A GOLF captain refused to let a broken ankle stand in the way of his club’s biggest day of the year.

Overseeing the Captain’s Day at Green Haworth Golf Club, 57-year-old Jim Swan, was looking forward to it as much as the 80 people due to participate.

But when he fell down some steps on the ninth green at the Hyndburn club, leading to incredible pain in his ankle, a trip to the hospital was unavoidable.

As soon as the injury was in plaster however, Jim returned to the club to continue overseeing Saturday’s events.

Though it was no longer possible for him to play as he had planned, he stayed the entire day and took part in the concluding presentation ceremony – without taking any painkillers.

Jim, a works manager at SP Fabrications in Blackburn said: “The first 24 people had just had a go on the ninth green when I went to check the pins were in the right position.

“I walked down and came off some steps and twisted my ankle.

“Right away I thought ‘that’s broken’.

“I ended up sitting on the putting green in agony.

“When my wife arrived she had a look at my ankle and agreed with me that it was broken, so we both went to the hospital.

“When I was all plastered up, I knew I couldn’t play but it was my captain’s day, so we went back to the club.

“I spent the whole day in agony but it was worth it. I don’t like taking painkillers and I try not to, so I didn’t on the day – though I have done since.”

The event is the club’s biggest day, where 24 winners and high scorers from four qualifiers throughout the year compete.

An additional competition is put on for members who didn’t qualify seeing around 80 people take part in the annual event.

This year, the winner of the Captain’s Prize was Dean Grimshaw.

Club member Les Moss said: “The show must go on and Jim made sure he gave it his all.

"No one could believe he came back with his leg in plaster.

“It must have been a very long day for him.”