Captain Elaine picks the brains of Scotland 

football manager Gordon Strachan

                  Gordon Strachan,  twice managed by Mr Motivator - Sir Alex Ferguson

 Aberdeen planning solicitor Elaine Farquharson-Black is carrying over her day job to the responsiblities of being captain of

the Great Britain and Ireland team for this week's Vagliano Trophy match  against the Continent of Europe at Malone Golf Club, Belfast
Leaving no stone unturned if it will help break the Continent of Europe's eight-year monopoly of the tournament, Elaine  has had an
informal chat with Scotland international team manager Gordon Strachan about preparing for international team events.
They met recently at an awards lunch and among the topics they discussed  was team motivation and how to get players to perform to the best of  their individual ability in a team situation.
Strachan was a member of the Aberdeen and Manchester United teams when they were managed by one of the best, if not the best, team motivators -  Sir Alex Ferguson.
But professional football, a contact team sport, and amateur women's golf,  are entirely different propositions and the legendary intensity of Fergie's pre-match team talks would probably be counter-productive in a Vagliano Trophy team context!
Said Elaine at Malone Golf Club:
"We have a really strong GB and I team, many of whom have played regularly and successfully against the Continent of Europe players in US college tournaments.
"So, although the Continent has won the last four Vagliano Trophy
matches since 2007, there is no danger of our players being in awe of the opposition. There will be 18 of the best female amateurs in Europe in action on Friday and Saturday.

"GB and Ireland can win and we need the players to believe they can win."
 + Gordon Strachan, a keen golfer, plays off a handicap of seven at La  Manga Golf Club on the Costa del Sol.

 Left to right: Shannon McWilliam (Aboyne), Hazel Macgarvie (Troon Ladies) and Alice Hewson (Berkhamsted)

The GB and I team loosened up with four four-ball games against malemembers of Malone Golf Club. GB and won all four games ... which is a good omen. These are pictures of the players who took part, all taken by skipper EFB