Hartsbourne have triumphed at the 70th annual Glancy Cup at the Moor Allerton course in Leeds.

The Bushey club won the premier Jewish club competition for the fifth time, wrestling the trophy from holders Bonnyton.

Having also won the competition in 2006, this was the first time Hartsbourne had won the title outside London since 1980. Moor Allerton finished runners-up.

Despite torrential rain and thunderstorms, the course was kept clear as 19 clubs battled it out in front of more than 500 spectators. 

Winning captain Howard Bratt commented: “It was a victory which was played with great emotion and pride. I thought the whole team played
superbly over the two days and it was fantastic to play on a championship course.

“

I now know how a Ryder Cup captain feels winning a major golfing event. All the players thought it was quite an honour to play at Moor Allerton and I can’t speak highly of all the staff, who despite the bad weather,  kept the course clear and did a great job.  The Glancy is a fantastic competition, a great meeting of Jewish people all over Great Britain and long may it continue.”

 The competition, which started in 1934 between Moor Allerton and Whitefield Golf Clubs, is an annual event played amongst Jewish Golf Clubs and Societies in Great Britain and Ireland under the organisation of the AJGC&S.

Against the par of 71, the best individual gross score was a fine 69 by Jay McGarvey of Whitefield with Hartsbourne’s Mark Gershinson, who claimed the lowest gross score last year, four shots off the pace in second place. Edmondstown’s Graham Day fired a best nett of 69.

Mervyn Berg said: “It was an excellent and superbly organised event by the association, together with Moor Allerton. We had some thunderstorms during the weekend but thankfully managed to finish the tournament without too many interruptions.

“One player who stood out was the youngster Jay McGarvey who recorded the lowest gross and did so well under the testing conditions.”

James Denton, honorary secretary at Moor Allerton, commented on “ the wonderful spirit and atmosphere of The Glancy which were rays of sunshine during a very wet weekend”.

He added: “Many old friendships were renewed and as always new ones were formed.  Long may the Glancy continue.”

Next year’s competition will be held at Potters Bar Golf Club on the weekend of July 4-5.

Hartsbourne: (back row from left) Michael Charles, Matt Cooper, Jeremy Bohn, Simon Berg, (front row) Adam Israel, Mark Gershinson, Howard Bratt (capt), Jason Rishover, Max Harris