County Week 2015
Enville Golf Club, Highgate Course, Staffordshire - 29th June to 3rd July
Enville Golf Club, Highgate Common, Enville, Stourbridge, West Midlands, DY7 5BN
All information about this year's competition and venue can be accessed on the Staffordshire Ladies website.
The Team
In alphabetical order: Rachel Boulton, Emily Cheshire, Esme Hamilton, Emma Howie, Emily Lyle, Emma Newlove, Sophie Newlove, Jodie Peacock, Lauren Spray. Captain: Kathryn Horberry. Non-travelling reserves: Caron Harrison, Laura Morris.
The Draw
| Mon 29 June | Tues 30 June | Wed 1 July | Thurs 2 July | Fri 3 July |
|
Shrops v Leics Staffs v Notts Lincs v Derbys |
Staffs v Lincs Leics v Notts Derbys v Shrops |
Notts v Derbys Shrops v Lincs Staffs v Leics |
Shrops v Staffs Leics v Derbys Lincs v Notts |
Lincs v Leics Derbys v Staffs Notts v Shrops |
The Results
| Notts | Derbys | Leics | Lincs | Shrops | Staffs | TOTAL | |
| Notts | 1 (5) | 1 (6) | 1 (7½) | 1 (6) | 0 (3½) | 4 (28) | |
| Derbys | 0 (4) | 0 (3) | 0 (4) | 1 (7½) | 0 (3) | 1 (21½) | |
| Leics | 0 (3) | 1 (6) | 0 (2) | 0 (4) | 0 (3) | 1 (18) | |
| Lincs | 0 (1½) | 1 (5) | 1 (7) | 1 (7) | 1 (5) | 4 (25½) | |
| Shrops | 0 (3) | 0 (1½) | 1 (5) | 0 (2) | 0 (4) | 1 (15½) | |
| Staffs | 1 (5½) | 1 (6) | 1 (6) | 0 (4) | 1 (5) | 4 (26½) |
Winners - Nottinghamshire; Runners Up - Staffordshire
The Midlands North Region Inter-County Matches 2015 were played on the Highgate Course at Enville Golf Club, Staffordshire from June 28th to 3rd of July. Competing against each other in scratch match-play format were Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Staffordshire and Shropshire.
The event started with a practice round on the first day and the players enjoyed learning about the course. Our rookie Esme Hamilton started her golfing career with the Notts 1st team by opening with an eagle on the par 5 first hole! Later in the day was the team photograph session - the Notts team looked smart in their red cardigans! This was followed by the welcome party and a delicious meal.
The main event took place over the next 5 days with Nottinghamshire playing against a different county each day. Each match consisted of 3 foursomes games in the morning and 6 singles in the afternoon.
The players representing Nottinghamshire were County Champion Rachel Boulton, Emily Cheshire, Esme Hamilton, Emma Howie, Emily Lyle, Emma Newlove, Sophie Newlove, Jodie Peacock and Lauren Spray accompanied by the County President Joan Underwood, County Captain Kathryn Horberry, and County Vice-Captains Pam Loch and Helen Maber.
On the first day Nottinghamshire put up a good fight but just failed to beat Staffordshire losing by 3½ to 5½ but the games were very close with many going to the last 2 holes. It is always hard to play against the home team so early in the tournament as they have the advantage of local knowledge. However there was still everything to play for as the results were close between the other counties. Shropshire beat Leicestershire 5-4 and Lincolnshire beat Derbyshire 5-4.
On the second day Notts boosted their confidence with a great win over Leicestershire, beating them 6-3 in extremely hot weather. We narrowly lost the foursomes by 2 games to 1 but came back strongly in the singles to win 5 games out of 6. Lincolnshire beat Staffordshire 5-4 and Derbyshire beat Shropshire 7½-1½. This meant that Lincolnshire were the only county with 100% record.
On the third day Notts added to their wins beating Derbyshire 5-4 in very humid weather. Again they narrowly lost the foursomes by 2 games to 1 but came back strongly in the singles to win 4 games out of 6. Lincolnshire beat Shropshire 7-2 to maintain their 100% record and Staffordshire beat Leicestershire 6-3.
