It was celebrations all round as Huddersfield Ladies Scratch Team became champions of Yorkshire once again.

The victory cemented their reputation as the strongest ladies’ section in Yorkshire after they beat old rivals Ganton in the final.

Fixby topped Yorkshire’s Division 1 Ladies Scratch league to become one of four teams to make the long trek north to Saltburn for the final.

The event had been scheduled for Oakdale, Harrogate, but when Oakdale also reached the last four, the final was moved north.

In the morning semi finals it was a local derby against Woodsome Hall. Huddersfield won the morning match with victories from Megan Lockett - on the 19th against her friend Melissa Wood, Megan Clarke 7&5 against Sarah Nadin, Pat Wrightson 6&5 against Emma Taylor, Sandra Paul 6&5 against Nicola Slater, and Georgia Holden 6&5 against Celia Mansfield.

Woodsome Hall’s young star Rochelle Morris managed the only win with a 7&5 victory against Hannah Holden. Harriet Richardson, the final Huddersfield player, was brought in after 12 holes as they had already secured the win.

In the final, Fixby went head to head with their arch Yorkshire rivals Ganton, who had seen off Oakdale in the morning.

The two clubs have met many times in the finals over the years, resulting in many closely-fought contests, with county and national players often present in both teams.

After some superb golf, Huddersfield came out on top by the narrowest of margins - 4&3.

The results were: Hannah Holden lost to Sara Gilmore 2&1, Megan Lockett beat Naomi Edwards 1up, Megan Clarke beat Chloe Stokes 5&3, Pat Wrightson lost 2&1 against Sue Blaeford, Sandra Paul beat Julie Brown 4&3, Georgia Holden conceded as Huddersfield had secured victory when Harriet Richardson won her match 3 &2 against Marion Tate.

Fixby lady captain said: “It was a fantastic team effort and the ladies are a credit to the club.

“The victory was the result of some excellent play throughout the season by those in the finals and the ladies who have represented the scratch team in our matches to get to the final – we couldn’t have done it without them.

“Thank you also to all those who made the long journey to support us and to caddy.

“We are delighted to be Yorkshire Scratch Team champions once again and look forward to defending our title next year.”

Others who played for the team were: Joan Webb, Anita Mandl, Claire Greenwood, Claire Roberts, Alison Tracey and Mildred Devey.

  • A COMBINATION of youth and experience has been key to the unparalleled success of the Huddersfield Ladies’ Scratch Team.

Since 2000 the team has reached the Yorkshire finals no fewer than 12 times. During that period, they have won the title six times – including four times in the last five years.

The fact that Fixby Ladies have maintained their position at the top of Yorkshire golf for so many years is quite remarkable.

Two stalwarts of the team over the last decade have been Pat Wrightson, 62, a player with a formidable track record. She is currently chairman of greens at Fixby, English Girls and Ladies selector and a former Yorkshire Veterans champion.

Earlier this month she captained the England Ladies’ Senior Team to victory in a 17-nation contest in Austria.

The other is Sandra Paul, 58, four-times winner of Huddersfield, Halifax Ladies Golf championship. She also held the 2011 Northern Veterans and both 2011 and 2012 Yorkshire Veterans titles.

Over the years they have been joined by a strong team of regular club players and latterly by a crop of extremely talented youngsters. For several years two-handicapper Helen Searle led the way. Now Welsh player Megan Lockett is leading the charge from the youngsters.