Scotland win the Miller Stirling Trophy at Bath

It may not have been the traditional method of winning the Jamboree inasmuch as it was a foursome short of the agreed format, but who cares. With maximum points, Scotland were the clear winners and have lifted the trophy and none of the other teams should have anything untoward to say.

In the morning, before the rains came (back in Roman times the town planners must have scoured the country to find the wettest place in which to build Bath), Scotland drew with England South in the foursomes.

Lorna Bennett and Fiona de Vries halved with two players one of whom, Carol Caldwell was a very old adversary but a weil-kent face indeed, having appeared more years than can be remembered. Our second couple, Heather and Fiona had a very tight but successful game against two ladies who were included in last year's team. Moira and Mary had a tough game against the redoubtable Chris Stirling and her partner Jeannie O'Keefe, also in last year's team. Unfortunately they lost, but only on the 17th.

So tactics were discussed over lunch and over the drawn scoreline. Helen and Kathleen, who were supposed to be 'resting' while the others slogged round the course, took this quite literally and were to be seen slumped in the top deck of the English equivalent of a 'Guid Friday' bus, occasionally rising to their feet to take photographs like their Japanese cousins.

In the afternoon Scotland took the honours four games to two.

Results

Morning Foursomes

Fiona de Vries and Lorna Bennett halved with Carole Caldwell and Jo Rumsey

Heather Anderson and Fiona Hunter beat Irene Brien and Cathy Armstrong 3 and 1

Mary Smith and Moira Thomson lost to Jeannie O'Keefe and Chris Stirling 2 and 1

Afternoon Singles

Fiona de Vries lost to Jeannie O'Keefe 1 hole

Lorna Bennett beat Carol Caldwell 0ne up

Heather Anderson beat Jo Rumsey 7 and 6

Kathleen Sutherland beat Irene Brien 5 and 3

Moira Thomson beat Cathy Armstrong 1 hole

Helen Faulds lost to Chris Stirling 2 and 1

Scotland 5 1/2 English South 3 1/2

In the afternoon, it rained - again - but who noticed. No one needed dry things the next day. Many of the games were very close indeed. Many old scores were settled! Many games were won with a generous margin but NO games were lost in similar vein. Fiona de Vries must have been extremely disappointed to lose when she had six birdies in her game against Jeannie O'Keefe, such was the quality of the golf. Congratulations also go to the management team of Lynne Terry, Pamela Williamson, Isobel McIntosh and the invisible but tireless Jean Lambert. After the presentation of the Miller Stirling Trophy, requests over the telephone were made for interesting chitchat to the afternoon play but little was to be gleaned above the babel in the background. The Vice-captain was only just heard saying that there had been "super golf" played this afternoon. Well done everyone.
PS Pictures of the winning team and their trophy have been promised for tomorrow.