The Glynhill Ladies’ International attracted a lot of big names for the 2011 event, it doesn’t get any better than two time Olympic Gold medallist Anette Norberg with a new team. And of course Scotland’s own Eve Muirhead, three time World Junior Champion who will be starring at the World Juniors in Perth in March. Lots of Russians of course, three teams and lots of support workers, perhaps 2014 Olympics in Russia in their sights?Everyone arrived safely though the Latvians had a bit of a detour, their flight was diverted from Prestwick to Edinburgh because of fog, it was a long night for the team and the driver.
Now to the first day’s play, twenty teams playing in four sections of five, three points for a win, one for a draw and zero for a loss, and guess what????? NO TIE BREAKERS! The first round was scheduled for 08.30a.m. and it didn’t produce any surprises, Eve Muirhead had a two shot victory over Viktoria Makarshina from Russia while Gillian Howard scraped past Switzerland’s Silvava Tirinzoni by just one shot in section A.
In section B Iveta Starsa Sarsune’s Latvian team paid for their delayed arrival and lack of sleep going down 1/10 to Russia’s Olga Ziabilikova. There’s a lot of new Russian names to get you heads round this year! Miriam Ott won her opening game against Sarah Reid by just one shot, and all fans out there will be happy to know Ludmilla Privivkova saw off Binia Feltscher from Switzerland by three shots in the C section. (Editor is pleased!)
Draw two gave us our first sight of Anette Norberg, but wait a minute…..isn’t that Vicky Sloan out there…..yes it was Cecilia Ostlund was injured and with the Swedish championships just two weeks away she didn’t want to make it any worse. England’s Kirsty Balfour was on the receiving end of the might of Sweden losing by five shots in the C section.
In B section Claire Milne met a Rusian barrage, oops 1/7 down to Olga Ziablikova. But there was some hope for non Russian teams, from Japan Anna Ohmiya, stealing five in end three beat Viktoria Makarshina 8/3.
D section in this round and a Swiss clash, Daniela Jentsch scored one in the last end to win 5/4 over Michele Jaggi. Switzerland’s Fabienne Furbringer trailed by three shots against Sweden’s Anna Hasselborg (now does that name ring bells) after six ends, no way back, despite stealing a single in end eight Hasselborg took the game 5/4.
Session three gave us some big scores. The big surprise in C section England’s Kirsty Balfour beat Switzerland’s Binia Feltscher 8/1 is just six ends. In D Jackie Lockhart took her game against Daniela Jentsch from Germany 11/3, and in B section Scotland’s Sarah Reid won against Latvia's Stasa-Sarsune 10/2. The other two games were low scoring Ludmilla Privivkova won by one shot over Gail Munro, Eve Muirhead beat Gillian Howard 5/4.
Into the last draw of the day, Anette Norberg scored five in end six to defeat Gail Munro 7/2, in section C. Mirjam Ott got a 7/4 win over Claire Milne, section B, Japan’s Anna Ohmiya kept up her winning ways beating Silvania Tirinzoni 9/2. Michele Jaggi beat fellow Swiss Fabienne Furbringer 11/5, while Anna Hasselborg came out the winner against Jackie Lockhart 5/3.
Top of the leader board are:
A section Muirhead and Ohmiya 2/0
B section Ott and Zialblikova 2/0
C Section Privivkova and Norberg 2/0
D section Hasselborg 2/0
The event website is here.
Top photo is Eve Muirhead.
Anette Norberg, Sweden
England's Kirsty Balfour.
Japan's Team Ohmiya
Vicky Sloan
Jackie Lockhart and Karen KennedyWords by Christine Stewart, photos by Hugh Stewart
