THE long haul towards the Yorkshire Team championship at Middlesbrough in August gets under way with North and South qualifying rounds for the Division Seven event at Saltburn on Tuesday and at Wath on Thursday.
Fixby, first winners of the golf title way back in the century before last, and whose record of victories stands at an impressive 18, are relishing a title challenge – but they face a long wait.
They are the only local club already assured of a start in the championship at the Brass Castle course on August 20 when Moortown defend the title.
Fixby disappointed a year ago, finishing second-last at Hornsea when West End were relegated following their winning of the Division Three title, then gaining promotion from Division Two.
Plans are already being laid as Fixby are keen to land a title they last claimed 33 years ago.
While Fraser Scholefield, the Union strokeplay champion a couple of years ago, has joined from Lightcliffe, Richard Oddy intends challenging for a place in the four-man team.
The former county player and past Union champion who lives and works in Coventry says he will travel home at weekends to compete in club competitions with his major target being the team championship, though he will have to prove his game is sharp enough as team captain David Jagger, with a dozen players with the right low handicaps to choose from, will select the men in form.
“I won’t be looking for any favours, I know I’ll have to play myself into the side and that’s what I’ll work to achieve,” said Oddy, who has a degree in sports science.
Bradley Hall, Elland, Longley Park, Hanging Heaton, Queensbury and Crow Nest Park start at the first hurdle of the championship, having entered the South event at Wath. All hope to go one better than a year ago when they missed out at Doncaster Town Moor of making it to the Division Seven championship proper.
It’s a tall task to go all the way to the First Division event but it can be done. Cookridge Hall achieved that feat last season, starting in the North qualifying and winning three titles on the way before being relegated from Division One.
