A REVIVED trans-Atlantic challenge has defied the war on terror to provide a major new attraction in York.

Fulford Golf Club captain Jonathan Plaxton told the Evening Press that his plan to re-launch an Anglo-American competition in September was on the brink of being fully subscribed.

It was only at the start of the year that Plaxton, aided by Fulford GC mainstays Bob Elliott and Dave Potter, unveiled the plan to establish the trans-Atlantic tournament, which had initially run as an annual contest between York and New York between 1976 and 1987.

The new 'Team Challenge' tournament would also form an attractive curtain-raiser to the Walker Cup international clash between Great Britain/Ireland and America which this year will be staged at North Yorkshire's Ganton GC on September 6-7.

Interest in the new event has flown in the face of fears that many Americans would not want to jet across the Atlantic as a consequence of the conflict in Iraq.

Said a delighted Plaxton, himself a former England amateur international star: "We are in the process of tying up the loose ends by June 1. But I would say that we are fully subscribed - and with a waiting list too.

"Everything is ticking over really well. The response has been good both here and across America. It's now just a question of fine-tuning."

Plaxton explained that there was a concern that there would not be too great an interest Stateside as a legacy of the war on terrorism. But he had received many assurances from America that competitors would indeed be making the trip for the tournament which will be played on Tuesday, September 2, after a banquet to be held at Fulford GC the night before.

Players and officials from the Great Britain/Ireland team will attend the banquet and will also play at Fulford on Wednesday, September 3 ,as part of their build-up to the main event at Ganton starting three days later.

Updated: 10:23 Saturday, May 24, 2003