Lightning may have struck twice with Limerick County Golf Club's success for a second successive year in last year's Musgrave Crumlin Children's Hospital National Club Challenge, editorially supported by The Irish Times, but initial entries indicate that they will face an uphill challenge if they are to keep their hands on the title this time round.

Now in its fourth year, the competition has raised over £150,000 for Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children - and, as ever, the winners of the four provincial sections this year will compete in the national finals which will take place in the Algarve in October.

Clubs - affiliated to the GUI and/or ILGU - are requested to hold qualifying competitions over the summer months. The competition is a rumble format for three-player teams with the first six holes one score to count, second six holes two scores to count and the final six holes all scores to count. All scoring will be on the stableford system using the card of the day.

Team entry fee will be decided by each club with a recommended fee of £30 per team and entries may comprise any combination of men, women or mixed teams. Competitors must be over 18 years of age and have a full GUI or ILGU handicap.

This year's provincial finals will be staged at Lee Valley (Munster final, September 3rd), Mullingar (Leinster final, September 6th), Roscommon (Connacht final, September 10th) and Nuremore (Ulster final, September 13th).

The winning provincial teams - and club captains - will be invited to compete in the national finals in the Algarve on October 6th-13th.

Further information from tournament director, Pat Cashman, on 01-455 8455.