Kilkenny's Eileen Rose Power produced a solid performance in the opening round of the British women's stroke-play championship at Silloth in Cumbria yesterday. The experienced Curtis Cup player returned a one-over-par 73, matching the score of her playing partner, the defending champion, Christina Kuld from Denmark.

They were three strokes off the pace set by another Dane, Karen Juul and Spain's Maria Pons, the 1995 champion.

Wexford's Elaine Dowdall was two over par at the turn and came home level for a 74 while Hazel Kavanagh was level at the turn but dropped three shots on the back line for a 75.

British Women's Strokeplay Championship (Silloth, Cumbria) - 70 K Juul (Denmark), M Pons (Spain) 71, R Morgan (Monmouth); Irish scores: 73 E Rose Power (Kilkenny), 74 E Dowdall (Wexford), 75 H Kavanagh (Grange), 77 L O'Brien (Claremorris), 79 B Hackett (Castleroy), 81 T Mangan (Ennis).