Scottish Vets team to play against Irish Select announced

The Scottish Vets team to play against an Irish Senior Select team on 18 - 19 April over Portmarnock Links has been announced today. This annual tussle for the Mary McKenna Perpetual Trophy is - and isn't - the tenth anniversary of the competition. In 2006 the Irish ladies were in the process of administrative change and did not host the competition. Both sides had been slightly worried that this very popular event might disappear off the Vets Calendar but no such worries.

This year, amid celebrations of its tenth anniversary, the competition will take place over Portmarnock Links, outside Dublin, on a fairly new , but very exciting course designed by Bernard Langer. The format will be exactly the same as usual, with a four ball on Day One and singles on Day Two. The beauty of this competition is that it is fought in a very friendly atmosphere, but with daggers drawn. However the singles matches are drawn out of a hat which always causes great excitement and laughter as no one ever knows who they will play.

The team is possibly a little surprising in that there are changes from last year's winning Vets' team at Bath in the Jamboree. The captain, Pamela Williamson of Baberton - who also captained the winning team in the Senior Home Internationals at Newport - has introduced a new face - Alex Glennie from the West. Two caps from the winning Home International Team at Newport, no doubt disappointing for them, are now first and second reserves, the first of whom, Kathleen Sutherland from Royal Montrose was a reserve to the team, only being brought in when Lorna Bennett of Ladybank withdrew for personal reasons. Lorna has resumed her rightful place in the team. Noreen Fenton of Dunbar who did not play at Bath but was in the winning team at Newport has been recalled, whereas Helen Faulds from Douglas Park, who played in Bath for the successful winning team, a reserve at Newport, has now been selected. She will have a busy three days as she is also the Vice-captain.

The team therefore is as follows:

Heather Anderson (Rosemount)
Lorna Bennett (Ladybank)
Fiona de Vries (St Rule)
Helen Faulds (Douglas Park)
Noreen Fenton (Dunbar)
Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie)
Mary Smith (Tain)
Moira Thomson(Gullane)
First reserve: Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose)
Second reserve: Fiona Hunter (Baberton)
Captain Pamela Williamson (Baberton)
Vice-captain Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) - member of the team

Good luck to the team. Lots more news will follow as snow boots are abandonned and the golf clubs come out for good.