RYEDALE Indoor Bowls Club is celebrating after two of its members, Pam Bayes and Mark Walton, won the Golden Charter All England mixed pairs bowls national title on Monday.

Their win - which went down to the last bowl of the match - was all the more special in light of Pam's current battle against pelvic cancer.

The 62-year-old, from Norton, was not even sure she would be well enough to make the trip to the national finals, which started last Friday in Northampton.

But, she made it and came through four gruelling matches over three days, before she and Mark beat Lincoln's Jean Morris and Danny Brown 19-18 in Monday afternoon's final.

The Ryedale pair were cruising 19-9, but nerves were on edge as the Lincoln duo pulled back to within just two shots by the last end.

And it needed a running bowl with Mark's final effort - which knocked two of Lincoln's bowls out of the head - to secure victory. If he had missed, Lincoln would have won 20-19.

The pair, from the Norton-based club, will now go on to represent the country in the World Indoor Bowls Council tournament in Belfast in April.

Pam, who has managed to organise her chemotherapy treatment so it would not prevent her from competing, said: "On Monday and Tuesday of last week, I didn't think I would be able to go. But, I was very fortunate, in that I never felt ill while I was playing on the greens.

"I hope this gives others the incentive to keep doing things and keep fighting."

Pam, who also fought off ovarian cancer nine years ago, said the win was her top life-time achievement.

Playing partner Mark, 37, from Driffield, has reached several national finals in the past, including a runners-up spot in the mixed pairs with Pam two years ago.

He has also won the national outdoor mixed pairs event before, but, like Pam, this was his first national indoor title.

He said: "To win any national title is a good achievement. I felt more pressure as I really wanted to win it for Pam as she has been through a lot. It's more special this year because of what's happened."

Mark and Pam have been playing partners for around seven years.

They won through several rounds to get to Northampton, including a zonal final victory over York pair David Stroughair and Ena Neal.

Pam revealed that the pair had sent them a message of good luck before the final and one of congratulation afterwards.

The victory was also a timely reminder to the England selectors of Mark's quality. He has been on the verge of national team call-up for the last few years, having had two trials for the team.

Updated: 10:05 Wednesday, February 25, 2004