World Indoor Bowls Council World Singles and Mixed Pairs Championships take place at Hartlepool Indoor Bowls Club

The 2018 World Indoor Bowls Council World Singles and Mixed Pairs Championships take place at Hartlepool Indoor Bowls Club from Tuesday to Friday, April 10-13.

Players from the Netherlands, Canada, Guernsey, Jersey, the Isle of Man, England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales will be among those taking part in the four-day event at the club’s Mill House site in Raby Road.

Carl Higgins, the club’s president, said that the club and its members were ‘delighted’ that the Mill House base is hosting the tournament.

He said: “We are proud and delighted to welcome the world championships to Hartlepool for the very first time.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for players and non-players alike to watch some of the world’s top sportsmen and women in action.”

Tickets for seats will be available on the door, priced £3 per person for each full day or £10 for a four-day ticket.

For more details, including a full programme, call the club on (01429) 260321 or email Carl at [email protected].

The event starts on Tuesday morning with Mixed Pairs games followed by Ladies and Gents Singles matches before more Mixed Pairs to close the day’s action in early evening.

Qualifying games for all three formats carry on throughout Wednesday with quarter-finals and semi-finals taking place throughout Thursday.

The finals take place from 9am on Friday morning.

The Mayor of Hartlepool welcomed the event to town.

Councillor Paul Beck, said: “This is a marvellous accolade for Hartlepool Indoor Bowls Club and great news for the town as a whole, which has so much to offer visitors from around the world.

“I am honoured to have been invited by the club to officially open the event.Bowls has a very big following in Hartlepool and I am sure that people will give a warm welcome to the competitors and officials.”