Bristol's talented teenagers Chris Lloyd and Adam Carson have achieved every young golfer's dream by being selected to play in the Jacques Leglise Trophy against the Continent of Europe.

Seven of the supremely talented English boys, who won the home internationals two weeks ago, are in the nine-player team representing Great Britain and Ireland at Ganton, in Yorkshire, from August 28-30.

"I thought I was 90 per cent certain of being picked but until the news came at the end of last week I couldn't be 100 per cent sure," said Lloyd, the 17-year-old plus-four handicapper at the Kendleshire.

"It's yet another chance to see how we compare with the best young players in Europe and it is going to be a big week for us both."

The two players have competed all year in various countries and continents. They often barely have time to draw breath before they are embarking on something new.

Last week, Long Ashton's Carson was one of the English players tipped to do well on the British Amateur Boys championship at Royal St Georges until he was beaten in the third round of the matchplay.

He started well enough with two 5 and 3 successes but lost 4 and 3 to Portugal's Miguel Gasper.

Although neither Lloyd nor Carson are able to make themselves available for all county events because of their huge national and international commitments, they try to help the county whenever possible.

This week they have stepped back from the international scene to compete for Gloucestershire juniors in the English County Boys Finals at Whittington Heath.

The other team members are Laurie Potter (Minchinhampton), Sam Morgan (Bristol & Clifton), Sam Payne (Shirehampton Park), Tyler Hogarty (Rodway Hill) and Sam Sullivan (Woodspring).

Gloucestershire, the favourites, face Surrey, Lancashire and Worcestershire in the round robin event.

The Jacques Leglise match was inaugurated in 1958, but the event was not played in Europe until 40 years later. Great Britain and Ireland only lost three times before 1995.

Now the strength of European golf has improved dramatically and the subsequent six matches were equally shared.

● Minchinhampton's Charlotte Ellis has qualified in second place after the 36-hole eliminator in the England Mid-Amateur championship at Denham, in Buckinghamshire, last week.