RECORD entries have been received for this year's Bulmers All Ireland Cups and Shields, the premier events for club golfers in this country. According to the Golfing Union of Ireland, a total of 1,253 teams will be competing in the Irish Senior Cup, Irish Junior Cup, Barton Shield, Jimmy Bruen Shield and Pierce Purcell Shield.

This represents an extraordinary growth since we became involved in 1992," said, Patrick Kierans of the sponsoring company yesterday. Kierans went on 19 confirm that Bulmers will continue their sponsorship until the end of the century.

Overall, an additional 64 clubs will be in action this year. Irish Senior Cup entries have grown from 172 last year to 186 Junior Cup from 253 to 265 Barton Shield from 192 to 205 Bruen Shield from 266 to 277 and Purcell Shield from 306 to 320.

An estimated 17,090 golfers will take part, in th9 various competitions which will reach a climax with the national finals at Dundalk on September 18th to 20th.