BOB Allen finished top of the pile out of 72 players as Cirencester seniors held their December stableford.

Allen’s victory owed much to an impressive outward nine where he amassed 25 points before keeping his game together to finish on 43.

This would normally have been enough to be clear of the field, but benign weather conditions and a course in superb shape meant other players were snapping at his heels.

The best of these was Jim Donovan who showed greatly improved form from November’s competition, with his 42 points placing him second overall and giving him Division One victory.

Donovan birdied the third and fifth and dropped a measly two shots in his opening nine.

Mike Bishop was third in Division One with 40 points while David Jones (39) and John Pugh (37) were fourth and fifth respectively.

Colin Gilbert finished his round strongly to secure second in Division Two with 41 points. Geoff Southwell, Peter Knight and Jack Bastow took the minor places.

The November greensomes competition was won by Andrew Somerville and Ian Hunter after countback, with Graham Morgan and John Morris in runner-up spot.

John King and John Slaven took third with Robert Tweedale and David Golding in fourth.