Christmas Greetings

The Captain of Northern Counties would like to wish everybody a Merry Christmas and a Happy & Healthy 2006.

Mairi Orr

New Vice-Captain

Congratulations to Eileen Manson (Doyenne of Caithness) who has accepted the post of Vice-Captain of Northern Counties.

Mairi Orr
Captain

Lifetime Membership

Northern Counties entend their congratulations to "Press Officer" Robin Wilson who has been awarded a lifetime membership of Brora Golf Club for his services to the club.

Mairi Orr
Captain

BIG Thank you

Pam Gordon would like to THANK Northern Counties most sincerely for the Honorary Membership bestowed upon her which was a great surprise when she was at Radyr with the Scottish Senior Team. All good wishes sent from members was most appreciated and lifted the girls, who played very well, but unfortunately did not lift the trophy.

Mairi C Orr
Captain

Training Squads

Congratulations to the following Northern Counties Girls on their selection for Scottish Winter Training Squads:-
National under 18 - Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar)
National Training Squad - Kerri Harper (Inverness), Ashton Ingram (Fort William), Laura Walker (Nairn Dunbar)
Under 18 Development Squad 1 - Eilidh Mackay (Nairn Dunbar)
Under 18 Development Squad 2 - Sammy Vass (Tain)

Regards
Mairi C Orr
Captain

Results from Open at Moray on 2/10/05

Silver Scratch - Ashton Ingram (Fort William) - 74

1st Handicap - Aline Drummond (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) (20) 73
2nd handicap - Merle Allan (Grantown on Spey) (19) 73
3rd Handicap - Edna Rattray (Moray) (19) 73

Bronze

1st Handicap - Lauren Duncan (Aboyne) (30) 69
2nd Handicap - Maria Duncan (Aboyne) (21) 70
3rd Handicap - Helen Macleod (Inverness) (25) 70
4th Handicap - Ellen Spence (Rothes) (25) 71

CSS - 73 Par - 72 SS - 70

Mairi C Orr
Captain

Pictures from Ranfurly Castle

Honorary Memberships

It gives me great pleasure to announce that the following Memberships of our Association were awarded at our A.G.M. yesterday.

Pam Gordon for outstanding services to Northern Counties as a Past Captain, Junior Organiser and Scratch League Assessor. Also for outstanding service to Scottish Golf as Captain of the following teams:-
1996, Junior Home Internationals at Formby Links; 1997, Junior Home Internationals at Forfar; 1998, Junior European Team in Oslo; 1999, Scottish Home Internationals at Royal Dornoch; 2000, Scottish Home Internationals at Royal St. Davids; 2001, Scottish European Team in Spain; 2004, Scottish Senior Home Internationals at Kilkeel and finally 2005, Scottish Senior Home Internationals at Radyr.

Isobel McIntosh for outstanding service to Northern Counties as a Past Captain and as President, Handicap Advisor, Scottish Selector and Scratch Score Assessor. Also for outstanding service to Scottish Golf as Captain of the following teams:-
(All Scottish Home Internationals) 1991, Aberdovey; 1992, Hamilton; 1993, The Hermitage.

Best regards
Mairi C. Orr

Draw for Moray New Course 2/10/05

10 am - A. Park (Moray) & M. James (Moray)
10.06 - J. Grant (Moray) & A. Gourlay (Moray)
10.12 - N. Forbes (Moray) & S. Zanre (Moray)
10.18 -
10.24 -
10.30 - E. Rattray (Moray) & B. Grant (Garmouth)
10.36 - M. Grant (Moray) & G. More (Hopeman)
10.42 - J. Anderson (Garmouth) & M. Walker (Rothes)
10.48 - E. Manson (Thurso) & I. Wilson (Forres)
10.54 - J. Elder (Nairn Dunbar) & M. McLauchlan (Grantown)
11.00 - P. Brown (Nairn Dunbar) & C. Matheson (Grantown)
11.06 - F. Fraser (Fortrose) & M. Allan (Grantown)
11.12 - A. Drummond (Fortrose) & E. Smith (Moray)
11.18 - M. Dick (Grantown) & M. Douglas (Royal Dornoch)
11.24 - M. Orr (Tain) & P. Morrison (Muir of Ord)
11.30- M. Philip (Moray) & J. Paterson (Fort Augustus)
11.36 - S. McLennan (Nairn Dunbar) & M. Smith (Moray)
11.42 - A. Ingram (Fort William) & M. Smith (Tain)
11.48 - S. Vass (Tain) & I. Mackintosh (Inverness)
11.54 - H. McLeod (Inverness) & M. Hayden (Tain)
12.00 - S. Ramsay (Inverness) & P. Moscati (Royal Dornoch)
12.06 - A. Ryan (Tain) & G. Dowling (Inverness)
12.12 - J. Russell (Tain) & T. Cumming (Inverness)
12.18 - M. Barclay (Buckpool) & R. Marden (Buckpool)
12.24 - J. Nichol (Inverness) & M. Bagott (Royal Dornoch)
12.30 - L. Coghill (Royal Dornoch) & J. Milne (Elgin)
12.36 - S. Mackenzie (Elgin) & S. McDonell (Inverness)
12.42 - M. Duncan (Aboyne) & A. Burnett (Royal Dornoch)
12.48 - L.Duncan (Aboyne) & S. MacDonald (Royal Dornoch)
12.54 - L. Walker (Nairn Dunbar) & L. Munro (Moray)

