THE Christmas competitions teed-off at Maldon Golf Club with the annual Turkey Trot.

Forty-seven members braved the miserable, wet conditions on Sunday and a few less-hardy souls fell by the wayside en-route to the 18th hole.

Despite the bad weather there were still some fine scores in this stableford competition, with Bill Shelley running out the winner this year with a score of 39 points.

Second place went to Eddie Baker with 38 points, while third and fourth were decided on countback when father and son Darren and Billy Mason both returned 37 points.

On this occasion the elder statesman took the honours.

There were choice joints of meat to be won down as far as sixth place and the last two recipients were Paul Shires, in fifth, on 36 points and Matt Pepper, in sixth, with 35.

The nearest the pin prize on the par three fifth/14th hole went to Keith Hinton.

Martin Read won the prize for the closest second shot to the par four sixth/15th.

Following the prize giving, members enjoyed a bumper Christmas draw for which over 1,000 tickets had been sold, with a host of appetising prizes to be won.

This was followed by the club’s annual Christmas dinner at which around 60 members and guests enjoyed the festive fare.