On day four Notts faced Lincolnshire in the crucial match which Notts had to win to have any chance of overtaking Lincolnshire. Notts finally got off to a great start winning all three foursomes and then continued with four wins and a half in the six singles to achieve the dream result of beating Lincolnshire 7½-1½. In the other matches Staffordshire beat Shropshire 5-4 and Leicestershire beat Derbyshire 6-3. This meant that Notts finished the day tied with Staffordshire and Lincolnshire on 3 match points each. But Notts were top of the table based on the number of games won - having won 22 against Staffordshire's 20½ and Lincolnshire's 18½.
On the final day all the 3 teams in contention had 2-1 foursomes wins so Notts still maintained their game point advantage over their rivals. After Notts had won the top 3 singles games we knew that we had reached our target of beating 4 counties and therefore the outcome would depend on the number of game points won. We didn't know whether to trust the feedback that our nearest rivals Staffordshire had won their match 6-3 and so they couldnt overtake us! Eventually Pam came back with the confirmation - great excitement Notts had taken the trophy which was last won by them in the year 2000! Meanwhile we had secured another singles point to eventually win our match 6-3.
The runners-up were Staffordshire and Lincolnshire finished in third place. There were great celebrations after the presentation with Joan and I getting doused with champagne! A truly memorable week for us all.
Notts now go forward to another week of matches at the County Finals to play against each of the winning counties from the regions of Midlands South, the North, the East, the South and the South West. These matches are to be played at Frilford Heath Golf Club from September 14th to 18th with the practice day on the 13th. Your support will be most welcome.
Special mention must be made that Emily Lyle won all of her 5 singles matches and was presented with her county first team colours along with Rachel Boulton, Jodie Peacock and Sophie Newlove.
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Thank you to everyone who sent their good wishes and cards and to those who came to support. I am indebted to the support received from Joan, and Pam and Helen over the week and from the players who got on so well together. I have received many congratulations since the event but I feel the success is the result of the efforts made by our previous captains, committees and junior committees as well as our current committee.
Looking forward to the challenges of Frilford Heath, Oxfordshire.
Images by: www.andrewcooperphotographer.co.uk
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Monday Results: Notts lost 5½ - 3½; Shrops beat Leics 5 - 4; Lincs beat Derbys 5 - 4
| Nottinghamshire v Staffordshire | |||||
| Foursomes | |||||
| Notts | Rslt | Pts | Staffs | Rslt | Pts |
|
Emma Newlove Emily Lyle |
2/1 | 1 |
Julie Brown Emily Coleman |
0 | |
|
Lauren Spray Esme Hamilton |
0 |
Beth Round Sam Meese |
2up | 1 | |
|
Emily Cheshire Emma Howie |
0 |
Olivia Raybould Julia Gaunt |
2/1 | 1 | |
| Singles | |||||
| Emma Newlove | A/S | ½ | Emily Coleman | A/S | ½ |
| Emily Lyle | 3/2 | 1 | Gina Wilkie | 0 | |
