GLOUCESTERSHIRE are the English Women’s County Champions for the first time – and their victory at Waterlooville Golf Club near Portsmouth was the signal for celebrations, tears and a drenching for their captain.

Andra Knight was soaked by her ecstatic team after winning a tight match against Yorkshire 5-4.

They’ve finally achieved their goal on their sixth consecutive appearance at County Finals and Knight said: “I can’t believe we’ve done it, I’m overwhelmed. What a team! They have gelled together all week and they just fought and fought and fought.”

The golf was excellent and intensely close with five of the day’s nine games decided on the 18th, including two which were halved.

The decider was the game of county champion Becky Gibbs who is getting married in a fortnight.

Gloucestershire had to win, while Yorkshire would have taken the title with a halved result. The South West champions made their move early, taking a slender lead when they won the foursomes 2-1, holding their nerve to take their points on the 18th green.

In the afternoon the first two singles illustrated the great determination of both teams. Alex Giles finished her game par, birdie to win the last two holes and snatch a half for Gloucestershire. Then Alison Knowles produced exactly the same finish to grab her half for Yorkshire.

Behind then, the players were trading blow for blow. Gloucestershire’s Bethan Popel won the clash of the England internationals, beating Olivia Winning 3&2. Megan Clarke replied, winning her game 3&2 for Yorkshire.

In the last two games on the course Yorkshire’s Rochelle Morris grabbed a 2&1 and the outcome of the championship rested on the clash between Gloucestershire’s Becky Gibbs and Hannah Holden.

Gibbs won the 16th to go one up with two to play – and stepped into uncharted territory because all her previous matches had finished at or before this point.

She lost the 17th after her drive found trees on the right but she took charge on the 18th, reaching the green in a regulation three shots, while her opponent tangled with the rough around the green and a bunker. Gibbs won the hole, finished her match 2up – and the Gloucestershire celebrations began.

“I enjoyed it, but it was stressful," said Gibbs, who was five-under when she finished. "I knew it was all on me because I like to know what’s going on. I just really wanted to do it for all of them and it’s amazing,”

Team coach Kirsty Taylor added: “We are just a great team. We have worked together on team building and it’s taken a while to bring it all together but they all deserve this. This is a young team which is growing. It's been a work in progress for a number of years, and how good will they be next year?"

GLOS TEAM: Becky Gibbs, Alex Giles, Charlie Hiatt, Ali Kelly, Ebonie Lewis, Caley McGinty, Claudia Ovens, Bethan Popel, Alex Saunders and Ffion Tynan.

RESULTS: Glos 7 Bucks 2; Glos 4½ Norfolk 4½; Glos 7 Surrey 2; Glos 8 Staffs 1; Glos 5 Yorks 4.

FINAL PLACES: 1, Gloucestershire, 2, Yorkshire, 3, Norfolk, 4, Surrey, 5, Buckinghamshire, 6, Staffordshire.