NICK Uttley has helped to ease his first major headache ahead of this weekend's qualifying for the ELGA Championship.

Although he has reached the final in the past two years and carried off the Harold Ryden Trophy in 2002, it's getting through the initial two rounds of qualifying that is the Nelson golfer's main concern.

So his confidence will have been boosted by his victory in the Northern Order of Merit event at Manchester at the weekend, taking the Hubert Trophy with rounds of 71 and 69.

A repeat performance on Saturday should be enough to see him through to the last eight again as the cream of East Lancashire clash at Clitheroe.

Uttley said: "It was my first 36-hole competition so I'm happy with that result and hope I can carry on the good form into Saturday.

"I haven't played a great deal but Sunday has given my confidence memory bank a boost.

"The hardest thing in the Harold Ryden is the qualifying because only eight go through, so you can't even start thinking of the match-play. One bad hole and you're out of it."

The ELGA Championship always throws up a gruelling schedule for Uttley and his Nelson team-mates, who two weeks ago won the ELGA Scratch Shield at Darwen.

Their club's Trafalgar Trophy is held on the Sunday after qualifying, with the Harold Ryden quarter-finals on the Monday, semis on Tuesday and final on Wednesday.

Uttley said: "By the end of the Wednesday last year I was gone. The Trafalgar is another 36 holes on the Sunday then you have three match-play games for the next three days so it's hard work."

It will also be tough for Uttley to wrestle the trophy back from holder Trevor Foster, who beat him in last year's final to record his first triumph.

After 10 years of not playing the event, Foster chose to compete at his home club Accrington in 2003 and he has no intention of loosening his grip, especially now he has run into some form of his own.

Not only was he part of Accrington's winning four man team on Sunday, but they achieved the feat at Clitheroe, teeing up Foster nicely for Saturday's return.

He said: "Clitheroe is in really good condition, and I must admit I'd like to retain the Ryden. I don't like giving up something that I've won so I'm determined to do well.

"But you can't be too confident because you have to keep a cool head in qualifying.

"Everyone has bad holes and you have to make sure they don't happen on days like that but it's easier said than done."

Foster tees off one group ahead of his son Ryan, while Blackburn's Martyn Brooks will also be immediately following his lad, Jack, round the course.

Last year's ELGA junior champion Steven McGlynn is in the group before his dad Mark in another father and son pairing from Blackburn.

Steven will be paired up with a former senior champion, John Grimshaw from Darwen, who took the title the last time it was held at Clitheroe 10 years ago.

Other previous winners who will be going for glory include Burnley pair Ben Scott and twice champion Andy Samuels, another golfer in threatening form after shooting a 68 to take the Scratch Medal a fortnight ago.

Wilpshire's Tony Holt is looking for his second triumph after winning in 1998 and Clitheroe's Mark Ashworth could also be one to watch after finishing sixth in the Hubert Trophy behind Uttley.