Knowle's Hannah Barwood, after playing a major role in Gloucestershire's gallant bid to win the English County Finals at Pleasington, learned she is on the Curtis Cup short-list for next year's match against the United States.

"I heard on the final day and it was great news, although it was not a complete surprise as I had been in the squad last year," she said. The match takes place at Essex County Club, Massachusetts, from June 11-13 between teams of eight.

In the county finals, Barwood won her four singles and two foursomes, halving two others, for a seven-point total. Bristol & Clifton's Sian James won six-and-a-half points and Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton) gained six.

Everything started well with wins over Warwickshire (6-3), Hertfordshire (5-4) and Surrey (6.5-2.5). But Lincolnshire inflicted a 7-2 defeat, which made the final match against Lancashire the decider.

Although Barwood and Ellis halved the top foursomes, Lancashire won the other two to take a 2.5-0.5 lead into the singles. Barwood, Linda Carruthers (Broadway) and James won their singles but Lancashire still won 5.5-3.5.

Barwood said: "We knew everything would be settled on the final two days against the other two strongest teams. We went into the last match knowing that we would be the champions had we won, but fourth if we lost.

"Lancashire were better than us on the last day. For example, when Sarah Walton beat Jo Hodge (Knowle) on the last green she was four under par."

Points scorers: Barwood 7 (from 9), James 6.5 (9), Ellis 6 (9), Carruthers 4 (9), Hodge 4 (9), Shelby Smart (Knowle) 1 (5), Allison Kelly (Cirencester) 1 (6), Bethan Popel (Long Ashton) 0 (2), Jamie-Lee Casling (Brickhampton) 0 (2).