ELGA chairman Jenny Clink said afterwards: "We are stunned but ecstatic. It's fantastic. You really couldn't have written this script."

Joy Trafford added: "Everyone absolutely played their socks off today and to win in such style is unbelievable. We said the girls had to win the match and then the rest was up to other people and there was nothing we could do about that.

"But when I heard Wales and Scotland had halved I didn't quite believe it. I had to radio back to the office for them to confirm it."

She went on: "They have been such a tremendous bunch of girls. They took that heavy defeat so well and were so spirited, I was very proud of them. Now, they're ecstatic."

The England team was: Felicity Johnson (Harborne), Hannah Barwood (Knowle), Henrietta Brockway (Yeovil), Jodi Ewart (Catterick), Joanne Hodge (Knowle), Kiran Matharu (Cookridge Hall), Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale) and Melissa Reid (Chevin).

The country's youngest golfing talents will be in action in the English Girls' U15 and U13 Championships at Henbury Golf Club, near Bristol, from August 8-12. Manchester's Kelly Tidy, who won the 2004 U13 championship at the age of 12, is back to defend her title. She plays off five and is one of four single-figure players in the full field of 32.

This year, Kelly is 13 and one of the oldest players in the competition. There are entries from five 11-year-olds and one of them, Elizabeth Mallett, a 20-handicapper from Sutton Coldfield Ladies', Warwickshire, celebrated her birthday only on July 20.

The U15 championship will be contested by 64 girls and, between them, they boast a string of impressive successes. The title challenge will be led by Gloucestershire?s Hannah Barwood (Knowle), who has just won her first England cap in the girls? international matches.

Hannah, 15, plays off two and, like fellow competitor, Rachel Connor, 15, (Manchester), is a member of ELGA?s Elite potential girls' squad.

Other impressive players in the field include 13-year-old Katie Thompson (Corhampton) who won the English Schools' national girls championship; and her Hampshire colleague Laura-Jane Mabley (Dunwood Manor) who won the schools' U16 title.

Staffordshire's Emily Priest (Enville) arrives at Henbury with her confidence high after winning the second flight matchplay at the English Girls' Championship while Kent's Charlotte Hope (Wrotham Heath) was last year's Abraham Trophy winner.

The competition week starts on Monday, August 8, with the final of the Abraham Trophy, for England?s most improved girl golfers, based on handicap reduction.

The U15 and U13 championships begin on Tuesday, August 9. All competitors will play an 18-hole strokeplay qualifying round on each of the first three days. The leading 30 players and ties in the U15 event and the leading 12 players and ties in the U13s will qualify for the 18-hole strokeplay finals on Friday.

Top players challenge for English Mid-Amateur Championship

A host of leading players will challenge for the English Ladies? Open Mid-Amateur Championship at Huddersfield Golf Club from August 9-12.

They include headline-makers of the 2005 season such as Sophie Walker (Kenwick Park) and Kerry Smith (Waterlooville), who were crucial to GB&I's victory over Europe in the Vagliano Trophy.

Kerry has won this event twice before, in 1997 and 1995, and was the 2004 English champion. Sophie, a past English strokeplay champion, was a finalist in this year's English championship.

Another competitor, Faye Sanderson (Heworth, Durham) joined them in the England side which won the silver medal at the European Ladies' Team Championships.

Meanwhile, Laura Eastwood (Yelverton) arrives fresh from her impressive victory in the English Ladies' Strokeplay Championship and will be looking for a title double.

Another proven winner from the 2005 season is Naomi Edwards (Ganton) who became the first English player in eight years to capture the St Rule Trophy at St Andrew's.

The tournament, open to players aged between 18 and 50, begins on Tuesday August 9 when all competitors will play 36 holes of strokeplay qualifying. The 32 leading players will go forward to the matchplay stages of the championship. The final will be played on the morning of Friday, August 12.