This year’s Junior Vagliano Trophy and Jacques Leglise Trophy matches produced two pieces of history at West Lancashire.
Great Britain and Ireland’s girls – including Longhirst Hall’s Charlotte Naughton – produced a breakthrough victory in the Junior Vagliano Trophy. Meanwhile, the boys from the continent of Europe won the Jacques Leglise for a fifth time in a row.
After watching the top girls from the continent of Europe win the trophy seven times in a row, the home side finally took the silverware at West Lancs with an 8-7 victory.
Irish non-playing captain Deirdre Walsh and her six girls ended 13 years of frustration since the inaugural 2011 contest. Last year’s 9-9 draw at Royal Dornoch was the closest any GB&I team had come to winning.
“This is unbelievable,” said Deirdre. “I’m absolutely delighted for the girls. They believed in themselves, they really did, and they went out to win their own points. They didn’t run away with themselves or get ahead of themselves. They focussed on their own matches. They went out to do a job and they did it. We were so close last year, and to do it this year is such a thrill. It’s a huge achievement for these girls.”
GB&I built up a 5-4 lead after the morning foursomes on day two, splitting the session 1.5 points apiece. They then needed three singles wins from six to make history. They didn’t get off to the best of starts with the European girls winning the first three matches. However, Olivia Costello of Ireland and English players Lauren Crump and Charlotte came through to get the home side over the line.
Deidre credited one match with propelling her side to victory – the half point Charlotte and Olivia earned in their foursomes match against the French pair of Louise Uma Landgraf and Alice Kong. The GB&I girls were four down after six holes but fought back to earn the crucial half point that gave them the advantage heading into the singles.
“That halve was vital this morning, absolutely vital,” Deirdre said. “It was a game changer because it gave us momentum for this afternoon. We went into lunch confident, knowing that we could win the cup for the first time. It made the difference. It’s just such an achievement to beat the best from the continent of Europe. These girls can be proud of themselves.”
