The pace and the chase for indoor bowls championships is hotting up at club, area, county, regional and national levels in a host of events involving singles, pairs, triples, fours, double fours and team play.

A good number of North of England-based clubs are heavily involved as the national finals creep forward with a range of fascinating clashes and unpredictable results.

Every bowl, every end, every round and every championship with every close finish has its own importance for individual singles competitors, teams and clubs all looking for gold and glory in the medal chase.

Darlington lady bowlers face a stiff challenge this week when they play Durham City (holders) over six rinks on a home and away basis in their quest for the Durham County inter-club championships.

Darlington's squad includes Tracy Fairless, Margaret White, Sadie Lynch, Dulcie Harbin, Citty Robinson, Audrey Cairns, Olive Harris, Joyce Stephenson, Rene Gordon, Joan Hamer, Phyllis Harper, Marjorie Nelson, Ann Anderson all playing away. The following represent Darlington at the Morrison Centre: Barbara Watson, Vi Johnson, Maureen Whitton, Ann Simpson, Alison Joyce, Edith Dunn, Mary Armstrong, Joan Winter, Marjorie Bousfield, Peggy Clark, Gladys Auton, Joyce Weston and Doris Rewcastle.

In the All England Champion of Champions singles event Darlington are very well represented by Andrew Kirtland, an outstandingly good singles player who takes some beating.

The North regional draw includes several club champions and it would be difficult to predict a gold medal winners.

Andrew is skilful, experienced, ambitious and full of confidence. He is certain to test the best and play Roger Fitzgerald of Metrodome Barnsley in the first round and could then meet John Wells a Durham County team colleague, the Hartlepool singles champion. John meets Paul Cranridge (Scunthorpe) with Mark Reynolds (Harrogate) in the same section of the draw.

Kevin O'Riordon (Thornaby), one of the most talented players in the Northern region, has to meet and beat Alan Croft (Hull) and then perhaps Eddie Harcroft (York) or Maurice Dinsley (Hebburn).

Gary Stevens, Durham City champion, plays Tom Birdsey (Gateshead) while Alan Johnson (North Shields Park) plays Nick Davison (Newcastle). Gary Bruce (New Earswick) completes the regional field alongside John Whiteley (Featherstone). It is going be some contest for the Northern Counties crown.

This week brought great news for the Thornaby bowlers who travelled to neutral venue Wiltshire to play Newquay (Cornwall).

Teessiders Alan Jones, Mark O'Riordon, Mike Ayers and Tony Frosdick won 22-16. Viv O'Neill, Shaun O'Brien, Bill Peirson and Richard Holmes won 17-16. Phil Stokoe, Brian Smith, Kevin O'Riordon and skip Colin Boston won 20-18 to make it a hat-trick.

Paul Mosely, Peter Marshall, John Harris and Glen Skipp fought back from a 10-19 deficit and were just pipped by 21-20 in a great match.

Thornaby are now in the All England Denny Plate finals. Darlington are current national team champions who followed on from Hartlepool giving the North-East an enviable reputation.

Great Aycliffe were beaten by the odd shot after an extra end in the All England Egham Trophy team championship. Full report next week alongside the clash between Darlington's six-rink side against the Stanley men's team.