| Lauren Spray | 2/1 | 1 | Olivia Raybould | 0 | |
| Esme Hamilton | 0 | Holly Langford | 4/2 | 1 | |
| Jodie Peacock | 0 | Sam Meese | 2/1 | 1 | |
| Sophie Newlove | 0 | Beth Round | 2up | 1 | |
| TOTAL | 3½ | TOTAL | 5½ | ||
Tuesday Results: Notts won 6 - 3; Lincs beat Staffs 5 - 4; Derbys beat Shrops 7½ - 1½
| Nottinghamshire v Leicestershire | |||||
| Foursomes | |||||
| Notts | Rslt | Pts | Leics | Rslt | Pts |
|
Rachel Boulton Lauren Spray |
4/3 | 1 |
Briony Allen Lydia Sharpe |
0 | |
|
Sophie Newlove Jodie Peacock |
0 |
Gemma Parkes Emma Watson |
1up | 1 | |
|
Emma Newlove Emily Cheshire |
0 |
Imogen Huxley Caz Walley |
4/3 | 1 | |
| Singles | |||||
| Jodie Peacock | 6/5 | 1 | Briony Allen | 0 | |
| Lauren Spray | 5/3 | 1 | Alice Watson | 0 | |
| Emily Lyle | 2up | 1 | Imogen Huxley | 0 | |
| Emma Newlove | 3/2 | 1 | Gemma Parkes | 0 | |
| Sophie Newlove | 0 | Caz Walley | 3/1 | 1 | |
| Rachel Boulton | 3/2 | 1 | Emma Watson | 0 | |
| TOTAL | 6 | TOTAL | 3 | ||
Wednesday Results: Notts won 5 - 4; Lincs beat Shrops 7 - 2; Staffs beat Leics 6 - 3
| Nottinghamshire v Derbyshire | |||||
| Foursomes | |||||
| Notts | Rslt | Pts | Derbys | Rslt | Pts |
|
Emily Lyle Esme Hamilton |
0 |
Kim Bradbury Olivia Kelly |
4/2 | 1 | |
|
Jodie Peacock Sophie Newlove |
4/3 | 1 |
Alison Smith Carol Simpson |
0 | |
|
Rachel Boulton Emily Cheshire |
0 |
Aimee Wilson Catrin Russell |
6/5 | 1 | |
| Singles | |||||
| Emma Newlove | 0 | Kim Bradbury | 5/3 | 1 | |
| Emily Lyle | 4/3 | 1 | Francesca Bougen | 0 | |
| Jodie Peacock | 2/1 | 1 | Alison Smith | 0 | |
| Sophie Newlove | 5/4 | 1 | Olivia Kelly | 0 | |
| Emma Howie | 2/1 | 1 | Lydia Ingman | 0 | |
| Rachel Boulton | 0 | Aimee Wilson | 2up | 1 | |
| TOTAL | 5 | TOTAL | 4 | ||
Thursday Results: Notts won 7½ - 1½; Staffs beat Shrops 5 - 4; Leics beat Derbys 6 - 3
| Nottinghamshire v Lincolnshire | |||||
| Foursomes | |||||
| Notts | Rslt | Pts | Lincs | Rslt | Pts |
|
Esme Hamilton Emma Howie |
2up | 1 |
Helen Hewlett Emma Tipping |
0 | |
|
Sophie Newlove Jodie Peacock |
2/1 | 1 |
Meg Illingworth Billie Jo Smith |
0 | |
|
Emma Newlove Emily Lyle |
5/4 | 1 |
Kirsty Condon Beth Shippin |
0 | |
| Singles | |||||
| Jodie Peacock | 0 | Helen Hewlett | 5/3 | 1 | |
| Emma Newlove | A/S | ½ | Billie Jo Smith | A/S | ½ |
| Emily Lyle | 4/2 | 1 | Emma Tipping | 0 | |
| Sophie Newlove | 2/1 | 1 | Kirsty Condon | 0 | |
| Rachel Boulton | 3/1 | 1 | Meg Illingworth | 0 | |
| Emma Howie | 4/2 | 1 | Beth Shippin | 0 | |
| TOTAL | 7½ | TOTAL | 1½ | ||
Friday Results: Notts won 6 - 3; Lincs beat Leics 7 - 2; Staffs beat Derbys 6 - 3
| Nottinghamshire v Shropshire | |||||
| Foursomes | |||||
| Notts | Rslt | Pts | Shrops | Rslt | Pts |
|
Esme Hamilton Emma Howie |
0 |
Katrina Gillum Harriet Allesbrook |
1up | 1 | |
|
Sophie Newlove Jodie Peacock |
2/1 | 1 |
Sophie Johnson Victoria Raffle |
0 | |
|
Emma Newlove Emily Lyle |
4/3 | 1 |
Helen White Tania Pearce |
0 | |
| Singles | |||||
| Emma Newlove | 7/6 | 1 | Isobel Green | 0 | |
| Emily Lyle | 3/2 | 1 | Tania Pearce | 0 | |
| Sophie Newlove | 5/3 | 1 | Helen White | 0 | |
| Jodie Peacock | 3/1 | 1 | Vicky Bradbeer | 0 | |
| Emma Howie | 0 | Harriet Allesbrook | 5/4 | 1 | |
| Rachel Boulton | 0 | Katrina Gillum | 2/1 | 1 | |
| TOTAL | 6 | TOTAL | 3 | ||
