The Senior Home International Matches will begin at Elm Park Golf Club tomorrow with England will be looking to retain the trophy and seal a hat trick.


The Senior Home International Matches will begin at Elm Park Golf Club and Sports Club tomorrow where England will be looking to retain the trophy and seal a hat trick. Having already triumphed at womans and girls level, the senior side will be looking to build upon their previous success in this tournament to continue the nation's dominance.

The first matches for a trophy donated by Mrs Sue Johnson, OBE, were played at Whittington Heath Golf Club near Birmingham in 2003 and the 13th series will be hosted by Elm Park Golf and Sports Club, Dublin from September 30 to October 2.

Since the trophy was donated in 2003 England have been victorious eight times after regaining the championship last year from Ireland who topped the table in 2012 and 2013.

Scotland and Wales have not been shut out completely. The Welsh were champions in 2008 and the Scots in 2009.

England won all three matches 12 months ago but the defending champions' line-up, captained by Pat Wrightson, includes only three of last year's team of seven - Julie Brown (Trentham), the new Senior Ladies British Open Amateur Champion, Lulu Housman (Wyke Green) and Catherine Rawthorne, winner of the Seniors' title in 2014.

Ireland have the same captain, Mary Madden, and five of last year's squad of seven on duty again - Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna), Pat Doran (Donabate), Sheena McElroy (Grange), Irish seniors champion Gertie McMullen (The Island) and Laura Webb (Cairndhu).

Wales (Pam Valentine) and Scotland (Anna Telfer) also have the same team leaders as last year. Chris Harries (Llanwern), former Senior British Ladies' champion Ann Lewis (Royal St Davis), Jane Rees (Minchinhampton), Sharon Roberts (Cradoc) and Vicki Thomas (Carmarthen) all keep their places from 2014.

Scotland have Alison Bartlett (Royal Dornoch), Fiona De Vries (St Rule), Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie), Lesley Lloyd (Hayston) and Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies), winner recently of the Scottish Veteran Ladies' match-play title at Blairgowrie, retaining their 2014 places.

The order of play at Elm Park is (2014 results in brackets):
Day 1 - Wales (1) v England (7), Ireland (7) v Scotland (1).
Day 2 - Scotland (2) v England (6), Ireland (7.5) v Wales (0.5)
Day 3 - England (5.5) v Ireland (2.5), Wales (4.5) v Scotland (3.5).

Foursomes tee off at 8.30am each morning and the singles at 13.10.