DURHAM County Veterans are determined to get their season off to the perfect start today - even if they have to do it without top man Bill Riddell.

Seaton Carew's Riddell is ruled out of Durham's opening game against Cheshire at Wearside because of personal reasons and Gavin Brown has been called up as a replacement to play at his home club.

The County side, who have to select players over the age of 60, are already at a disadvantage because other teams are allowed to name men five years younger.

But Durham are not deterred and are aiming to ensure they hit the right note in their first competitive match of the season against Cheshire.

"We have this match and then we face a trip to Yorkshire on Tuesday so we want to do well straight away," said secretary Derek Livingston, who will go out fourth with Whickham's Denis Smith.

"We play the top five counties and they are always very good games. But we are slightly hindered as all other county sides can select players who are 55 - we can't, which I think needs to be sorted out. We always give a good account of ourselves, though, and we are up against good players playing at a good standard."

Durham captain Bob Turner, who represented England two years ago, has named his side.

Durham pairings: Turner (Wearside) & Gordon Smith (Ramside); Fred Capstick (South Shileds) & Brown (Wearside); Rob Aitiss (Hobson) & Glenn Bowes (Blackwell Grange); Livingston (Castle Eden) & Smith (Whickham); Doug Bell (Wearside) & Dennis Sawyers (Bishop Auckland); David Self (Seaton Carew) & Bill Hepplewhite (Seaton Carew).

l Jamie Birkbeck ensured that Bishop Auckland made further progress in their bid to reclaim the Mail on Sunday National Golf Club Classic Crown.

With the score tied 2-2 in their third round match with Billingham, Birkbeck nailed a birdie at the par five, fourth hole against England Youth squad member Paul Oakley to ensure Bishops clinched victory on the fourth extra hole.

Martin Lee and Robert Moon put Billingham on their way to a surprise win when they overcame Wayne Hewitt and Graham Milne 2&1. But Nigel Dodd and Birkbeck both secured 4&3 successes over Tony Littlefair and Oakley, respectively, to square things up before Birkbeck won it in the play-off.

In the Daily Mail Foursomes there was further joy for Bishops along with four other teams from the region who are through to round two.

Consett & District, Houghton-le-Spring, Cleveland and South Shields all made progress at the expense of Woodham, Birtley, Heworth, Hunley Hall and Tyneside.

* Last weekend Durham County Union continued their good form with a comprehensive victory over BUSA at Wynyard Golf Club.

The damage was done in the foursomes when Durham took a three point lead. Then, in the singles, there was just a marginal one point success but it was enough to claim an 11-7 win over the students.

Foursomes (County first): H. Hamilton & P. Oakley A/S pt v S. Van-Der-Ford & S. Doherty A/S ; M. Curry & R. Lee A/S v S. Elder & R. McGregor A/S ; S. Dance & M. Finley 4/3 1 v G. Moore & M. Hillson 0; B. Ross & J. Harper 5/4 1 v D. Consedine & A. Love 0; T. Maddison & J. Birkbeck 4/3 1 v A. Pugh & B. Hickey 0; A. Bates & R. Luke A/S v J. Field & N. Lister . Score: 4-1.

Singles: Hugh Hamilton (Seaton Carew) 4/3 v 1 Scott Van-Der-Field (Exeter) 0; Michael Curry (Brancepeth Cast) 0 v Shaun Doherty (Leeds Metro) 2H 1; Ricky Lee (Tyneside) 0 v Stewart Elder (St. Andrews) 1H 1; James Harper (Seaton Carew) 4/2 1 v Robert McGregor (Stirling) 0; Steven Dance (Ramside) 0 v Ged Moore (St. Andrews) 3/2 1; Paul Oakley (Billingham) 2H 1 v Mark Hillson (St. Andrews) 0; Michael Finley (South Moor) 0 v Doug (Consedine Heriot-Watt) 2/1 1; Jamie Birkbeck (Bishop Auckland) 2/1 1 v Ally Love (Heriot-Watt) 0; Tom Maddison (Castle Eden) 8/7 1 v Alistair Pugh (Glasgow) 0; Ryan Luke (The Wynyard) A/S v Barry Hickey (Glasgow) A/S ; Adam Bates (Blackwell Grange) 4/3 1 v James Field (Sheffield Hallam) 0; Bryan Ross (Heworth) 0 Nick Lister (Teesside) 4/3 1. Score: 6 v 5. Final score: 11-7.

That success came hot on the heels of more County joy against the North East & North West PGA professionals at Tyneside GC.

Foursomes (County first): M. Ridley & R. Luke 0 v J. Harrison & M. Nesbitt 1 Up 1; Curry & R. Lee 0 v C. Goodfellow & D. Clark 3/2 1; Ross & J. Harper 0 v G. Bell & A. Betts 5/4 1; Dance & D. Leighton 2/1 1 v G. Garland & S. Harrison 0; M. Finley & T. Maddison 5/4 1 v S. Ord & D. Swan 0; Riley & M. Sewell 0 v G. Lisle & S. McKenna 8/7 1. Score: 2-4.

Singles: Michael Curry (Brancepeth Cast) 1 Up 1 v John Harrison (Matfen Hall) 0; Ricky Lee (Tyneside) 2/1 1 v Michael Nesbitt (Matfen Hall) 0; Mark Ridley (Consett) 4/3 1 v Craig Goodfellow (Eden) 0 v James Harper (Seaton Carew) 1 Up 1 v David Clark (Morpeth) 0; Steven Dance Ramside 0 v Graeme Bell (Eaglescliffe) 1 Up 1; Tom Maddison (Castle Eden) 2 Up 1 v Andrew Betts (Hartlepool) 0; Michael Finley (South Moor) 3/2 1 v Graham Garland (Gosforth) 0; Mark Sewell (Ravensworth) A/S v Steve Harrison (City of Newcastle) A/S ; Danny Leighton (Darlington) 2 Up v 1 Stuart Ord (Hobson) 0; Ryan Riley (Eaglescliffe) 0 v Darren Swan (Hobson) 2/1 1; Ryan Luke (The Wynyard) 0 v Graham Lisle (Carlisle) 6/5 1; Bryan Ross (Heworth) 4/3 1 v Steve McKenna (City of Newcastle) 0. Score: 8-3. Final score: 10-7

Published: 28/04/2004