The Darlington Indoor Bowls Club which plays from the Morrison Centre has been very successful in all five disciplines over the last 24 years and particularly so in team events.

At Hartlepool, Thornaby, Stanley and York the bowlers have established bluechip records in the nationals. Darlington bowlers are hoping to match their achievements over the years.

The Quakers had, overall, their best ever year in 2002-2003 with the men's team winning the coveted gold medals in the Denny Plate All England team championship losing just a single game all season in the Denny Cup.

Representing the North of England they travelled south to beat Acle, the Suffolk and Norfolk champions, on a neutral venue.

Darlington excelled themselves in the national semi-final when beating Cyphers of Kent before winning the gold medals at Portsmouth in memorable style with a last wood of the match played to within a whisker of the jack showing great style, team spirit, a willingness to be first, lots of character and massive application. Darlington had achieved the same as Hartlepool the previous year at Morrisons in the national finals. A really good double for the North-East.

North of England indoor clubs includes the following clubs: Boldon, Concordia, Consett, Cumbria, Ferryhill, Great Aycliffe, Harrogate, Hartlepool, Hebburn, Eldon Newcastle, Park View, North Shields, Redcar Borough Park, Ryedale, Saltburn, Scarborough, Selby, Leeds, South Shields, Spennymoor, Stanley, City of Sunderland, Thornaby, Tynedale, York, Jarrow, New Earswick, Barnsley, Hull, Huddersfield, Houghton, Ashington, Durham, Newton Hall, Blackpool.

The Quaker lady bowlers excelled themselves last year winning the Yetton Trophy All England team bronze medals in Hampshire after beating the best from the Northern Counties. More successes came Darlington's way in the home nations Famous Grouse Top Ten Classic which was staged at Darlington.

In the Denny Cup All England championship Darlington men had a great victory over Tynedale this week.

In the Egham Trophy national team mixed fours first round the Quakers beat Hartlepool this week and now have a tough draw in the next round when they take on a talented Thornaby four-rink team on a home and away basis.

The ladies have to meet and beat Houghton next week in the All England Yetton Trophy championship, while the men play Cumbria the next fortnight in the Dennys Cup. What a match this will be.

The following players are chosen to represent Darlington in the Famous Grouse Top Ten Classic this season: Barry Cooper, Adam Mortimer, Stuart Clarke, Barry Hodgson, Mike Baines, Stan Burton, Martin Lynch, Jack Grayson, Ian Prentice, Colin Young, John Appleton, Neil Hodgson, Ken Tinkler, Mark Jones, Clive Black, Brian Metcalf, Tony Bousfield, Andrew Kirtland, Alan Lambert Mick Tompkins, John Lynch, Graham Peacock, Ken Lamb, Eric Ramsdale, Alan Moor.

The ladies will be representing Darlington in the County championship and the All England Club championship.

They include: Sadie Lynch, Kath Tinkler, Olwyn Kitching, Marjorie Bousfield, Mary Armstrong, Vi Johnson, Maureen Whitton, Ann Simpson, Peggy Clark, Joan Winter, Audrey Shepherd, Pearl Wright, Tracey Fairless, Joyce Weston, Doris Rewcastle, Dulcie Harbin (captain), Barbara Watson, Edith Dunn, Margaret White, Ann Anderson, Kitty Robinson, Audrey Cairns, Olive Harris, Joyce Stephenson.

There is a lot to play in the indoor world, let's hope Darlington have another string of successes.