BOLD York against New York - that's the trans-Atlantic challenge poised to swing on to Fulford Golf Club's competitive calendar.

Between 1976 and 1987 such a challenge existed with competitors from both cities vying for top-golfing status.

Now after an absence of 16 years, if not a gauntlet, then a golfing glove has been thrown down for the competition to re-open.

The driving force behind the resurrection of the international duel is Jonathan Plaxton, vice-captain of Fulford GC, who wanted to mark his year as captain - he takes office in April - memorable.

It certainly should be with already more than 100 golfers agreeing to compete in the revived set-to between the two cities. The 'Team Challenge' tournament to be played at Fulford on Tuesday, September 2, has attracted major sponsorship from companies such as the Royal Bank of Scotland, National Westminster Bank, Lombard North Central, for whom Plaxton works, and Jarvis.

And it could attract royal attention too. The Duke of York, Prince Andrew, a renowned golf fanatic, has been invited to attend.

As a major bonus the new event, which will be preceded by a pre-tournament banquet on September 1, will be played as a forerunner to the Walker Cup.

The prestigious amateur international showdown between Great Britain/Ireland and their American counterparts is on September 6-7 when it will be hosted by north Yorkshire's prestigious Ganton Golf Club.

Enthused Plaxton, himself a past England international and Yorkshire County player: "With the Walker Cup at Ganton I thought it would be an ideal time to try to bring this fixture back to Fulford.

"It's not, I stress, an official Walker Cup event, but Ganton are supportive and this will be the first event in a busy week of the Walker Cup itinerary."

Indeed, Plaxton revealed that the GB and Ireland team will play at the York course on the day after the Fulford encounter, which, to encompass a wider horizon is billed as a clash between York/Yorkshire and the USA. "It will enable them to get away from the main stage before the Walker Cup starts on the Saturday and Sunday that week."

Said the current vice-captain, who is still working stoically to try to bring a European Seniors Tour event to Fulford in 2004 after an initiative he first launched last year and first exclusively revealed in the Evening Press: "We've had a very encouraging response already with only about 60 places left.

"If it goes well then it will hopefully start again as an annual event and it will help the crusade towards getting a seniors' event at Fulford."

Updated: 12:12 Saturday, January 18, 2003