England's senior golfers completed a golden double when they won both the European Senior Men's Team Championship in Denmark and the European Senior Ladies' Championship in Bulgaria.
The men started their tournament slowly, finishing in fourth place behind Scotland, Ireland and hosts Denmark after the 36-hole stroke play qualifier at Rungsted. However, they went on to beat both Sweden and Scotland 4-1 in the opening two rounds of the knockout match play before finishing the job with a 3½-½ victory over Ireland in the final.
Ian Attoe and Alan Mew were in commanding form as the beat Karl Bornemann and Jim Carvill 6&5 in the foursomes. Rupert Kellock claimed a 2&1 win over Peter Sheehan in the singles and that was followed by a 5&4 win for Rich Jones against John O’Brien and a halve for Richard Norton against Steven Graham while Alan Condren claimed a consolation point for the Irish with a 3&2 victory over Paul Wharton.
England Captain, Roy Smethurst, attributed the team's success to their consistency and strength in the knockout foursomes: "All the players played well, it was the consistency of the team that was key to success. Particularly the foursomes pairing in the knockout matches. Everyone played well in stroke play.
“We wanted to make the top 8 in the stroke play and there were some good scores there. I was disappointed to finish fourth as on paper I thought we had the best side, but since the match play started I put a strong team out in the foursomes and in all three matches they got us off to a strong start." It was England’s first victory in the championship since their win on home soil at Fairhaven in 2010 and it was a huge success considering the team hadn't made the final for several years:
"We won it in 2010 and I’ve been captain for the last five years and I’m delighted to finally secure the win," Smethurst added: "The four years prior we hadn’t been in the final at all – to win was a real achievement.
“It was a fantastic week. To beat the Scots and the Irish is always a big thing and we get to play them again next week in the Senior Home Internationals." Meanwhile, out in south-eastern Europe, the England Senior Ladies' Team were securing their own success by defeating Spain to secure their first Senior European Championship since 2014. The ladies’ team started the tournament at BlackSeaRama in Bulgaria by finishing third behind Sweden and Ireland in the 36-hole stroke play qualifier, but went on to beat both France 3-2 and Ireland 3½-1½ to reach the final. There they defeated Spain, looking for their first ever triumph, by the same scoreline to cap a wonderful weekend for the senior English teams.
Caroline Berry and Julie Wheeldon got England off to a great start when they combined to beat Xonia Wunsch and Maria Trallero 2&1 in the foursomes. Macarena Campomanes beat Helen Lowe by one hole in the first singles before Paula Carver and Aileen Greenfield got England over the line with 4&3 and 3&1 victories over Maria Castillo and Lourdes Barbeito. Jackie Foster halved the final singles against Maria Orueta.
England Captain, Debbie Richards, was pleased with the team's immediate connection across the week: "Team spirit was the secret this week. Everyone got on well on and off the course, we all just jelled so well. Everyone came into the tournament playing well and we just kept it going. "When you get to the last eight, anyone can win. The talent and the golf is amazing, it's like watching lady-pros play. It proves how much talent there is in ladies golf at the moment, and we're only amateurs."