Golf

Alex making name for herself in latest sport

Barnham Broom's Alex Cowie - who has steered England squash teams to seven world titles - will be the next Norfolk ladies' county captain.

She was appointed as vice-captain at the county ladies' annual meeting this week and will take office in November 2010, succeeding Nickie Clarke of Royal Norwich.

Cowie, who is a long-standing member of the county second team, will bring huge sporting and managerial experience to the role.

Her first sport was tennis and she was ranked ninth in England, represented her country in the home internationals and played in seven Wimbledon championships.

She was given her first introduction to squash when a tennis tournament was rained off - and within the space of three years was representing Great Britain. She collected titles galore and was one of the best players in the world.

When Cowie turned to coaching she was quickly snapped up by England and was the national coach and manager for 15 years, guiding the women's team to four world titles and the juniors to three. “It was incredible, but I was lucky - the players I had were phenomenal.”

Now, golf is her game. She took it up 10 years ago and currently has a handicap of five and is an experienced second team player. However, she intends to put her own golf on the back burner to devote herself to her new role.

Eaton's Sally Benton is the new captain of the county second team. She has taken over from Iet Cuppens of Royal Norwich and looks forward to building on the team's recent successes.

Benton, who plays off nine, was a county hockey player before taking up golf and, having made rapid progress, has played in the second team for five years.

In professional life she is head of girls' PE at Hellesdon High School and is a schools' sports co-ordinator within the West Norwich and Dereham schools' sports partnership. In that role she has helped introduced golf to schools in the partnership and organises an annual competition day for the youngsters.

Meanwhile, two of Norfolk's most popular golfing figures stepped down from office at the annual meeting. Judith MacKinnon of Royal Cromer retired as county president after a three-year term in which she attended countless events and enlivened them with her special brand of humour. The new president is Anne McHarg, a past ladies' captain of Thetford, who has been the Norfolk handicap adviser since 1996.

Ros Wilkinson of Weston Park became a huge favourite with the Norfolk girls during her three years as county junior organiser, during which she worked tirelessly to encourage girls to take up golf and to succeed in the game. She has been succeeded by Sue Heeles of Royal Norwich, whose daughter, Rebecca, is county girls' champion.