January

MALVERN Town opened the year with a new signing, Dean Roberts, from Evesham United. The 20-year-old promptly scored on his debut in the 1-1 draw with Walsall Wood then popped in two on his home debut in the 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Casuals.

MALVERN RFC had to watch while opponents Longton lobbied for a postponement of their fixture at Spring Lane before running away 26-10 winners on the thawing pitch.

MORGAN Motor Company unveiled its new GT (N) racer at the Autosport International Show. The car was developed around the Aero 8 under the eye of 1962 Le Mans 24-hour class winner Christopher Lawrence.

UPTON RFC completed January unbeaten in six games with wins against Warley (47-5) and Bishops Castle (16-13) but the first week of February brought the run to an end with a 14-8 reverse to Redditch.

LEDBURY Town's star marksman Robbie Colwell needed 12 stitches after an horrific eye injury in the 4-2 defeat against Darlaston Town. He recovered to score in each of the remaining games in January.

UNBEATEN since October, Ledbury RFC won a top of the table clash against Earlsdon at Ross Road. Joint second in the league with Ledbury, Earlsdon went down 29-5. The following week the leaders Southam suffered 39-8 as Ledbury hit the top.

February

WEST Malvern Cricket Club was presented with its first ever trophy when the Worcester Evening League's Fair Play Award was handed over. Secretary Dave Cantrell said the award "epitomises the qualities the club instils".

THERE was success too for Mathon, Cradley and Storridge Men's A tennis team, which won their Winter League division with a 4-0 victory at Hallow.

IT was a tough month for Malvern RFC as they lost 36-8 to league leaders Broadstreet and then crashed 48-12 to Walsall, relegated from the National League in 2001. The one bright spot was a 58-12 North Midlands Cup win at Luctonians.

MALVERN Town saw a 3-1 lead evaporate against Darlaston Town, losing 4-3 but a 4-0 win against Bromyard was a highlight, Wes Joyce netting twice.

STORRIDGE'S Harry Solven was named Herefordshire Sports Council's junior sports personality of the year. The 16-year-old windsurfer followed his brother Guy's success in 2001.

PLANS to create a Ledbury Running Club were being launched with an inaugural meeting attracting 25 interested athletes at Ledbury Rugby Club's Ross Road ground.

FORMER Upton RFC Ladies player Julie Coltman was named RFUW Clubwoman of the Year at the annual awards at Worcester Rugby Club.

March

JOINT North Midlands One leaders Yardley and District came unstuck when they visited Upton, going down 16-15. Rob Heeley secured the win, his penalty was the last kick of the game.

INDOOR rower Anna Bailey, from Hanley Swan, took gold in the 50-59 heavyweight class at the World Indoor Rowing Championships, held in Boston, USA, adding to a bronze won the previous year at the event.

MALVERN Rangers contested the final of the WFA Junior Cup, finishing on the wrong end of a 3-1 scoreline after extra time. A goal for opponents Littleton seconds from the end of normal time denied Rangers, who conceded twice in extra time.

MALVERN RFC gained revenge over Hereford for defeat earlier in the season in dramatic style. A drop goal at the death by Andy Longley gave them a 26-24 win.

CALLOW End racehorse owner and Aston Villa fanatic Jim Lewis saw his horse Best Mate win the Cheltenham Gold Cup in a tense finish. Jockey Jim Culloty - dressed in Villa's claret and blue - steered the seven-year-old bay home by a length and three quarters.

HAVING previously defeated Malvern and Ledbury, it was left to Bromyard to teach Darlaston Town a lesson or two, the Herefordshire outfit thumping in seven goals in a 7-3 win. Luke Willetts was star of the show with three.

THERE was joy for Ledbury RFC after the team secured promotion for the second season running. A 15-14 win away to Berkswell and Balsall guaranteed promotion with just the championship left to play for.

April

THE local derby saw Ledbury Town take the points as they defeated Malvern 2-1. Malvern took the lead through Chris Thomas but ex-Malvern player Duncan Preedy equalised and Stuart Hall netted the winner direct from a free kick.

MALVERN RFC gave retiring coach Rudy Smith a fine send-off with a 38-5 win at Banbury, cementing their position in Midlands One. Smith had been coach since 1994.

OLD Bush FC Willie Thorne were thrown out of Malvern Football League's President's Cup ahead of their first ever final. The side were penalised for using four ineligible players in their 4-1 semi-final win over Morgan Aero 8, who were promoted to finalists.

