GB and Ireland retain Vagliano Trophy

Great Britain and Ireland retained the Vagliano Trophy with a stylish singles display against the continent of Europe at Chantilly today.

Level 6-6 overnight they shared the morning foursomes 2-2 so went into the final session still deadlocked at 8-8 – but then produced an inspirational display to take the closing session 7-5 for an overall 13-11 triumph.

They won the trophy at County Louth two years ago after four successive defeats and captain Ada O’Sullivan was ecstatic at today’s victory.

She said: “This was a great team performance with every member of the side contributing. We are highly delighted with the outcome.”

Sophie Walker, the 21-year-old former English stroke play champion was the star of the show as she won all her four matches over the two days of competition and finished with a marvelous three and one victory over German Adriana Zwanck.

Other singles winners today were Irish champion Tricia Mangan, English title holder Felicity Johnson, Ireland’s Martina Gillen and Waterlooville’s Kerry Smith – the oldest member of the team at 32.

It was when Beaverstown’s Gillen beat Spaniard Emma Cabrera that Great Britain and Ireland knew they had won for a second successive time.