TOP indoor bowls players arrive in the North-East next month for a major event.
The World Bowls Tour and Professional Bowls Association's national qualifiers take place in Stanley Indoor Bowls Centre, from September 15 to 22.
More than 200 competitors will descend on the former mining town and centre bosses are expecting the competition to prove a big crowd-puller. Admission for spectators is free.
Derwentside Leisure Services, which is helping to co-ordinate the event, has set up an accommodation booking service to cope with demand.
Medal winners from the Commonwealth Games will be among those taking part, including men's pairs gold medal winner George Sneddon, fours gold medal winners Simon Skelton, Robert Newman and David Holt, and singles silver medal winner Jeremy Henry.
Stanley is no stranger to bowls success and is nationally known as a centre for producing players of a high standard. The club has five players representing England at international level and has reached the finals of the Denny Cup on three occasions.
The opening day of the contest sees one of its top players, John Leeman, face off against Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Amy Gowshall.
Full details of the competition draw and all the matches, are available from the centre on (01207) 236941, or the council on 218530.
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