TONI McMillan-Wellings celebrated her 90th birthday with friends in the Ladies section at Worcestershire Golf Club. Six holes in the morning was followed by birthday cake in the afternoon.

STAUNTON wheelchair basketball player Dean Smith helped his team, RGK Midland Panthers, through to the European Cup finals in Italy. Wins against teams from Belgium, Russia and Turkey saw the Panthers through to the finals.

LEDBURY RFC's 44-12 win over Coventry Welsh and Southam's defeat at Droitwich gave the Herefordshire side the championship to go with promotion.

THERE was joy also for the Ledbury Swifts Under 15 team, which won the Stuart Sheehan Cup with a 4-3 win against Westfields.

May

RICHARD Neale opened the cricket season in style in Malvern Cricket Club Second XI's first match. His 25 with the bat in Malvern's competitive 148 all out was followed with all ten Oldswinford wickets for just 44 runs. He broke a club record from the 70s of nine wickets - also against Oldswinford.

BULL Allstars were crowned champions of the Malvern Football League Division One after a 4-1 victory over nearest rivals AC30. The win was Bull Allstars' 19th consecutive victory and ended AC30's unbeaten home record, although the side did go on to win the Sunday Senior Cup, defeating Kempsey United 2-1.

IN front of a generous crowd, Bell Inn '98 secured the President's Cup with a 2-0 win over Morgan Aero 8. Tim Febery's first half goal was followed by one for Ashley Jones, ten minutes after the restart.

MALVERN Town U17s secured their third trophy of the season, the Malvern Football League's Rosebowl, with a 2-0 win over Welland. The side were already Malvern Football League U18s Youth Division champions and WFA Sunday U18s Youth Cup winners.

MALVERN RFC tasted glory in the North Midlands Cup with a 47-8 win over Aston Old Edwardians. Both teams were making their debuts in the final of the 30-year-old competition but tries for Longley, Young, Thomas, Merlin, Hughes and Blakeway saw Malvern home.

LEDBURY and District ASC retained the Penguin Pairs trophy for the second year after a gala win at Ross-on-Wye. The following week 16 records went at the club's third championship gala.

BROMYARD Town became the first team from the West Midlands league to reach the Smedley Crooke Memorial Cup final. They capped that achievement with a 3-2 win over Shirley Town, securing a trophy first awarded in 1919 in memory of local sportsmen lost in the Great War.

LEDBURY RFC followed up their Midlands West (Three) league championship with victory in the first ever North Midlands Shield final. The silverware was secured with a 13-5 win over Old Saltleians. Flanker Jerry Tanner's try and the boot of Dave Robinson provided the winning points.

ROBERT Farrington, from Wellington Heath, won the boys 14 and under class at the British Orienteering Championship in Northern Ireland. The John Masefield pupil also teamed up with Daniel Hartmann, of Malvern, and Matthew Evans, of Lickey, to win the British U14 relay title.

June

MALVERN and District Snooker League held its last finals of the year with wins for Jon Lewis (handicap singles) of Willie Thorne E, Jon Lewis and Harry Fletcher (handicap pairs) of Willie Thorne E and Reg Bayliss (Veterans Singles) of Wells A.

MALVERN'S good start to the Worcestershire County League Division Two season continued with a four wicket win over newly promoted Martley. Skipper Neal Thompson showed the way with excellent figures of 8-47.

WORCESTER Nomads celebrated their 75th anniversary with a summer ball and a game against an invitation XI from the Gentlemen of Worcestershire. Derek Randall was the guest speaker at the anniversary dinner.

MALVERN Ju-jutsu star Hannah Stimson, aged 12, won the Midland Championship for the fourth time to add to her growing pile of trophies and titles.

GRASS track racing returned to the Three Counties Showground for the first time since 1989 and thousands turned out to watch. The event was organised by the Malvern and District Motor Cycle and Light Car Club.

MORGAN'S Le Mans adventure ended in the 18th hour with retirement due to engine failure but the team declared themselves happy with the progress they made.

LEDBURY Bowls Club welcomed the English Bowling Association's side as part of their 75th anniversary celebrations. The home side showed no respect for their illustrious visitors beating them by eight shots.

THE 22nd annual Dymock half marathon was won by Graham Patton (Massey Ferguson, Coventry) in 1.16.14. The ladies winner was Susan Bruce (Gloucester) with the first local runners being Annie Fox (Dymock) and Steve Reay (Upton Bishop).

EASTNOR departed from the National Village Knock-out with a semi-final defeat to local rivals Brockhampton by just four runs.