RETIRING joint secretary/treasurer Ivor Davies was warmly thanked by representatives of the county clubs at the annual meeting of the Herefordshire County Golf Clubs, held at the Herefordshire Golf Club.

He held the post for eight years, and in that time the county competitions expanded to include a full set of championships, comprising of men's, ladies, mixed, senior and junior events, and a programme of five county matches.

Although part of the Shropshire & Herefordshire Union for over 50 years, the twin counties have been happy for the Herefordshire clubs to continue with the traditional Herefordshire championships, and to encourage the development of golf in the county by playing some matches.

Terry Horobin, the Herefordshire club secretary, was elected to succeed Davies as secretary/treasurer, while Glyn Wictome (Kington) continued as chairman, and John McQuillan (Herefordshire) as county captain.

q DAVID Park finished with a one-over par total of 289 (70,70,76,73) and a share of 56th place in the Dubai Desert Classic, played at the Emirates Golf Club, Dubai.

After two excellent opening rounds over a difficult but beautifully presented course, the Burghill Valley professional was in touch with the leaders and looking for a top finish in his fourth start on this year's European Tour. However a disappointing third round saw him slide down the field and he could not recover with a moderate one-over par final round.

Park currently lies 87th in the European Tour Order of Merit having won E35,000 during this campaign.

This week he tees up in the Qatar Masters, at the Doha GC, Qatar.

q GREGG Morgan made a creditable attempt to add the Wales Boys Stroke-play title to the many trophies he has already won when he returned a fine 78 and a fifth place over the wind swept links of Aberdovey.

The scheduled 36-hole tournament was reduced to a single round when Saturday's round at nearby Borth and Ynyslas was cancelled because of the gale force winds that battered the mid-Wales coast.

On Saturday the winds had dropped slightly but the youngsters were still subject to very difficult wet and windy conditions over the championship course at Aberdovey. However current Wales junior international Rhys Davies (Royal Porthcawl) produced a splendid 72 to claim the trophy, with Belmont's Morgan well pleased to finish with a seven over 78.

q KEVIN Smith and Wayne Gwynne posted 42 stableford points to win the seventh round of Belmont's winter stableford better-ball series.

Results: 1 Kevin Smith and Wayne Gwynne 42 points, 2 Tristan Dodd and Elwyn Hamer 41, 3 Andy Gray and Paul Evans 40, 4 Andy Rawcliffe and Tommy Taylor 40.

League standings after seven events: 1 Kevin Goodall and Paul Bufton, 2 Sean and Kevin Pockett, 3 Colin Gladwyn and Richard Smith, 4 Dave Williams and Jeff Treadwell, 5 Ray Bull and Pete O'Brien, 6 Andy Gray and Paul Evans.

q KNIGHTON'S new captain Dave Owen is looking forward to the year ahead in spite of the rather wet and windy start which greeted his drive into office.

Encouraged by the generous support of members Owen is hoping that the problems of last season, they were closed until July because of the foot and mouth problem, are well behind them.

Driving rain and gale force winds did not deter the hardy Knighton golfers who followed the traditional ceremony with a nine hole stableford competition.

Results: 1 Paul Weston 20 points, 2 Sam Williams 19, 3 Shaun Hobson 16.

q STEWART Franks, Ed Deasey and junior member Matt Davies produced a superb six under par gross total to win Kington's March Texas Scramble. This was a tremendous score as gale force winds and heavy rain lashed Bradnor Hill, with their nett score of 59.4 leaving them three shots clear of runners-up David Maund, David Lees and Glyn Wictome.

Reg Burgoyne and Arthur Thompson were clear winners of the seniors March stableford with a splendid 49 points, four clear of runners-up Richard Hughes and John Weaver, who beat Joe James and Craig Mayo on a card countback.

q Hereford ladies advanced into the third round of the Mail on Sunday team knockout competition when they beat Cleobury Mortimer in a sudden death play-off.

Emma Harris and Karen Darby won their matches, and with the teams level at 2-2, Harris went out with the visiting number one and settled the tie when she birdied the second extra hole.

Lombard qualifier and March Medal, division one (0-14): 1 Ben Synnock 76-10-66, 2 Richard Tubman 81-12-69, 3 Stuart Gwynne 83-13-70; division two (15-28): 1 Mark Harding 87-17-70, 2 Roger Hine 98-26-72, 3 John Von-Anrep 95-23-72.