A YORKSHIRE senior helped to put England on the road to bronze at the European Championships and cap a fantastic year on the circuit – even if there is still time for it to get better.

Karen Jobling, in only her third year as a senior, has shot to prominence over the last six months to make international selectors sit up and take notice.

And, having earned herself England colours, she helped her country to third place at the Euros in Poland when she had a pivotal role to play too.

Jobling got things off to a flyer by edging a narrow opener 3&2 with Leicestershire’s Helen Lowe in the foursomes against Sweden in the third-placed play-off; the result of a semi-final defeat to Belgium at the Sierra Golf Club.

“My aim for this year was to try to better my achievements from last year and to make the team to play for the north in the Ladies Veterans’ Jamboree,” said Jobling.

“I have exceeded all my expectations on my selection for England Seniors, I am really looking forward to the experience of playing in the European Team Championships in Poland at the end of August.”

The 54-year-old is gearing up for an appearance at the Senior Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship on September 14-16 at Caldy Golf Club – and she will head there full of confidence.

Jobling’s superb season started in the sun, wind, hail, rain and snow at Ganton in April when she beat 130 other ladies to win the best gross in the YVLGA Championship.

She then won through to the final of the last 16 knock-out where she was beaten 3 & 2 by England team captain Pat Wrightson, Huddersfield. Two weeks later she represented Richmond at the English Seniors Amateur Championship at Ross on Wye, where, in dreadful weather, Jobling finished third at the end of the first day’s stroke play.

She went on to beat some of England’s finest senior amateur golfers to reach the final where she played Cheshire’s Cath Rawthore, an England senior international from Sale. Rawthore snatched a dramatic victory capturing the title on the 21st hole.

Rawthore said: “Karen had played tremendous golf, every time I thought I played a good shot she put it inside me. It was such hard work mentally, but very exciting and I am absolutely thrilled.”

Jobling also finished fifth in the NCVLGA Northern Division Championship at Alnmouth as well as finishing 13th in the English Senior Women’s Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship at Burnham Beeches in awful weather.

Combined those results earned her the spot in the England team at the European Senior Ladies Team Championship where 20 countries competed as they finished third.

That outing followed an appearance for The North at the annual Jamboree at Panmure where they retained the title from The South, with Jobling contributing by winning two singles matches as well as a half in the foursomes with Karen Lee.

THERE was also success for Yorkshireman Alan Richardson who became England’s champion captain – claiming the title for the second time, just two years after his first triumph.

Richardson, from Scarborough North Cliff, scored 74 points in the 36-hole final of the England Golf Captains’ tournament series at Frilford Heath in Oxfordshire.

“I’m absolutely chuffed, over the moon,” said Richardson.

He was three points clear of halfway leader Andy Vernon (Stapleford Park), while Chris Wise (Holtye) and Martin Tate (Blackburn) shared third place with 68 points.

He had only one bad hole, on the ninth, when a bird flew out of the trees and distracted him as he was about to drive. “I duffed my tee shot and didn’t score any points,” said Richardson.