OVERALL RESULTS

Friday 16 September

• FOURSOMES
• Lanarkshire 1.5 Northern Counties 1.5
• Midlothian 3 Borders 0
• SINGLES
• Lanarkshire 3 Northern Counties 3
• Midlothian 3 Borders 3
• POINTS
• Midlothian 2
• Northern Counties 1
• Lanarkshire 1
• Borders 0

Saturday 17 September

• FOURSOMES
• Borders 3 Lanarkshire 0
• Northern Counties 0 Midlothian 3
• SINGLES
• Borders 4.5 Lanarkshire 1.5
• Northern Counties 1.5 Midlothian 4.5
• POINTS
• Midlothian 4
• Borders 2
• Lanarkshire 1
• Northern Counties 1

Sunday 18 September

• FOURSOMES
• Northern Counties 3 Borders 0
• Midlothian 3 Lanarkshire 0
• SINGLES
• NorthernCounties 4.5 Borders 1.5
• Midlothian 4 Lanarkshire 2
• POINTS
• Midlothian 6
• Northern Counties 3
• Borders 2
• Lanarkshire 1

County Finals

Your team is back from their weekend of wonderful golf and are a credit to Northern Counties for their outstanding performance.
To read the results I must tell you, does not reflect the golfing abilities of the team in a positive way. The camaraderie between the four competing counties was wonderful and most people left in a happy frame. Ranfurly Castle ladies were tremendously supportive and rushed about caddying and giving electric trolleys, and a huge thank you goes to them, as we were short of our own supporters. In fact, there were five of us, including me, and it was lonely out there!! Comments were made as to how nice it was to see a new young team from the North and it will strengthen with new girls coming to the fore, and once again we will get the big one! It would be wrong of me to single out any one player because they each gave their best on and off the course, and many a laugh was had between us. Isobel, as your President, was put on a bag and caddied 6 times. A tremendous achievement up all those hills, and a hugh thank you goes to her for that and for all her words of encouragement etc. We brought the runner-up trophy back to the North and "the Comeback Kids" are already preparing for next year. To all those who sent good wishes, thank you very much as the team appreciated it, especially when they were all displayed on the lunch table for all to see!! See you all at Moray on 2nd October - Late entries to Iris Wilson -01309 675594

Full match details to follow.

Mairi Orr
Captain

Ranfurly Castle

Good morning to everyone,
Sadly, I have to advise that Linda Smith is unable to travel with us to Ranfurly Castle due to family commitments and we wish her well.

However, a little surprise for you all - our president Mrs Isobel McIntosh has graciously agreed to be named as a player and as you know that will surely bring a complete strength and depth to our very successful team.

Mairi
Captain

Ness Open Winner

Team Announcement

We are pleased to announce our team for The County Finals at Ranfurly Castle.

Kerri Harper (Inverness), Ashton Ingram (Fort William), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Eileen Manson (Thurso), Jenny Milne (Elgin), Linda Smith (Buckpool), Mary Smith (Tain) and Laura Walker (Nairn Dunbar)

Mairi Orr
Captain

Caddies required

As you know Northern Counties will be defending their title at Ranfurly Castle in September and they will be requiring caddies on Friday 16th, Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th. Unfortunately the pay is rubbish, but the benefits are enormous!! If you can be of assistance, please e-mail Susan Mackenzie on macken86@aol.com or telephone 01343 544304

Mairi Orr
Captain

North v North East Match

Results of match between Northern Counties Girls and North East Girls at Newmachar.

