WOMENS HOME INTERNATIONALS

ENGLAND are defending champions in the Women's Home Internationals starting at Royal Dornoch today. They have finished top for the past seven years and are confident of winning again.

Rebecca Hudson, of Yorkshire, who was three times Daily Telegraph/Center Parcs junior champion, is a key member of the side which also includes Kim Andrew, Fiona Brown and Kirsty Fisher. Perhaps Ireland, runners-up at Burnham and Berrow last year, will provide the stiffest opposition. One of their outstanding players is Suzanne O'Brien, who is the sister of Irish men's cap, Jody Fanagan, while Alison Coffey is in fine form.

Becky Brewerton, already the British women's amateur champion at 16, carries many Welsh hopes, while Heather Stirling and Lesley Nicholson, two former Telegraph junior finalists, are in the Scottish line-up.