REIGNING champions Bishop Auckland are already making headway in their attempts to retain the Mail on Sunday National Golf Club Classic crown.

After beating Stressholme in the opening round of this year's Classic in February, Bishops claimed a crucial 3-1 victory over Houghton-le-Spring at the second stage.

There are still a number of ties to be played before they can seriously start to think about getting their hands on the prestigious trophy for the second successive year - a feat never previously achieved in the competition's history.

The six players - Graham Milne, Gerald Johnson, Nigel Dodd, David Whales, Wayne Hewitt and Jamie Birkbeck - all played their part ahead of last November's success at Spain's El Bosque course and now the same group are gunning for glory again.

Bishop Auckland club secretary Allan Milne, a former captain, hopes that the squad can maintain the impressive form. "It was an incredible time for this club," said Milne, who expects to hear who the opposition will be in the third round next week. "There are over 3,000 entries so it is some achievement to do what our team did last time around.

"At this stage of the competition it is regionally based but by the time the quarter-finals come around matches are played all over. We are just in the process of getting a bigger trophy cabinet to put some of the recent things we have been picking up in. It's been nice to be recognised for our achievements."

From their six-man squad, only four play in a match and against Houghton-le-Spring team manager Johnson, Dodd and Birkbeck all won to ensure they progressed despite a defeat for Whales.

Bishops, now captained by Mick Burdess, have a hard act to follow after their incredible medals haul in 2003.

As well as the victorious run in the Mail on Sunday National Golf Club Classic, there was also joy in the Dixon Cup and the Durham County Golf Union Junior Southern League.

But a big highlight was when they claimed the Teesside Union First Division championship and hopes are high for a repeat when it starts again on May 12.

* The preliminary round of the Clark Cup - with 40 teams entered this time - has been made and 2003 champions Blackwell Grange have been paired with Dinsdale Spa.

All ties of the trophy, part of the DCGU season, have to be played by May 3. All club captains are asked to inform the County secretary of the result of their match as soon as the match is completed. 40 Clubs have entered the Clark Cup in 2004.

Draw: Seaham v Seaton Carew; Mount Oswald v Garesfield; Dinsdale Spa v Blackwell Grange; Darlington v Chester-le-Street; G. Washington v Stressholme; Houghton le Spring v Whickham; Barnard Castle v South Moor; Hydro v Whitburn.

* The draw for the preliminary rounds of the Northumberland & Durham Inter County Foursomes has also been made. This will be held at Castle Eden Golf Club on March 27.

Preliminary round: Match A 9.30am Hydro v Tyneside 3/2; Match B 9.40am Eaglescliffe v The Ramside 3/2; Match C 9.50am Houghton-le-Spring 19th v Billingham; Match D 10.00am Blackwell Grange 1 up v G. Washington; Match E 10.10am The Wynyard 1 up v Beamish Park.

The first and second rounds will then take place at Whitburn GC on April 3 with the next two rounds taking place at the same venue the following day. Then on April 17 Seahouses GC will host the final.

All competitors in the foursomes are asked to make themselves aware of any dress rules at the host club.