Big Irish team launch bid for British title

In terms of the numbers competing, the British Seniors Open amateur championship - which starts at Royal Portrush tomorrow - is one of the toughest titles to win, and defending champion Joel Hirsch from the United States can expect some sturdy resistance from an exceptionally large Irish representation on this occasion.

Although Arthur Pierse, who won the medal as leading amateur in the recent British Seniors Open (the professional version) at Royal Co Down, is not competing, there are still 49 Irish players in the field, including national seniors champion David Jackson of Clandeboye, and last season's GUI Seniors' Order of Merit winner Dinny White, of Moate.

Hirsch's win at Gullane last year maintained a run of four US winners in the past five years of the championship and 64 Americans have made the trip this year.

Some 252 players will be in action over the Dunluce and Valley courses tomorrow and Thursday with the leading 50 players and ties playing a further 18 holes over the Dunluce championship course on Friday to decide the winner.

Meanwhile, players competing in the AIB Women's Interprovincial championship, which start at The Island tomorrow, have the added carrot of chasing selection onto the Irish team for the Home Internationals which take place at Carlow later this month. There is also the incentive of a place on the three-player ILGU team to compete in the British strokeplay championship at Kilmarnock next month.

Irish champion Alison Coffey leads an Ulster team out to end Leinster's stranglehold on the event.

Teams:

Connacht - Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna), Eileen MacMullen (Donegal), Daragh McGowan (Ballybofey and Stranorlar), Michelle Holmes (Enniscrone), Ann Geoghegan (Athlone), Lillian O'Brien (Claremorris), Deridre Judge (Roscommon). Captain: H Sweeney (Roscommon).

Leinster - Elaine Dowdall (Wexford), Jennifer Gannon (Co Louth), Martina Gillen (Beaverstown), Hazel Kavanagh (Grange), SinΘad Keane (Curragh), Maura Morrin (Naas), Deridre Smith (Co Louth). Captain: Jackie Quinn (Co Louth).

Munster - Claire Coughlan (Cork), Sheila Galvin (Limerick), Bridget Gleeson Healy (Killarney), Tricia Mangan (Ennis), Marian Riordan (Tipperary), ER Power (Kilkenny), Mary Sheehy (Tralee). Captain: Evelyn Hearn (Waterford).

Ulster - Joanne Black (Knock), Alison Coffey (Warrenpoint), Emma Dickson (Royal Co Down), Helen Jones (Strabane), Bronagh Lunney (Belvoir Park), Jill McAuley (Dunmurry), Caroline Smyth (Massereene). Captain: Shirley Robinson (Royal Portrush).

Leinster (men's team for interprovincial championship) - R Cannon (Balbriggan), Gary Cullen (Beaverstown), Mark Campbell (Stackstown), Noel Fox (Portmarnock), Justin Kehoe (Birr), Michael McDermott (Stackstown), Michael McGinley (Grange), Gavin McNeill (Waterford), Adrian Morrow (Portmarnock), Eoin O'Sullivan (The Island).