As ?Pat Hale and her Band of Merry Women? we ventured deep into the heart of Sherwood Forest where we took on not the Sheriff of Nottingham, but the counties of Caernarvon & Anglesey, Cambridgeshire & Huntingdonshire and Northamptonshire. And like Robin Hood we have robbed those counties of what they too so much desired and come away with the riches, the Midland Trophy which is our passport to the Finals!

Our band of ?Merry Maids? have at last presented the ?poor? of Warwickshire, who have been deprived for thirty years, with the chance to see their team again competing in the England & Wales Finals ? I am just so proud of them!

We were drawn to play Northamptonshire on the first day and without being disrespectful to the other two counties felt it vital to win this match to have any chance of going through.

Our team was billeted in a pub called Ma Hubbards and when I met my team for breakfast at the golf club I discovered most of them had slept badly. However despite very weary limbs and hearts they went out with their customary determination but we lost overall by 3 matches to 6.

We knew now that we must win the remaining two matches by as many points as possible and hope that one of the other teams could beat Northamptonshire.

Day two dawned and thankfully the team had slept a little better. We went 2/1 up after the Foursomes but the best was yet to come. In the afternoon Singles session not one match was lost. We were also delighted to have Hannah Coles back with us on her return from winning the Warwickshire Girls Championship at Stratford the day before. We won Day Two by 7.5 to 1.5

Day three and we were still very much in with a chance. A better nights sleep aided this time by much merriment at dinner where we had dined with the young Caernarfon & Anglesey team. We were also richly entertained by our enthusiastic team Physio Kath Ashley (herself of Welsh origin) and their modest Captain who sang the Welsh National Anthem for them in Welsh!

Obviously inspired we took on the team from Cambridgeshire & Huntingdonshire who we knew were more than capable of great things. We were 2/1 down after the Foursomes but managed enough points in the Singles to win by 5.5 to 3.5. All, however, depended on the other match and we really did feel we had not done enough. To rely on another team losing and for that team to lose by enough points should it go to count back is not reassuring and despite smiles and constantly encouraging each other that it wasn?t over yet, we felt sure that it was too great a mountain to climb. We knew the Welsh team had done well in the Foursomes but how they played in the afternoon must have delighted their Captain. Please let it be recorded that we have given this particular Welsh team the ?freedom of Warwickshire?! They won overall by enough matches and as a consequence we had gone through by ? a point!

It was an extraordinary moment with us all saying: ?Have we won?? ?Are we sure?? It really was a very emotional moment as the realisation hit us and we were just thrilled to bits. There are those that have many years ahead of them and may hopefully reach other Finals, but there are a few who may not have many chances left. It is the pinnacle of any county golfers career to reach the final and only Sue Westall has been there from this team of players and officials. I am so, so pleased particularly for Marsha Button, who was such a wonderful Captain herself and has been a Warwickshire player for many years. Anne Parry also has been a county golfer for some time and Bev Belcher, in the team this year for the first time and she gets to the Finals! Our lucky mascot? Let's hope so!

I have deliberately not mentioned how anyone performed by name. Some have played a lot, too much some might say, as they eased their aching limbs into their cars for the journey home! Some have played a little, and some like Kath Ashley have not played at all. But these people are as much a part of this team as anyone else. The results are there for you all to see in detail on our website. I strongly believe that this team performs so well because they all admire each other and all know that on their day any one of them can beat any one else regardless of handicap. They encourage each other constantly whether they are playing or not, caddy for each other with just as much commitment as if they were playing themselves and congratulate or commiserate with each other the moment a match is over. It is a team that any county or country Captain would be proud of. These players reflect the true meaning of team spirit.

Thank you to every one of you whether player, caddy, supporter or website reader. You all help make up this fantastic team that I am proud and privileged to Captain at this moment. I must make a very special mention of past Presidents and Captains who continue to provide unerring support. When they have arrived at both Whittington and Sherwood Forest The Team seem to settle down and relax, because they know the people they respect are right behind them.

So we head to Wiltshire to play against the teams from Glamorgan, Hampshire and Yorkshire at the High Post Golf Club from the 1-3 September. Daunted? Not a bit of it! We shall be taking on quite a few English and Welsh Full and Junior Internationalists but we have proved we have the ability and enthusiasm and talent to take on anyone!

All I need say is do not miss this opportunity to go back to your clubs and say ?I was there when our team played at the Finals?. We hope not to leave it another thirty years but just in case, dare you take the risk of not being there?