The First Team is announced after the County Championships in April. The selection criteria (read here) includes performance in the Championships, previous County experience, attendance at training and general commitment to the County, plus availability. The team will represent the County at County Match Week and if successful at the National County Finals.
Before this at the start of each year, the County selects a Winter Training Squad, details here. Members of the squad who are based locally in Surrey attend training sessions and play a series of friendly matches throughout the winter/spring. The County also has a number of players who are studying overseas. These players may be considered for County selection if available. The 2023 fixture list:
DATE | VERSUS | LOCATION | FORMAT | RESULT |
Saturday, 8th January | Worplesdon | Worplesdon | Foursomes, 8 a-side | Wash out |
Sunday, 19th February | Surrey Junior Girls | Woodcote Park | Greensomes, 10 a-side | 1-4 report |
Sunday, 5th March | Hankley Common | Hankley Common | Singles, 8 a-side | 2-6 report |
Saturday, 11th March | Walton Heath | Walton Heath | Foursomes | 0-3 report |
First team captain is Nicola Taylor
The winter training and pre-season matches are all preparation for the main event in the First Team calendar, South Region County Match week, which is usually played in June. The First Team play a match (2 foursomes and 3 singles) against each of the other South Region counties; Sussex, Middlesex, Kent and Hampshire. The winning team goes on to represent the South Region at National Finals.
To read more about Surrey's impressive record in County Match Week and National Finals, click on the link below.
Surrey hosted the 2022 Regional County finals at Burhill, 26th-29th June. A series of very tight matches saw Surrey, Kent and Hampshire tied with 3 wins and 1 defeat each. Surrey, with 12 game points, came 2nd to Kent who qualified for the National Finals with 14 game points. A full report of the week by captain Nicola is here
The team representing Surrey was:
In June 2021, Surrey won the Regional Finals at Worthing and so went forward to represent the South Region in the National finals at Denham, 17th-19th September. The team had great wins against all of the other five finalists (Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Lincolnshire, Somerset and Yorkshire) and won the national title for the first time in 24 years Read the full report from Captain Nicola Taylor (Walton Heath).
Fixture | Date | Time | Result |
---|---|---|---|
Hertfordshire | 17th Sep | AM | 3.5-1.5 WON |
Yorkshire | 17th Sep | PM | 3-2 WON |
Buckinghamshire | 18th Sep | AM | 3.5-1.5 WON |
Lincolnshire | 18th Sep | PM | 4-1 WON |
Somerset | 19th Sep | AM | 3.5-1.5 WON |
The team representing Surrey was:
Nicola Taylor (Walton Heath), Olivia Horsford (Wimbledon Park), Hyun-ji Kim (Royal Wimbledon), Ellie Monk (Sunningdale), Alex Phelps (Woking), Abbi Rowlands (Foxhills), Matilde Santilli (Foxhills), Lottie Woad (Farnham) Ellen Yates (West Hill).
Following the change in format to County Week/Finals in 2021, the criteria to be awarded First Team County Colours was subsequently amended and agreed by the SLCGA Executive Committee.
First Team County Colours are awarded to players who have accumulated 3 points in County Week/County Finals matches, having played in a minimum of 4 matches. Points are awarded as follows:
1 point for each win
1/2 point for each half
There is no difference in points awarded for foursomes or singles matches. Points may be carried forward from one year to the next in any 2 year period.