I would like to start by acknowledging how much preparation and planning is required to provide the team with the very best leading up to County Week. Organising the training and practice matches, accommodation for the week, clothing and laundry for the week, caddies and helpers for the week, match reports and the numerous other jobs and responsibilities that a County Captain has to fulfil. So I would like to start my report by thanking the many people that have helped along the way. Special thanks to Jane Pezaro, our County President who has supported and backed me up throughout and to Sarah Amos who organised and provided the team practice balls, comprehensive first aid kit that I carried every day in a ruck sack (good weight training I must add) and organised the caddies on a daily basis with their lunchtime sandwiches and drinks. This meant that I could focus on my team.

We arrived at Goring & Streatley on Tuesday 19th June for our first match against Berkshire. The team, wearing a new kit for the week, looked young, fresh, fashionable and immaculately turned out. This certainly got people talking! Throughout the week, President’s, Captain’s and other officials and spectators praised the team on how well they looked. By the end of the week, people were saying “I wonder if it’s their new kit that has made them play so well”. Whatever your views about the new strip, one thing is certain, my team felt fabulous wearing it and that is what matters most.

The week just got better and better in terms of performance, team spirit, individual achievements and overall team success.

On Tuesday evening at the hotel we presented Jane Binning with her County Colours after winning both her morning foursomes and afternoon singles. The team got off to a great start by beating Berkshire 6 points to 3. We played so well in the morning foursomes winning 2 ½ points to ½ . The three pairings would therefore stay together for the rest of the week and proved to be very successful for the team.

Day two was our most frustrating day as we felt the overall score didn’t reflect how well the team performed against Hampshire. The match could easily have gone either way. In total, three matches went to the last hole and Hampshire won them all. This was the deciding factor and something we’ll work on for the future. The match was lost 2 ½ points to 6 ½ points.

Day three provided high drama against Hertfordshire, last year’s winners of County Week. The team got so close in the morning foursomes and should have been at least 2 – 1 down, but instead we finished the morning session with only ½ a point. Again, closing out and finishing the task proved difficult in a couple of the matches. In the afternoon however, the team’s belief and performance was fantastic, winning four out of the six matches. Lauren Jupp at 16 years of age and only in her third year at this level, won down the last hole under incredible pressure to secure the final point needed to halve the match. The team were so delighted and couldn’t hold back in their celebrations on the 18th hole.

Going into day four, we were heading for a top three finish and a good win against Buckinghamshire would mean the best result from Oxfordshire in years. The team were determined to finish strong and won all three of the morning matches. In the afternoon, the team won the singles by 3 ½ to 2 ½ , giving us an overall total of 6 ½ to 2 ½ .

As for team performances, I must highlight how well my foursome pairings worked. Katherine O’Connor and Jane Binning won three matches, Samantha Round and Tilly Holder won two matches and Lauren Jupp and Sarah Arnold won one and halved two.

In the singles matches, Samantha Round achieved 3 ½ points out of a possible 4, Tilly Holder won all of her three matches and Katherine O’Connor playing the other County Champions won 1 ½ points out of 4.

In respect of County Colours, Tilly also achieved her County Colours this week and we presented her with the OLCGA badge at a party held on Thursday evening at Tony & Jo Jackson’s home. Lauren Jupp also had a great week achieving a total of six points and therefore I’m confident that next year we’ll be presenting another badge.

All squad members however were champions this week as they conducted themselves professionally on and off the course. The team spirit within Oxfordshire is magical and I’m confident that with the combination of youth and experience in the squad, the team will go from strength to strength.

This was a very special week for me as County Captain finishing so close behind Hertfordshire and Hampshire. I remain confident and committed in building on this for the future.

Justine Lawrence
County Captain