CARDRONA – Oct. 15, 2004 (PRWEB) – Despite scores of southern clubs sending representatives to the semi-finals, it was Damian Simpson and Mick Schofield, from Lofthouse Hill GC, who won the overall title in the competition held at Cardrona Golf Hotel & Country Club in the Scottish Borders.

Other trophy winners came from Derbyshire, Scotland, Cheshire and the Midlands - and the only club south of the Midlands to win one of the 12 trophies on offer was Llanwern in Wales.

Remarkably, once the tens of thousands of entries had been whittled down to the 40 pairs competing in the grand final, every handicap from plus one through to 26 was represented – with the sole exception of 21.

The West Yorkshire duo relied on teamwork. Schofield excelled after the first 18 holes for the overnight leaders - and Simpson pulled them through on the second day for a grand total of 88 points.

“It feels really good to have won the competition and we always thought we had a chance after the first day,” said Damian, who plays off a handicap of 10.

“We’ve always played well as a team – one pulls the other through regularly. “And we knew that if we kept our noses ahead of our playing partners, Graham and Ian who were in second place after the first day, we had a great chance of winning.”

Mick, who plays off 20, put the victory down to Damian’s efforts on day two after he had seen them into the top spot after day one. He said: “We held a three-point lead overnight and always felt we could win from then on. In the second round I wasn’t at the races but teamwork pulled us through. I never dreamed we could win the title when we entered the qualifier at our home club in June.

“But that’s the great thing about this competition – everybody has a chance and just for £5 each. We’ve been playing pro-ams with our club professional Derek Johnson and that prepared us for the pressure we were going to be under here.”

Mick heaped praise on everybody involved with the competition. “The greenstaff were magnificent and the International Pairs organizers have been second to none,” he said.

After winning their club event by just one point, and scraping through their semi-final at Roxburgh in August, Simpson and Schofield will now represent England in the world finals at Celtic Manor next June. “That is another day. We’ve had a superb time here; everybody’s been great, and it’s been great company. It’s been fantastic playing with low handicappers,” said Damian.

And Mick added: “After the England pair won the world finals at St Pierre this year, it’s going to be a tough act to follow - but we will give it our best.” They edged out Scottish duo Gary Tough and Iain Thomson, who played superbly well off handicaps of plus one and two respectively, to record 82 points over the 36 holes. Their consolation was being crowned Scottish champions.

But the biggest cheer of the day was reserved for the third-placed duo from Wychwood Park, in Cheshire: Robbie Turner and Ian Ritchie – off five and 12 - who at just 16 years of age were only just old enough to participate in the event. They scored 82 points to finish third overall and clinch the English national title.

Llanwern GC provided the Welsh champions in the form of Ian Adams, who played off 14, and 22-handicapper Mark Bruford. It was third time lucky for Matlock’s Pauline Bramley, who after twice winning the English ladies’ title, secured the national ladies’ title with new partner Mary Annable after scoring 61 points.

Bramley, who plays off 10, said: “I had come second on two previous occasions, so I’m really delighted. The competition just gets better every year, so I keep on coming back. “The people, the organisers, the courses: it’s just a fantastic way to experience golf.” And she reserved special praise for her new partner. “Mary’s done exceptionally well; she’s been terrific.”

Annable, a 17-handicapper, added: “I’m quite overwhelmed to be honest. I’m a club member but coming to this makes you feel really special. The hotel, course and views are great and the event is so well organized. Everyone’s been fantastic. “I’ve stayed in a lot of hotels and paid a fortune for the privilege. To think I got all this just by paying a £5 entry is great. “And it will be another fantastic experience to participate in the world final at Celtic Manor next year.”

Dawn Moor (16) and Jean Lambert (9) totalled 55 points to secure the Scottish ladies’ title, while Jayne Freeman (14) and Kathy Reid (25) were crowned English champions – but no Welsh pair qualified for the final.

The overall mixed pairs’ title went north of the border to John Munro (7) and Jackie Brown (5), from Whitemoss Golf Club, near Perth. They scored 76 points, to see off the challenge of Janice Kerr (8) and Julian Bates (3), from Redditch GC, who were happy to secure the English mixed title in the process.

On the back of a tremendous competition in 2004, clubs are already registering for the International Pairs 2005 competition. Entry to the competition remains just £5 per person – unchanged for the sixth successive year. Winning pairs from competing clubs progress to a semi-final in Scotland and receive a prize of:

• Accommodation north of the border
• An invitation to a special Scottish-themed welcome reception
• Competition golf on one of the country’s top courses

If they then make the cut they will stay on in Scotland for two more days and experience the golfing event of the year including:

• Accommodation at the magnificent St Andrews Bay Golf Resort & Spa at the home of golf
• Two rounds of competition golf at St Andrews Bay on their superb course
• The championship gala dinner
• The chance of winning the coveted International Pairs title in the full glare of the country’s media.

To find out how to register call the competition hotline on 08700 330 633; fax (023) 9282 6000 or visit: www.internationalpairs.com.