Battling Fixby hit the county heights.

Byline: JOHN MARTIN

FIXBY are top of the world in Yorkshire ladies team golf - as scratch inter-club champions.

After battling through the qualifying stage they went into the decider at Pannal against Shipley, Ganton and the formidable Rotherham teams and prevailed in a thrilling final 4-3 against Rotherham.

In the semi-finals Rotherham got past Ganton, who included England international Sara Garbutt, while Fixby prevailed against Shipley - and former Fixby club manager Sue Dennis - 4-3. Helen Searle got Fixby off to a flying start in their bid to reach the final, ending her match with Lynda Ireland on the 15th green. Pat Wrightson edged a close encounter against Natalie Ireland while Sandra Paul was dispatching her opponent in fine style.

Imogen Eden-Covell and Melody Ludi went down in their matches but Janet MacGill raced to a big winning margin to take Fixby to the untouchable four wins mark, which made the Sue Dennis-Kim Vardy match superfluous, Dennis gaining the point on a concession.

Rotherham had powered in against Ganton and when the aptly named Olivia Winning pipped teenager Searle in the top match of the final and Imogen Eden-Covell went down to Julia Smith while Pat Wrightson was having a big battle with another experienced player in Larraine Hague, Fixby were up against it.

But Fixby proved strong in the late order, Sandra Paul maintaining her impressive form to see off Sarah Bailey on the 14th, Kim Vardy also scoring a big win and Melody Ludi sticking to it to succeed on the last.

With the score level at 3-3, all attention focused on Pat Wrightson's match and the senior international came up with the goods, clinching a Fixby victory on the second extra hole.

Semi-finals - Shipley 3, Huddersfield 4 (Shipley names first): L Ireland lost to H Searle 4&3; N Ireland lost to P Wrightson 2&1; A Smith bt I Eden-Covell 1 hole; V Exley lost to S Paul 7&6; M Leatherland bt M Ludi 3&2; S Dennis bt K Vardy conceded; J Sharp lost to J Macgill 6&5. Rotherham 5, Ganton 2 (Rotherham names first): O Winning lost to S Garbutt 2&1; A Marper bt S Blaeford 2&1; L Hague bt C Kirk at 20th; J Smith bt J Brown 6&4; G Palmer lost to A Biggs conceded; S Bailey bt J Adcock 3&2; B Twigg bt D Cass 4&3. Final - Rotherham 3, Huddersfield 4 (Rotherham names first): O Winning bt H Searle 2 holes; L Hague lost to P Wrightson at 20th; J Smith bt I Eden-Covell 4&2; S Bailey lost to S Paul 5&4; P Exton lost to M Ludi 1 hole; T Speed lost to K Vardy 4&3; C Wright bt J Macgill 4&3.. WOODSOME Hall Ladies 'B' team contest their Yorkshire Inter-club Championship showpiece at Pike HIlls On Monday.

Due to play in the semi-finals/finals day are Nancy Sawyer, Wendy Anderson, Liz Wood, Helen Turner (Lady Captain at Woodsome Hall), Sandra Woodhead, Louise Field, Andrea Hillaby and Margaret Smith.

Those who have played in previous matches are Liz Sheard, Sandy Cole, Dorothy Thorpe and Charlotte Mallinson.

Captain of the 'B' team is Rosemary Cleave, who is vice-captain of the club, and those they are up against are Hainsworth Park, Hallamshire and Scarborough South Cliff.

CAPTION(S):

HELEN SEARLE: part of the Huddersfield Golf Club ladies team who are top of the county standings after winning the scratch inter-club title against the Shipley, Ganton and Rotherham teams at Pannal.