(North girls first)
Niketa Cruickshank lost to Laura Murray 8 & 7
Aimee Taylor lost to Michele Thomson 8 & 6
Jennifer Stewart lost to Mhairi Johnstone 9 & 7
Kelsey Macdonald beat Lauren MacCallum 8 & 6
Sammy Vass beat Amanda Bowie 3 & 2
Nadia Green beat Kirsty Moss 3 & 2
Donna Mackinnon lost to Lauren Whyte 2 & 1
Chloe Macloed lost to Samantha Leslie 4 & 3

Final result - North 3 North East 5.
A great day was had by all and we even got great weather!

Cara Gruber
Junior Secretary

Northern County Junior Championships

The results of the Northern County Junior Championships held at Fortrose & Rosemarkie were -

1st Scratch - Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 72
2nd Scratch - Eilidh Mackay (Nairn Dunbar) 79
1st Handicap - Donna Mackinnon (Durness) 65
2nd Handicap - Julie Vass (Tain) 68

Cara Gruber
Junior Secretary

British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championships

Northern County Girls proved their determination by entering the above competition last week. They were Cara Gruber, Kerri Harper, Ashton Ingram, Christine MacAndrew, Kelsey MacDonald and Laura Walker. Unfortunately Ashton, Christine and Laura did not make the "cut". Laura missed it by two but they were undaunted and represented themselves and the County admirably. Sunday was two further rounds of stroke play and Kerri went from strength to strength finishing on +13, Cara +19 and Kelsey +31 over the four rounds. Well done to them all and maybe it was just a wee practice for next year at Nairn when the British Mid Amateur will be played there in July. There again, maybe it was getting into the zone for Ranfurly Castle next month!

Mairi Orr
Captain

Results from Fortrose

Silver section -
Scratch - 1st - M. Ritchie (MO) 83; 2nd - W. Ross (E) 84.
Handicap - 1st - J. Thornton (F&R) (17) 68; 2nd - R. Ross (T) (19) 70; 3rd - M. Hayden (T) (18) 71

Bronze section -
1st - B. Bremner (F&R) (23) 62; S. Macdonald (D) (24) 69 bih; A. Drummond (F&R) (21) 69; 4th - K. A. Brown (F&R) (30) 70; 5th - A. Ross (T) (22) 72

Dorothy Marshall from Forres won the Putter in the raffle and Barbara Bremner from Fortrose won the Cathy Ross Salver for the best nett score overall.

Mairi Orr
Captain

Draw for Vets Open Thursday 11th August at Fortrose

9.08 - J. Nalder (N) & M. Ross (F&R); 9.16 - S. Duncan (RD) & B. Bremner(F&R); 9.24 - A. Burnett (RD) & H. Cumming (F&R); 9.32 - M. Lane (Ta) & S. Mackenzie (E); 9.40 - W. Ross (E) & M. Gordon (Ta); 9.48 - L. Barras (MO) & A. Smitten (F&R); 9.56 - J. Stewart (T) & KA Brown (F&R); 10.04 - W. Spencer (MO) & R. Ross (T); 10.12 - J. Fraser (MO) & J. Russell (T); 10.20 - E. Hutton (MO) & T. Weekes (RD); 10.28 - M. McLean (MO) & N. Scott (I); 10.36 - H. MacLeod (I) & S. Dunn (F&R); 10.44 - P. Moscati (RD) & E. Morrison (F&R); 10.52 - P. Smith (I) & A. Armstrong (S); 11.00 - N. Bowie (I) & A. Strauss (RD); 11.08 - E. Rattray (M) & J. Thornton (F&R); 11.16 - E. Smith (M) & E. Robb (I); 11.24 - W. Hendry (MO) & P. Webster (BB); 11.32 - A. Ross (T) & J. Noble (MO); 11.40 - M. Anderson (T) & P. Magee (MO); 11.48 - M. Orr (T) & E. Wallace (MO); 11.56 - M. Hayden (T) & D. Mackay (MO); 12.04 - D. Marshall (F) & M. Baggott (RD); 12.12 - J. Paterson (FA) & A. Mackintosh (F&R); 12.20 - J. Gunn (MO) & M. Douglas (RD); 12.28 - S. Bruce (B) & M. Blair (RD); 12.36 - M. Jones (BoG) & B. Little (B); 12.44 - B. Hughes (BoG) & R. Bruce (MO); 12.52 - S. Ramsay (I) & M. Ritchie (MO); 13.00 - I. Mackintosh (I) & L. Munro (M); 13.08 - S. Macdonald (RD) & J. Gilchrist (F&R); 13.16 - I. Wilson (F) & A. Macdonald (Ta); 13.24 - C. Vass (Ta) & V. Moen (GoS); 13.32 - S. Vickerman (GoS) & A. Drummond (F&R)