BREAKING with tradition, Masham Golf Club presented the 2020 captains’ charity recipient with its cheque before Christmas last month instead of this January 2021.

The charity, Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA), was selected by captain, Terry Jobling, and lady captain, Jean Ogden, at the beginning of 2020, not knowing of course what the year had in store.

Expectations were high for a record breaking amount at the end of the year to present at the annual "Meet the Captains’ cocktail party” where a cheque would be handed over to the YAA in January 2021.

Preparations by the captains had been made for a number of fundraising events, besides the annual club competitions, in order to boost the charity funds, all of which had to be cancelled due to lockdowns, and Covid restrictions.

However, Terry managed to get the new sponsored Masham golf shirts off the ground (all proceeds going to YAA) as well as one or two improvised club competitions organised by both captains for the men's and ladies' sections, plus the charity box which was available throughout the year if and when the club house was allowed to operate.

And so, after all the hurdles that where put before the captains and the club last year, it was with some feeling of achievement that Terry, (Jean unable to be present) was able to hand over a cheque for £3,702 to Tessa Klemz on behalf of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Tessa said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to captains Terry Jobling and Jean Ogden and all the members of Masham Golf Club for raising £3,702 for Yorkshire Air Ambulance during such a difficult year, when most charities have been unable to fundraise in the usual way.

"It has been a challenging year for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the support and generosity we receive really is the lifeblood of our charity. The generous donation provides a valuable boost to our funds and will help greatly towards the £12,000 a day it costs to keep both of Yorkshire’s air ambulances flying across the region and saving lives.”

The 2021 captains are David Pickard and Pam Brown, while the club's charity for the new year is South Cleveland Heart Fund. Since being set up over 25 years ago, the fund has raised more than £3m for the region's heart unit.

Chairman and founder, Dr Adrian Davies said the volunteer committee who run the fund were "delighted" it has been chosen by Masham Golf Club to be its nominated charity for 2021.