BURNHAM had a comfortable win at home against Stableford Abbots in the first round of the Thornton Cup.

The forecast was rain but with a home draw the Burnham team were confident of having a good day.

Rain, drizzle and more rain for the five morning foursomes was not enough to dampen the Burnham pairs and they came away with five very good wins.

The afternoon comprised ten matchplay singles and Burnham only needed three to win the match.

Lewis Wilkin, who led off, sealed his match on the 15th followed quickly by Matt Hawksworth and Tom Howard.

It appeared at this time Burnham were up in all the matches bar one that was all square but it did not matter as they had won on a sunny but blustery afternoon.

Team: Lewis Wilkin, George Grimes, Tom Howard, Ryan Davies, Paul Hegarty, Mickey Leonard, Brian Roche, Simon Vidgeon, Don Vidgeon, Matt Hawksworth.

Burnham now have a home draw for the next round on May 31 against Playgolf Colchester.

The ladies held their Spring Meeting last week on a chilly but rain-free day.

The morning was a qualifying individual stableford competition.

Results: Nearest the pin (5th): Helen Ford. Longest Drive: Avis Greenaway. Front nine: OCB - Mo Robinson 19 pts. Back nine: Claire Lewis 22pts. Overall: 1 Anne James 38 pts ocb, 2 Jane Hull 38 pts, 3 Liz Tolhurst 35 pts, 4 Lianne Hodgson 34pts.

In the afternoon it was a Burnham Texas Scramble (driver cannot take the next shot).

Result: Front nine: 1 Liz Culff, Sue Frost, Jean Bailey, Liz Tolhurst 32.25; 2 Liz Clark, Vera Oates, Claire Brown, Debs Wolton 32.9.

Back nine: 1 Captain Elaine Mason, Vice Jane Hull, Denise Howat and Ann Pryer 34.6, 2 Jeanette Wilson, Heather Sullivan, Anne Mapes, Dee Wells 34.8 pts.

The cadets played their first Youth Shield match and surprisingly, like all Burnham teams, were drawn to play away at Benton Hall.

They found the course challenging but played extremely well.

Oliver Reardon won his match 3&2 and Mackenzie Maberly lost on the 19th but it was a win 4&1 to the home side.

The men played their monthly stableford on Saturday with 44 players in division one and 20 in division two.

It was a closely fought contest in division one with four players coming in with 39 pts.

Result: Division one: 1 Dean Bewers, 2 Matthew Hawksworth, 3 Graham Bowers, 4 Ron Stevens.

They all received a handicap reduction.

Division two was also closely contested with three players on 36 points.

Result: Division two: 1 Darren Bishop, 2 Andy Rapley, 3 Stanley Grindley.

On bank holiday it was time for some light relief with a mixed Waltz Competition.

Thirty-six players with a few mixed rookies hit the course on a lovely, warm afternoon.

Results: 1 David Elphinstone, Stephen Hull, Anne Mapes, Shelagh Edwards ocb 84 pts, 2 Debs Wolton, Alex Gray, Jillean Hipsey, Richard Krzysanowski 84 pts, 3 Don Edwards, Ann Pryer, Denise Howat, Dan Munro 82 pts.

Nearest the Pins: Lady: Elaine Mason, Men: Stephen Hull.