A BOWLER has won gold in an international tournament in Hong Kong.

Sue Allen, 55, from Norton, was part of a team of four flat green bowlers representing Yorkshire - and England - who travelled to the Asian city to compete against teams from around the world in the Hong Kong International Bowls Classic Carnival 4s.

Sue, who plays with the Swinton Bowls Club, said: “We went with the intention of winning it - because you do.

"But it was quite an achievement and quite amazing to win. We had a fantastic time and the hospitality out there is second to none.”

Sue’s team, of which she was skipper, also included bowlers Alistair Cook, James Dilks and Stephen Dilks, who bowl at Nafferton near Driffield.

Flat green bowling is a form of lawn bowls, played outside on a square lawn which is flat, as opposed to the slightly crested surface found in crown green bowling.

The Classic Carnival 4s, which took place in early November, consisted of two groups of nine teams, with the top team in each group qualifying for the semi-finals and the second and third placed teams of each group playing off for the two remaining semi-final places.

The Yorkshire "rink" won six of their eight group games to finish second in the group and set up a play-off match against a rink from Australia.

Victories over the Australian rink in the play-off and a rink from China in the semi-final cemented an encounter against a host club quartet in the final – which saw the Yorkshire rink win 18-8.

The team won gold medals and a glass trophy each.

Sue said she has been bowling for 40 years and has played for England for around five years.

On whether the team will return to Hong Kong’s India Recreation Club next year to defend their title, Sue said: “We had a fantastic time and it’s a great sport. I’d love to go back next year.”

l Sports news: Pages 58-64