THE Worcestershire men gathered in good playing conditions at the first major event of the year for the Spring Meeting Medal.

With three prestigious cups up for grabs, competition was fierce and scoring impressive.

Club captain Steve Bradshaw lifted the Easter Challenge Prize for the winner of Division One.

Scoring 67 nett off a handicap of seven, he edged out Colin Lane (11 handicap) on the back nine with Jason Allies (3), David Horn (12) and Colin Jones (12) filling the next three places on 68.

In Division Two, Roger Bradley (15) took the honours to win the Spencer Cup with 67.

Derry Hanratty (15) and Sam Macleod (17) were on 68 ahead of Ian Brazier (16) and Mel Stocker (13) on 69.

The Horton Cup for Division Three players was won with 70 by Edward Gaynor-Smith (23) on count-back from Ewan McClelland (22) with Will Brimmell (25) and Denis Doano (22) on 71.

In the mid-week medal, six-handicapper Richard Sebok secured Division One with nett 69 ahead of Chris Jolley (11) on 70 and Andrew Meredith (8) on 72.

Andy Turner took Division Two ahead of Mike Elston.

Meanwhile, match-play specialist Penny Stevenson successfully defended her title as Porch Cup ladies’ winter knockout holder, adding it to the winter eclectic she secured the previous week.

She met new member Joyce Duncan in the match-play final. In blustery conditions, both performed well with Stevenson making par at a number of holes.

Taking full advantage of the handful of strokes she received from Duncan, Stevenson closed out the match on the 15th green to win 4&3.

Vanessa Chesterton and Pauline Belsham won the Australian spoons foursomes competition and, provided their score of 37 points is sufficient, will play in the regional final at Fulford Heath in July.

Second place went to Jan Kirkland and Betty Hakes with 36 and third to ladies’ captain Pam Emery-Reynolds and Faith Tubb with 35.

The nine-hole stableford was won once more by Kate Cross with 19 points, closely followed by Esme Davy (19). In club matches, The Worcestershire struggled in both ‘A’ and ‘B’ team matches.

The ‘A’ team went down 4½-1½ at Worcester Golf and Country Club with the only winners being Allies (3) and Andy Dunster (5) 4&3, although there was a hard-fought half by Pete Lupino (0) and Phil Birch (5).

The ‘B’ team had a narrow 3½-2½ home defeat to Burghill Valley.

Captain for the day, Steve Lloyd, played with John Williams and won one-up, while Chris Hardy and Mel Stocker triumphed 4&3.

There were defeats for Barry Schofield and John Monk 2&1, Jerry Hibbert and Tom Howells on the 18th and debutants Roger Turner and Stuart Webb 3&2. Mike Sterry and Dave Turner gained a half.

Club vice-captain Mark Read made his county seniors’ debut at Cleobury Mortimer against Nottinghamshire, winning both his games and playing in the afternoon with former The Worcestershire captain Gordon Bailey.

In a close contest, the county lost 10-8.