He has done it again! Doug Arnold, the Copthorne conjuror, retained the English Seniors' Championship to become only the second player to successfully defend the title.

At 56, Doug is playing better than ever and proved over 54 holes at rain-affected Frilford Heath that he is very much the man for the big occasion.

His level par 218 spreadeagled a field of 240 over-55s, leaving him four strokes clear of his closest rival.

This week Doug was again representing England in the European Nations Cup in France and basking in the warm afterglow of securing a second national crown.

Doug donated the award he won on Merseyside last year to the Copthorne club and they gave him a party. The second reception will be a less formal affair, for Doug is known to hate fuss and, given the chance, would run a mile from a speech-making ceremony.

Just before he set off last June, Doug left his wife with a flooded kitchen after a hose broke on their dishwasher.

There were no last-minute problems this time except when the face of his driver split during practice. Doug saw the Frilford pro, Derek Craik, and borrowed another Callaway that worked a treat.

Coming from behind, Doug began the last day a stroke adrift of playing partner David Lane but they were level when Lane bogeyed the short fouth. The long par five sixth proved the pivotal hole with a two-stroke swing as Lane bogeyed again and Doug holed for a birdie four.

He was never to lose the lead despite taking two penalty shots. His closing 72 was easily the best of the day.

The first penalty came when he drove into a bush on the seventh, reducing his lead to one. However, Lane, who never found his form on the greens, bogeyed the next two holes to turn in 40 while Doug fired a three iron to two feet at the 189-yard ninth for an outward half of 35 that put him four strokes clear.

It was at the 368-yard 17th that Doug landed the killer blow, landing a six iron a few feet behind the pin. Lane needed a similar effort but misjudged his approach and left it in a front bunker. Although Doug took his second penalty shot when his drive was plugged at the last, he had the title in his pocket for another year.

On perusing cards of 73, 73, 72, Doug looked content. He said: "When I arrived I just wanted to compete. I didn't want to make a fool of myself. I was very pleased to see so many fellow club members supporting me and I must say how good it was to play with David. He is a great guy."

The feeling, despite coming second, was reciprocated by Lane.

"Doug deserved to win," he said.

" He chipped and putted superbly. When he had a bad shot he recovered well."