The lost decade

The club's captains' board is conspicuous not just for the roll call of honour it depicts, but for an absence of a decade where there are no entries for the years 1937-1947.

For some weeks now efforts have been made to fill in the gap. Anecdotal evidence has been sought, former club captains, luminaries and players tracked down. But with official club records having been lost for that period, which heralded the build-up to the subsequent outbreak of the Second World War, the quest to discover who occupied the prime position of captain during that decade has proved elusive.

Now club stalwart Ray Yates, with the approval of the Welham Park club, has enlisted the assistance of the Evening Press readership to fill in the gaps.

And as a potential memory-pricker he has provided us with a photograph (published above) to aid the pursuit of the lost decade.

Said Yates, a Malton and Norton mainstay for more than 25 years: "It would be great if we could bring the board right up to date.

"Naturally, a lot of people from that era are now no longer with us, but there may be someone out there who can help us to fill in the gaps."

He explained how his immediate family had been touched by the plight and had loaned him the photograph, which shows a club presentation event from the 1950s. The moustachioed man in the middle is the late Jack Taylor, who may well have been a captain in that mystery decade.

"He used to run a chip shop in Wells Lane in Malton, but he has since 'gone on'. Maybe some of the people who recognise themselves in the photograph will be able to tell us who some of the missing names on the captains' board may be," mused Yates.

It was a wistful theme taken up by Malton and Norton GC's managing secretary Eddie Harrison.

"So far all our attempts to bring the board up to date have been abortive. Unfortunately, due to the War, records have been lost," said Harrison.

"There were other and greater priorities then, but the club would like to be able to record the names missing from those years."

Anyone who can help to restore meaningful memories to Malton and Norton GC are asked to contact Harrison tel 01653 697912.

HOME was where the great start continued for Kirkbymoorside Golf Club in the Scarborough and District Winter Alliance.

The second fixture in the nine-match series was held at Kirkbymoorside, who held a seven-stroke lead at the top of the table after the first encounter.

True to form, Kirkbymoorside continued their formidable progress and finished first with a magnificent 18-under par, four-card total of 258. Second were Scarborough North Cliff on 260, followed by Driffield and Filey both on 265.

The victory swept Kirkbymoorside 14 strokes clear of Driffield after the opening brace of winter warmers ahead of the third fixture to be hosted by Malton and Norton GC on Saturday, November 1.

Scarborough Alliance (placings after two events): 1 Kirkbymoorside 508, 2 Driffield 522, 3 Scarborough North Cliff 531, 4 Filey 532, 5 Malton and Norton 543, 6 Flamborough Head 547, 7 Scarborough South Cliff 548, 8 Whitby 552, 9 Bridlington 556.

GERRY Wilson and Malcolm Sharkey were the top scorers at Kilnwick Percy's pairs better-ball strokeplay competition.

The duo shot a nett 62 to win on count-back from Brian and Sue Hodgson. In third place were Richard and Linda Pink (net 64), while Joy Biggin and Sharkey also scored twos on the sixth and 17th holes respectively.

Chris Granger leads the winter stableford series after racking up 37 points off a 23 handicap in the competition's first event. He won on count-back from 18-handicapper Steve Cooper.

HARROGATE duo Sue Stuart-Brown and Joan Caw were this week competing in the grand final of the prestigious Help the Aged Golden Charter championship.

Currently in its 15th year, the event's climax was being held on the legendary Brabazon course at the De Vere Belfry, venue of the memorable 34th Ryder Cup clash between America and Great Britain and Europe.

Mrs Stuart-Brown, a member of Rudding Park GC in Harrogate, was the winner of the North-East regional final held at the De Vere Slaley Hall near Hexham, where Mrs Caw (Pannal GC) finished runner-up.

Malton and Norton won this year's annual Shouler Cup competition.

Started in 1952 by the late Alf Shouler of Driffield between his own club and teams from Malton and Norton, Kirkbymoorside and Flamborough Head, the competition is always keenly fought.

Malton also won the 'champions v the rest' encounter.

Scarborough-based Sheila Thorpe was among 20 finalists seeking to sparkle in the sun next week.

Thorpe has reached the four-day grand final of the AEG British Ladies tournament which swings into action at South Africa's Sun City complex on Monday.

Updated: 10:58 Saturday, October 25, 2003