REIGNING Durham County champion Richard Aisbitt will head to Wearside this weekend with happy memories as well as an intention to become the first post-war golfer to win three in a row.

Aisbitt fondly recalls how he celebrated success at this weekend’s venue beneath the Penshaw Monument in 1990 and he has been back to get a flavour for it over the last fortnight ahead of his competitive return.

The 42-year-old will tee off in his first round at just after 9am on Saturday looking to secure his fourth Durham County Championship title. He has won the previous two, following on from his first success in 2003.

But Aisbitt doesn’t want to stop there and, given he had injury problems ahead of last year’s outing, he will be doing everything he can to lift the 112-year-old trophy once again.

“It’s funny because I remember playing at Wearside when I won the Boys Championship 26 years ago and the course is not too different now,” said Aisbitt. “They have changed a few greens but basically it’s the same lay-out, so hopefully the good memories will help me.

“I went for a practice round, the greens are firm and quick, but the rough is tough. It’s a tough track even though it is not the longest course, you just have to make sure you stay out of that rough.”

If Aisbitt wins on Wearside he will become the first to win three consecutive crowns since John Todd claimed four between 1933-36. The Brancepeth Castle hopeful has no desire to let his standards slip either.

Aisbitt, who works as a mechanic in Shildon, said: “I was counting up the other day that I have won 29 scratch events over 36 holes, so I would love to make that 30 and go on from there. I have also won four County titles, so to make it five is my next goal. Then I’m sure I would want more after that.

“The first scratch event I won was at Billingham was also in 1990 when I was 18. It was called the Ken Watson Memorial, I don’t even think that gets played now but it was great for me at the time.

“That was also the first year I played in the County Championship. Me and my dad played that year and it was when Richie Walker won at Brancepeth.”

As always, Aisbitt will have long term caddie John Hutchinson on his bag again.

“He’s brilliant,” said the Durham experienced county player. “He’s been with me pretty much everywhere for the last 20 years. He does his best to keep me out of the left rough!

“I’m looking forward to this weekend. I am probably the lowest handicap in the field, so when I go into events like this I always want to do well.

“This time is no different and hopefully I can, but it’s a strong field. There’s a nice mix of age groups. With former champions, county players and then young lads like Jack Aisncough and James Wilson. The standard is always high.”

Durham County Championship draw sheet:

07:30 Wayne Hewitt (2) Bishop Auckland, Andrew Bell (0) Durham City, Juan Miguel Heredia (0) Brancepeth Castle Golf Club;

07:38 Lee McCavanagh (-0) Wynyard, Ian McEntee (0) South Moor, Daniel Hair (3) Wearside;

07:46 Cameron Wallace (-0) Seaton Carew; Andrew Graham (5) Bishop Auckland, Andrew McCarrick (0) Boldon;

07:54 Alexander Robertson (1) Hartlepool, John Ellison (3) Houghton-le-Spring, A Garnett (5) Ineos Golf Club;

08:02 Alex Carr (1) Chester-le-Street, Jamie Birkbeck (0) Bishop Auckland, Howard Walton (2) Wearside;

08:10 Jeff Willey (2) Houghton-le-Spring, Steven Wilson (4) Hartlepool, Gavin Nesbit (-1) Boldon

08:18 W Wilkinson (2) Hartlepool, Stuart Brown (-1) Castle Eden, Aaron Scott (1) George Washington;

08:26 Thomas Harbord (1) Castle Eden, David Vest (1) Wearside, John Scott (1) George Washington;

08:34 Brett McAllister (3) Heworth, Brett Collingwood (0) Bishop Auckland, Matthew Stephenson (0) Ramside;

08:42 S Foster (3) Houghton-le-Spring, Mark Mcallister (3) Heworth, Mark Westmoreland (2) Seaton Carew;

08:50 Terry Mcallister (4) Heworth, Adam Peart (4) Bishop Auckland, Andrew R Hutton (2) Eaglescliffe;

08:58 John Kennedy (1) Consett, Kris Rae (-1) Tyneside, E Waller (3) Eaglescliffe;

09:06 Lloyd Bond (0) Seaton Carew, Martin McCririck (-0) South Shields, R J Aisbitt (-3) Brancepeth Castle;

09:14 Graeme Marchbank (-0) Durham City, David Conway (2) Boldon, Jason Owens (5) Hartlepool;

09:22 Sam Robinson (-0) Tyneside, Jack Richardson (1) Durham City, Paul King (3) Bishop Auckland.

09:30 James Wilson (-0) Tyneside, Alex Robinson (1) Durham City, D Lupton (3) Eaglescliffe;

09:38 R Walker (-1) Wearside, Jack Ainscough (-2) Hartlepool, David Patterson (1) Seaham;

09:46 James Rogers (1) Rockliffe Hall, Stuart Nixon (3) Wearside, Tom Smith (-0) Eaglescliffe;

09:54 Jordan Bettis (-1) Ravensworth, M.W. Davies (1) Hartlepool, Rhys Thompson (-0) Boldon;

10:02 Craig Walton (1) Seaham, Carl Thompson (2) Boldon, Joe Fraser (1) Ravensworth;

10:10 David Johnson (1) Wearside, Ben Bailey (3) Wynyard, Shaun Embleton (1) Ryton;

10:18 Scott Collingwood (5) Garesfield, Bradley Hildreth (2) Billingham, A Motteshead (1) Beamish Park;

10:26 Nathaniel Poole (2) Darlington, N Graham (4) Castle Eden, Darren McCaig (4) Whickham;

10:34 Geoff Charlton (5) Darlington, Matthew Watson (4) Beamish Park, Stephen Ridley (3) Bishop Auckland.