A RECORD number of competitors battled it out in Maldon Golf Club's annual Turkey Trot event.

An impressive total of 67 competitors took part in the singles stableford event, which was won by Mick Kempen.

He won with 39 points on countback, from Steve Drake.

A trio of players scored 38 points and the countback placed Christos Ryan third, Pete Hawkins fourth and Nigel Cook fifth. Des Bastian won sixth prize with 37 points.

The traditional boxes of stuffing for those scoring the fewest points went to Jim Culleton, Trevor Hayhoe and Tom Ruggles.

The nearest the pin prize on the par three fifth/14th hole was won by junior member Marley Read.

A fine selection of fresh meat and poultry for the top six golfers was supplied by Maldon butchers Buntings.

The captain's prize for the best fancy dress costume went, most deservedly, to the senior Heybridge Basin elf Paul Nash.

Following the completion of the prize giving more than 70 members, family and friends sat down to enjoy the annual club Christmas lunch.

With the vast majority of the entrants heeding club captain Paul Holland's request to wear something festive, the course was littered with a striking array of seasonal costumes, festive sweaters and bobble hats.