On windswept heathland, where Irish competitors have savoured some precious moments over the years, Milltown's SuzanneO'Brien will complete a rare distinction in the biennial Curtis Cup matches starting today, when she makes her debut in the anchor position of the morning foursomes as partner to Emma Duggleby, the 1994 British champion.

Five years ago, O'Brien's brother, Jody Fanagan, played in the Walker Cup at Royal Porthcawl, where he and Padraig Harrington had a foursomes win over none other than Tiger Woods and John Harris. So, the Fanagans now join such luminaries as Roger and Joyce Wethered and Michael Bonallack and Sally Barber, as brother and sister to have gained Walker Cup and Curtis Cup honours.

"It's nice to know we're in such elevated company," said O'Brien. "I consider it to be a wonderful honour and it's a huge help to have an Irish captain. I am familiar with Claire (Dowling) from her time as captain of the Irish team." Dowling will be hoping to follow the lead of compatriot Ita Butler, who led the side to victory at Killarney four years ago. A five-time former Irish champion, she made four playing appearances at this level from 1984 to 1992 and, as a member of three victorious teams, is upbeat about the prospects for the weekend.

"This is such a wonderful honour that I can hardly believe it," she said yesterday. "It only began to hit me when we made our fourth visit here a fortnight ago. But we have prepared so well that I feel really confident about the team's chances."

As a measure of that confidence, she added matter-of-factly: "I haven't a clue about the US team, apart from Carol Semple and Robin Weiss. But we'll soon find out, won't we?"

A particularly interesting member of Dowling's line-up is 26year-old Kim Andrew from the Clitheroe club. Apart from being one of four survivors from the side beaten 10-8 by the Americans at Minikahda in 1998, she happens to be more than five months pregnant. Which could be construed as giving the home side a numerical advantage.

"Some of my club members have expressed concern about me but everybody here has treated me as just one of the girls," she said. "I don't feel that much different and my doctor has told me that so long as I don't over-exert myself, everything should be fine."

Did the captain single her out for special treatment? "Not at all," she replied. "It's not unusual, you know. Catrin Nilsmark (the Swedish professional) actually won a tournament while pregnant and I've spoken to women who have played at seven-and-a-half or eight months."

Andrew's chirpy attitude reflected an extremely positive mood in the home camp where Dowling, as captain, and Maureen Madill as coach, seem to have developed an infectious team spirit. Among their thorough preparations has been the acquisition of a five-minute motivational video made by Saatchi and Saatchi, which was used by victorious Walker Cup skipper Peter McEvoy at Nairn last September.

Meanwhile, where Irish women's golf is concerned, Ganton, in east Yorkshire, will always be remembered as the place when Lillian Behan stunned the golfing world by capturing the British Women's Championship in 1985.

Ten years before Behan's triumph, Eddie Polland set a course record 66 in the Dunlop Masters. And maintaining the 10-year cycle, Mary McKenna captained the Vagliano Trophy team here in 1995.

With an overall yardage of 6,376, Ganton is almost 200 yards longer than Killarney. In fact it is the longest course ever used in the Curtis Cup and is rendered all the more difficult by extensive bunkering and fresh winds.

But the Americans will find a way of coping: they normally do. "We expected these sort of conditions, so we brought the team to Cypress Point on the Monterey Peninsula to acclimatise," said captain Jane Booth. "Obviously it will be a new experience for some of my players, but we've worked hard since we got here last Sunday and I'm confident everybody is now ready."

At 51, Carol Semple Thompson, who is making a record 11th appearance in the event, is the oldest member of a side which is unusually mature, with an average age of 31. But Booth clearly subscribes to the notion that if players are good enough, they're young enough. "Sure they're older, but they're all in good shape," she said. "I would think nothing of playing any of our older members in all four sessions.'

Dowling projects such optimism that it would seem almost disloyal to contemplate anything other than a home win. And given the Walker Cup triumph of 1995, such an outcome would make the Fanagan achievement all the more memorable.

Foursomes (British and Irish first)

8 a.m: Kim Andrew and Becky Morgan v Elizabeth Bauer and Carol Semple Thompson.

8.15 a.m.: Becky Brewerton and Rebecca Hudson v Stephanie Keever and Angela Stanford.

8.30 a.m.: Emma Duggleby and Suzanne O'Brien v Hilary Homeyer and Virginia Derby Grimes.