STOKE by Nayland Golf Club started their 2017 Essex Seniors Championship campaign with an emphatic 10.5-0.5 home win over The Notleys.

Almost all of the Stoke team had to give shots to their opponents, with new Essex Golf Union rules stating that players have to go out in handicap order. The exception was Steve Tree in the last match who neither gave, nor received shots.

The match was played in cool, blustery conditions on the Constable course which had become very firm, due to the lack of any recent meaningful rain.

Richard Cross gave Stoke a good start, winning his match 3&2 and this was followed by the only halved match.

The remaining nine games all went the way of the home side, with Tree's 8&6 victory over visiting captain Mike James and a 6&5 win for Mike Moore the stand-out scores.

Despite the margin of the victory, all matches were played in an excellent spirit and The Notleys captain, Mike James, congratulated Stoke on the victory and wished them well in the next round.

Stoke team: Richard Cross, John Smith, Andy Higginson, Trevor Samways, Allan Smith, Graham Vandervord, Tony Carman, Reg Reid, Paul Sandfield, Mike Moore, Steve Tree.

More than 30 ladies took to the Gainsborough course with a two-tee start for their annual Ladies Easter Waltz Easter competition.

The wind spoiled the temperature as it was very chilly at first but once the sun came through, the air warmed a little.

The ball ran very well and the ladies enjoyed their Waltz round the course, meaning teams of three played with one score on the first hole, two on the second and three on the third hole and then back to one on the fourth.

The winners overall were Jane Golding, Betty Cox and Mal Went, with 72 points.

They finished six points ahead of runners-up Alison Jennings, Kate Fitzgerald and Eileen Hands.

Third with 65 points on countback were Sue Spittlehouse and Katrina Bygraves, who had to play as a pair so their ‘ghost’ scored a par on every third hole.

The best front nine winners were Jan Partner, Roz Clements and Amanda Hall, while Gill Dutton, Johanna Stonehewer-Smith and Gwen Broadhead were the best back nine winners.

The prizes, which all had an Easter theme of chocolate and flowers, were presented by ladies captain, Anne Hemmings.

Results, Stoke by Nayland GC Standard Trophy (Gainsborough): 1st Richard Cross 39 points, 2nd Dave Giles 38 points, 3rd Iain Younger 37 points.

Stoke Foursomes (Constable): 1st Richard Bland/Trevor Warren 43 points, 2nd Paul Sparkes/Steve Clark 41 points, 3rd Tim Dickens/Rob Benson 37 points.

Junior Jackson Easter Cup: 1st Cilian Rew 35 points; 2nd Sam Nixon 33 points; 3rd Isaac Toombs 32 points.