TYTHERINGTON stalwart Frances Sandeman is the President for 2008 for the prestigious Manchester and District Ladies Golf Association.

The MDLGA is now well into its second century of providing top golf competitions for nearly 100 clubs in the area.

Frances (pictured) said: "I started playing golf in 1982 in Leicester then moved to Cheshire in 1985 a few months before I would have become Lady Captain.

"I joined Tytherington in 1986, a few weeks after it opened and I helped to start the committee and was their first Handicap Secretary, and served on the Tytherington committee for a long time.

"In 1994 I was made redundant and decided to do something for golf, so I served on the Cheshire Ladies committee for three years and then joined MDLGA committee at the end of that stint.

"I took over as Bell Cup secretary when Anne Hellawell became President and did this job for six years - the highlight of which was when Tytherington won the Bell Cup.

"I am now not playing so much because of my hip and I am having a hip replacement as soon as I finish my term of office."

Frances certainly enjoyed her team’s success in the Bell Cup of 2006, when she was the competition organiser.

She now sees them with a bye into round one of this season’s competition with a home tie against competition newcomers Marriott Worsley Park.

The Bell Cup finals day is scheduled to be played at Tytherington on Friday, September 5, when the last four teams from the original entry of 87 will play semi-finals and then the final, with holders Pleasington looking to retain their crown.

They begin the defence of their title with a tough preliminary match at Prestbury.

Other local clubs in preliminary round action are Davenport at Rossendale and Styal at Leyland.

Through to the last 64 with byes are Wilmslow, who visit Ashton-in-Makerfield, Alderley Edge at Darwen and Tytherington, who host Marriott Worsley Park.

The other MDLGA competitions of the season begin with the Bunty Booth final for winners from the member clubs’ qualifying competitions will take place at Blackley Golf Club on June 6.

Rossendale GC will host the Challenge Cup competition on July 4 and the team event will take place at Leyland on August 21.

The season will conclude with the Greensome Stableford at Astbury on September 18.

Entry forms will be available in all member clubs for players who wish to compete in the competitions.

l To get your club and individual results, achievements and special events in this report, contact Geoff Garnett on 0161 881 7550 or via email at ggggarnett@aol.com .