Congratulations England Senior’s
Wonderful Women’s performance helps England Seniors win Home Internationals
England Seniors were crowned R&A Home Internationals champions after a stunning performance from the Women’s team in West Kilbride, Scotland (19-21 September).
Following England Men’s European Team Championship win in Czech Republic a couple of weeks prior, they managed to comfortably beat Ireland on the first day but lost their matches to Wales and Scotland.
However, the women were in sensational form as they recovered from their personal European Team Championship disappointment by fighting out a tie with Ireland on day one before defeating Wales and then thumping Scotland on the final day to secure the title for England.
All six women’s singles matches were won on the final day as the ladies delivered a top-drawer performance to secure a 7.5-1.5 win over the Scots on Thursday.
England Seniors Captain for the tournament, Angela Jones, said: “We’re extremely pleased. It was a special day. It’s nice to come north and win the trophy, especially on Scottish turf. There was a key moment against Wales because we needed to avoid defeat and in the very last game out, Catherine Rawthore and Tracey Williamson secured the win on the 18th green with a birdie that was crucial, as we ended up drawing 9-9 overall.
“Going into the final day, we knew if we won all our singles matches we might be able to win the Sue Johnson Trophy (women’s title) as well as the overall title. Everyone contributed.
“One of the things that was really important this year was that we made it feel like a team as it’s been difficult because we don’t play with each other in events around the country during the year. But Andrew Atkinson and I focused on that and it really worked. That was important but the women were fantastic on the final day and to win like we did against Scotland and win all six singles matches – which has to be some kind of record – was amazing.”
England Senior Men’s Captain Andrew Atkinson added: “Despite a brave effort from the men, sadly we weren’t able to bring home the men’s title, but the women were absolutely brilliant to help us seal the overall win. Conditions were brutal with heavy rain on Tuesday, high winds on Wednesday and it was cold and miserable on Thursday, but the women were wonderful and it is another fantastic win for England.”
Day 1 Results
Overall: England 10 – 8 Ireland
Women: England 4.5 – 4.5 Ireland
Men: England 5.5 – 3.5 Ireland
Day 2 Results
Overall: England 9 – 9 Wales
Women: England 5 – 4 Wales
Men: England 4 – 5 Wales
Day 3 Results
Overall: England 11 – 7 Scotland
Women: England 7.5 – 1.5 Scotland
Men: England 3.5 – 5.5 Scotland
View the final tables on the links below:
Overall
Women
Men
England Senior Women’s team
Kerry Smith, Waterlooville, Hampshire
Jackie Foster, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire
Cath Rawthore, Sale, Cheshire
Emma Brown, Malton & Norton, Yorkshire
Sally Shayler, Bedfordshire GC, Bedfordshire
Tracey Williamson, Sheringham, Norfolk
Aileen Greenfield, Pyecombe, Sussex
Team Captain – Angela Jones, Canterbury, Kent
England Senior Men’s team
John Kemp, Woburn, Buckinghamshire
Trevor Foster, Pleasington, Lancashire
Stephen Creed, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
Aide Firman, Luffenham Heath, Leics & Rutland
Ian Ashenden, Northwood, Middlesex
Edward Richardson, Redlibbets, Kent
Richard Jones, Rotherham, Yorkshire
Senior Men’s Captain – Andrew Atkinson, Windermere, Cumbria
