Up to 1958 the women's internationals were played in connection with
The Women's Amateur Championship. The first international match was played between England and Ireland in 1895 at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, the day after the Women's Amateur Championship. There were 6 ladies in each team, England taking all the matches and winning by 34 holes to 0. The two countries played again in 1899 at Newcastle County Down. There were 9 ladies in each team, England scored in 6 of the 9 matches, winning by 37 holes to 18. A further match between the two countries was played at Aberdovey in 1901, played for the first time before the Women's Amateur Championship. The result was decided by matches rather than holes, Ireland winning 5–2. A Scottish team competed at Deal in 1902 but was not representative. On the first day, England beat Ireland and Ireland beat Scotland. The following day England beat Scotland 8–0 with two matches halved. In 1903 at Royal Portrush there were too few Scottish players to make a team and the only international was one between Ireland and England, Ireland winning 9–1. In the 1904 internationals England beat Scotland 5–4, Ireland beat England 6–3 and Scotland beat Ireland 7–2, one match being halved in each contest. The first two matches were played at
Royal Troon, the third at
Prestwick. 1905 saw the introduction of the Miller International Shield, donated by Thomas Horrocks Miller and presented to the winning team. Matches were reduced to teams of seven, with the contest played over two days. Extra holes were played to ensure a result. Scotland won both their matches, 4–3, on the first day to win the contest. However no international matches were played, the first post-war matches being at Gullane in 1947. Scotland retained the title with a 4–3 win over England. There were three foursomes and six singles, the event being extended to three days. In 1959 extra holes were played to get a result in each match, but from 1960 this was dropped, matches level after 18 holes being halved. England won all their matches in 1959 and 1960, with Scotland runners-up both years. The situation was reversed in 1961 and 1962 with England winning all their matches with Scotland runners-up. In 1964 Wales tied their match with Ireland 4½–4½, Wales having lost all their previous matches since beating Ireland in 1936. Wales took third place with 9 individual wins to Ireland's 8½, the first time they had not finished in last place since 1934. In 1966, Wales and Ireland again tied their match. Ireland took third place with more individual wins. 1967 saw the first tie in the event. England and Scotland drew their opening match 4½–4½ on the first day and won their remaining two matches. Both teams had 19 individual wins, England retaining the trophy as reigning champions. Ireland and Wales also drew their opening match 4½–4½, but Wales lost 8–1 against both England and Scotland and again finished in last place. The following year England and Scotland again drew their match 4½–4½, but England retained the shield with 14½ individual wins to Scotland's 13½. In 1969 the title was again decided on individual wins. England beat Scotland 5½–3½ on the first day but lost 5–4 to Ireland on the second day, leaving England and Scotland with two wins each. Scotland had 19 individual wins to England's 18, to win the title outright for the first time since 1962. Ireland drew their match against Wales and finished in third place. England regained the title at Killarney in 1970 with three wins, including an 8½–½ defeat of Scotland. Ireland beat Scotland 5½–3½ to finish second. England were undefeated from 1970 to 1974, Scotland being runners-up in 1971, 1972 and 1973. In 1973 Wales won their first match since 1936, beating Ireland 5–4. They also tied their match against Scotland and finished in third place. In 1974, Ireland beat England 5–4 on the final day, resulting in only the second three-way tie in the history of the event. Scotland won with 18 individual points, ahead of England with Ireland third. In 1975, Wales beat Ireland 7–2, their biggest-ever win, and although they lost their other two matches, they finished runners-up for the first time, behind England. Wales were runners-up again in 1976 when they tied all three of their matches. England took the title with Scotland finishing last for the first time. England retained the title in 1977 and 1978, winning all their matches. Ireland, who hadn't won the title since 1907, won their first two matches in 1979 but then lost to Wales on the final day. Scotland beat 7–2 on the last day and took the title on individual points. England finished in fourth place for the first time. Ireland did win the title in 1980 with three wins. England only got half-a-point, but finished ahead of Wales on individual points. ==Format==