Darlington IBC hosts the prestigious Famous Grouse Four Nations Top Ten Classic 2000 at the Morrison Centre over Easter.

Teams from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will take part over the four days from Friday.

And the North-East has two representatives in Darlington and the powerful Stanley club, who will have their work cut out against Britain's top club bowlers.

The strongest outfits are expected to be Blackpool, Croydon, Scotland's Coatbridge, and County Antrim.

The 16 qualifiers will be in action each day, with play commencing at 10am and going through to 10.30pm in non-stop competition.

With each team playing six games of singles, pairs, triples and fours, no players will be allowed to compete in more than one of the four disciplines over the four days.

Two points will be awarded for a win and one for a draw, with points and shots aggregated over the 24 games to decide the final placings in the Top Ten team Championship.

Play will start on Rink One on Good Friday with a singles match between Darlington and Hull, and there will be action on all of the Morrison Centre's eight rinks.

Darlington IBC chairman Joe Burrows said: "The potential of the event is enormous and shall continue to interest the media and thousands of bowlers who enjoy a new challenge.

"It has everything: different opponents; a varied menu of venues and teams; a new format; new goals and a very high standard of competitive bowling.

"The tournament has certainly offered a fresh Millennium Challenge, a new opportunity and extra dimension to planning and playing to help with the continuing growth of indoor bowls."

l Hopes of early Durham success in the EIBA National Finals at Melton Mowbray were dashed when both Stanley and Hartlepool were eliminated from the Rinks event in the first two days.

With John Leeman indisposed, substitute Lockie Todd joined with Steve Krimpon, Alan Theobald and Chris Palmer, and the Stanley standard-bearers were 27-13 winners of a first round game against Carnmoggas, of Cornwall, and then won a tense match with the Gallow (Norfolk) quartet, skipped by international Mervyn King, 19-17.

But in the quarter-final the North West Durham men were beaten 24-15 by Berkshire club Whiteknights.

The Hartlepool four of Graham Adams, Barry Play for, Terry Barnes and Dale Oram, gained a 22-9 first round win over Woodspring (Somerset) before going down 21-9 to Ipswich.

Hebburn went out in the Triples first round, beaten 21-18 by Donyatt, of Somerset. Mark Jones, Brian Storr and Ken Tinkler (Darlington) were 15-13 winners over Tye Green (Essex) before being eliminated in the second round.

In the Pairs event there was first round success for Newcastle Eldon Leisure, 21-18 winners over Hampshire Victory, but Hartlepool's Marc Squirrell and Tony Macey were beaten 30-13.

l In the Domnick Hunter Durham County Inter Club Division A Darlington were comfortable winners over old rivals Hartlepool.

Scores (darlington first) - Home: Alan Moore 10, Cliff Simpson 19; Graham peacock 21, Keith Brallisford 12; Brian Storr 22, Paul Hartley 16. Away: Andrew Kirtland 16, John Wells 16; Eric Ramsdale 18, Ian Jackson 10; David Joyce 23, Tony Macey 9. Darlington 10 1/2 pts, Hartlepool 1 1/2.

l The Hartlepool Invitation Pairs Championship, established in 1973, will be held over Easter, starting on Saturday.

The eight qualifiers from last year will be joined by: J Ross/M Haire (Ireland), J Gilmore/G Adams (Scotland), D Morgan/D Bolt (Sunderland), D Baron/B Attwood (Great Aycliffe), R&B Arkley (Stanley), T&S Birdsey (Gateshead), W Russell/G Fawcett (Spennymoor), D Carter/D Naunton (Wymondham Dell), B Robson/D Christie (Durham), and R Gass/T Taylor (Cumbria)