THERE'S no stopping North Yorkshire ace Emma Duggleby as she benefits from an international rest cure.

The Malton and Norton Golf Club mainstay was in imperious form to capture the British Mid-Amateur ladies crown, the first of a silverware-studded career that this year has been given a fresh lease of life.

Over the three days of play at the Frilford Heath Golf Club deep in the heart of the Cotswolds, the former Curtis Cup star swept away the rest of a field which included top-class players from ten other nations.

On the par-73 course Emma defied gales on the first two days to shoot rounds of 72, 76 and 72 that accorded her a triumph by no fewer than seven shots. "Conditions were very windy, but my play was steady throughout," she recalled.

It was only the second time she had played in the British Mid-Amateur, her debut being in 2002 when she finished third.

But there was no stopping a near-regal progress to first place and the trophy for the woman who is the undisputed queen of North Yorkshire women's amateur golf.

Emma explained how her decision to curtail her international commitments was now reaping benefits.

"It was almost two years ago when I decided to give up the international stuff mainly because of all the time needed to attend training camps as well as the actual tournaments," said the woman, who last month regained the York Amateur championship ten years after lifting the crown for the second time.

"Now I've got more time to pick and choose and the hunger is still there to win trophies."

Next up for Emma is a 36-hole event at Royal Birkdale near Southport in just under a fortnight's time, but her main focus is on the British strokeplay championships in August.

l WHERE eagles dare could be the motto for new York Union senior champion Stuart Gregory.

The 12-handicapper triumphed on his home course of Fulford to take the prized seniors crown after a stunning finish.

Gregory arrived at the 17th hole boasting 34 points to put him among the early pace-setters. But that total improved immeasurably.

After a sound tee shot on the penultimate hole, his second bounced off the back of the front bunker, struck the flag-stick and dropped straight in for an eagle two and another four points.

It was a feat he repeated on the last hole where a gross birdie (nett eagle) earned four more points.

However, Gregory, who won the championship in 2003, then had a tense wait in the clubhouse for almost three hours before discovering that he had lifted the crown for the second time.

His 42 points total was matched by ten-handicapper York GC player Phil Moore only for Gregory to win on count-back, not surprisingly, with a better back nine.

Malton and Norton GC's Bill Fletcher (22) won the Reed Trophy, played at the same time for higher-handicappers, on 38 points.