Scot Dale Reid masterminded one of the great sporting achievements of 2000 - taking the Europeans to Solheim Cup victory at Loch Lomond.

It appeared to be Ryder Cup revisited for the European women. Their commanding position was under threat from an American team on the final day of the singles - until the rain break intervened.

"I was thinking it was the last Solheim Cup rather than the last Ryder Cup all over again because the Americans were closing in again during the singles," said Reid, after picking up the award for Team of the Year at the Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year ceremony.

"The rain delay helped because it gave time to re-focus knowing that we needed just four points for victory.

Rookies

"When I came in during the break I heard loads of whooping and hollering from the Americans' locker room. So I went into to where our girls were and told them that we couldn't lose."

"There was something that upset me last year in an American golf magazine - it had 'R.I.P' on a gravestone in reference to the European team. But of course after our win I realised what that 'R.I.P' really stood for," said Reid.

Reid's player selection process also came under fire.

'Heavily criticised'

"I had to explain to the media, in the weeks leading up to the event, that I had reasons for picking the five wildcard entries," she said.

"In a match-play event it doesn't matter how well somebody has done in stroke play. And I knew what the course was like so I picked people who can play head-to-head."

"I was heavily criticised for picking Helen Alfredsson. She battles against the scorecard but she is the one of the best match players I know. Why would I leave her out?"

Reid is now set to captain Europe's defence of the Solheim Cup in Minnesota in two year's time. If she does, then it is unlikely that anybody will be arguing with her.