IT WAS a close battle to lift the Coronation Cup at Maldon.

The cup was first contested in 1911 and presented to commemorate the crowning that year of King George V.

The men’s section compete for the trophy in a full handicap medal and this year saw a field of 56 return a wide variety of scores.

There was a three-way tie at the top on nett 69, and the countback determined that the winner was Andrew Erskine.

Keith Bannister was second with Mike Kempen in third spot.

Assistant greenkeeper Stuart Reece-Ford was fourth on nett 70 while club trustee Colin Gooday was fifth on nett 71.

The nearest the pin prizes went to Alan Paddon on the fifth/14th hole and to Graham Page on the sixth/15th hole.

Keith Bannister’s second place in the competition saw him extend his lead at the top of the Order of Merit table to a commanding 33 pts.

The ladies’ section held their Guest Day in which 24 ladies played.

Results: 1 Laura Reilly & Jane Hull 38 pts (ocb), 2 Mary King & Yung Ha Bennett 38 pts, 3 Margaret Caviel & Janis Holdcraft 37 pts.

Maldon’s Jubilee Cup team travelled to Forrester Park for their last group match in this year’s competition. They returned well beaten by the home team and will not progress to the knockout stages.

The home leg of the biannual friendly match against Clacton for the Pisa Cup also took place.

Twenty players per side competed in a betterball match play contest with Hambro scoring so that all matches had to be played over 18 holes.

Although Maldon won more matches, the final Hambro score was 13½-8½ in Clacton’s favour and so they retained the trophy they won earlier in the year on their home course.