Lema Townsend and Joanne Lane at Collingtree Park
At 10.15 all the Northants ladies gathered ready for the 11am start but where were the opposition? Captain Janice phoned to warn us that her team were all having problems negotiating the M1 and A5. Eventually, ladies began to trickle in and the match could get under way. This was when the heavens decided to open and the heavy showers started. On went the waterproofs and up went the umbrellas.
Carol (match secretary) and I went to the first tee and were pleasantly surprised to find a gentleman waiting to start all the players off. I must praise all the ladies at this point- no one really moaned about the weather - "stiff upper lip and we are all Englishmen" mentality. The first six groups had horrifying conditions to contend with right from the first tee as the rain lashed down. The starter admired their cheerfulness and told me that each and every one of them thanked him for being there- that made his day.
For most players the showers had eased by the back nine and the temperature rose. I ventured out at this point to watch some of the players. The visitors were thoroughly enjoying playing the course which they found interesting and testing. Locals noticed the various changes to the layout of the course since the selling of part of it for more housing development. The fairways desperately needed the rain. Overall the course was in great condition and well maintained. The signature hole was a talking point having swallowed up many of the players' balls.
The members at Collingtree have clubbed together to try and make it a success and I'd like to thank Brenda for all her help in arranging the fixture, ordering the meals and welcoming us all. The skeletal staff for a Monday coped very well with so many ladies- the chef was really amenable. I heard some of the visitors say that they may recommend Collingtree as a location for an Away Day to their relative captains. I hope they do.
I'd like to thank all the Northants ladies for making my day so enjoyable and pleasant - I was very proud to be your captain today.
Lizzie Crow
| Matches | Northamptonshire | Result | Points | Leicestershire & Rutland | Result | Points |
| 1 |
Oggie Wentworth Charlie Astbury |
4&2 | 1 |
Suzanne Pretty Sarah Bowler |
|
|
| 2 |
Linda Sherry Lorraine Chadwick-Colmar |
3&2 | 1 |
Corinne Boyd Helen Shaw |
|
|
| 3 |
Joanne Lane Lema Townsend |
|
|
Trish Formoy Annette O'meara |
1up | 1 |
| 4 |
Alison Irvine Olly Hickman |
1up | 1 |
Helen Sheratt Cathy Russell |
|
|
| 5 |
Gill Snelson Pauline Hurley |
|
|
Angela Duck Rita Watts |
5&4 | 1 |
| 6 |
Annie Goodchild Pat Silburn |
3&2 | 1 |
Kate Elliott Bev Roebuck |
|
|
| 7 |
Ros Cuthbert Louise Harte |
2&1 | 1 |
Gail Neil Andrea Porter
|
|
|
| 8 |
Rachael Fisher Kerry Hambleton |
10&8 | 1 |
Sue Barker |
|
|
| Result |
|
|
6 |
|
|
2 |
Heavens opened for the first hour of play
The fairways needed the rain
Gil's visor the day after the night before
