WILLIAM Wroe Vets Golf Society are one of the biggest senior sections in the region with more than 130 regular players enjoying action every week at their municipal course in Flixton.

They were founded in 1983 by a number of senior members of the Acre Gate Golf Club which is also based at William Wroe and since the inception have gone from strength to strength thanks to the volunteers who put in such great work on their committee.

The new team of Barry Thomas (president), Tom Owen (captain) and Ray Stratford (vice captain) will be looking to maintain the high standards and activity both on and off the course.

Tom Owen said: “Anyone over 60 years is able to join and about 65 per cent of the membership is in the 65-74 year age bracket, mainly drawn from the Trafford area.

“We run twice-weekly competitions plus five ‘away’ days and our members enjoy our 19th hole being associate members of the Flixton Ex-Serviceman’s Club at the nearby John Alker Centre where we hold our monthly presentations.

“We allow handicaps up to 36 and thanks to splendid co-operation with the Trafford Community Leisure Trust we are able to reduce playing costs and we are also keen supporters of local charities."

The Vets were in action in two singles Stablefords with Mike Shipley leading in the first with 42 points from Bill Crowder 40.

John Pritchard was the main man in the second winning a cpo on 22 points from Brian Wilkinson.

Sale’s men played a Texas Scramble with the fab four of J Russell, V Nilsen, T Lowe and N Gaffney on top with 34.5 from S Poucher, I Grogan, J Jagielka and D Carlile.

Sale Captain Peter Middleton was in charge as he led his team of Neil Carrol, Ian Bullough and Dave Grant to a winning 50 points with Michael and Gary Edwards, David Garnett and Jeff Marland next in with 47.

It was tight at Davyhulme Park in a BB Stableford with four pairs locked on 39 points.

Getting the nod in the count-back were Dave Partington and Les Swindells from Geoff Lever and Peter Murray, Robert and Trevor Fenwick and Peter Byrne and Paul Morrison.

With the Manchester Alliance now enjoying a mid-season break before resuming action in February the race for the Order of Merit looks as if it will be a close-run race before being decided at the final fixture of the season which is President’s Day at Bramhall on May 8.

Graham Cox (Davenport) is the current title holder which carries a useful pay cheque as well as the trophy and he missed some of the early-season events due to other commitments.

But he is still handily placed in third spot behind leader Alan Crompton (Haigh Hall) and Grant Hamerton (Pike Fold).

Steve Parry (Hart Common) enjoyed his successful experience representing England PGA in Europe and he is also in contention along with Peter Barber (Didsbury), Scott Jackson (Disley) and Danny Wardrop (Didsbury).

The current scores in the table are: 1 Alan Crompton 176, 2 Grant Hamerton 149, 3 Graham Cox 144, 4 Steve Parry 139, 5 Peter Barber 125, 6 Scott Jackson 112, 7= Danny Wardrop and Anthony Millar (Cheadle) 100, 9 John Merry (Haigh Hall), 10 Craig Daggitt (Bramall Park) 87.