sec

Both players began with good drives down the 369 yard 1st hole but after Steve failed to find the green in two, Alan’s par 4 was good enough to give a one-hole lead. Neither hit the fairway with their drives down the second hole and when Alan found himself in deep rough to the left of the green after his second, a bogey 5 was good enough for Steve to level the match. After halving the 3rd hole in par, Alan won the 4th with par when Steve found himself in deep rough with his drive. The lead was gifted back when Alan, uncharacteristically, three putted the short 5th. After halving the 6th in par, Alan quickly moved into a commanding 4-hole lead with Steve’s erratic driving finding either Ganton’s notorious deep rough or cavernous bunkers whilst Alan birdied the 9th and 10th. Following a fairway splitting 3-wood down the 11th, Alan mishit his 185 yard second into a bunker short of the green and although Steve also had bunker trouble on the same hole, his bogey 5 was good enough to get one hole back. Over the next four holes, players matched score for score so by the 16th tee Alan still had a 3-hole lead. Steve managed to win the 16th with par to reduce the deficit to 2 holes. The 17th was halved in 4’s but on the 18th Steve found himself again in deep rough by the green whilst, Alan had hit a magnificent iron shot to within a few feet of the hole. Following a penalty drop and a good chip Steve still had no option but to concede the hole and give Alan a 3 hole advantage after the first round.

By the beginning of the afternoon round the breeze had picked up to make conditions somewhat more testing. The opening hole found Steve back in the deep rough and with Alan playing the hole majestically to record yet another birdie he had resumed a 4-hole lead. The 2nd hole again proved difficult with both unable to find the green in regulation and scoring bogey 5’s. The 3rd found Steve in yet another bunker from his drive but his sand shot out finished within a couple of feet of the pin and he reduced Alan’s lead to 3. On the 4th hole, both players hit great drives but again the struggled to find the green in regulation. Steve managed to hole-out a lengthy putt to save par and when Alan missed again from short range his lead was reduced to 2 holes. The players matched each other par for par over the next three holes. Following two great drives down the 8th, Steve’s shot to within 4 foot resulted in a birdie, he had reduced Alan’s lead to 1 hole. It now looked like an exciting finish was about to unfold but Alan was resolute and when he hit a long iron to within 6 feet of the hole at the 500 yard par 5 ninth hole, his class and experience were there for all to see, especially when he went on to birdie the par 3 10th and re-establish a 3 hole lead. When Steve found a bunker again on the 11th things looked ominous but he scrambled a half when again Alan missed a putt from short range.

Steve seemed to have the advantage on the dog-leg 12th having hit a great tee shot, whilst Alan had to take a penalty drop from the gorse. Steve’s subsequent approach shot was woefully short, only just finding the front edge of the green from which he proceeded to three putt. Alan had hit a wonderful recovery shot following his penalty and holed out for a par four so restoring his 4 hole lead. Steve just could not avoid the sand again down the long par 5 13th and again gifted yet another hole to Alan to give him a 5 hole lead with 5 holes to play. Down the 14th, both players were bunkered but then, with both hitting great recovery shots, Steve managed to hole his putt for birdie it kept him still in the game. Alan again found bunker trouble down the 15th so a par for Steve was good enough to give him hope but this was not to be when Alan conjured up a birdie 3 down the difficult 16th hole to win the match by 4 holes up with 2 to play.

After the post match dinner in the Ganton Clubhouse the players and East Riding Executive were warmly welcomed by Mr. Peter Kirk, Captain of Ganton. Mrs. Julie West (Lady Captain of Ganton) and her husband Chris West of Bridlington Building Supplies, sponsors of the Match-play Championship event. Bridlington Building Supplies were thanked by the East Riding Union President, Mr. Andy Woodhead who then presented the winners salver to Alan Wright. This was Alan’s third victory in the Match-play Championship with him previously winning in 1998 and 2017.