SUFFOLK bowls ace John Rednall is celebrating today after fighting his way into England'sfive-man World Championship team.Rednall, who has played international bowls for the last 16 years, has won selection in both the pairs and the fours for the 2004 championships to be staged in Scotland.

By Mel Henderson

SUFFOLK bowls ace John Rednall is celebrating today after fighting his way into England's

five-man World Championship team.

Rednall, who has played international bowls for the last 16 years, has won selection in both the pairs and the fours for the 2004 championships to be staged in Scotland.

The Needham Market music teacher and Evening Star bowls columnist, will partner Commonwealth Games silver medallist Stephen Farish of Cumbria in the pairs and is at lead in the fours with Mervyn King (Norfolk), Robert Newman (Berks) and Andy Thomson (Kent).

The world's top bowlers gather at the magnificent Northfield Bowls complex at Ayr for the event which runs from July 23 to August 7, 2004.

Rednall, a member of the Felixstowe & Suffolk team which scooped the National Top Club title at Worthing in August this year, said: "This is wonderful news and caps a tremendous season both for myself and Suffolk bowls in

general.

"The World Championships is the pinnacle of the sport. All the top nations will be there and you really can't get much tougher competition that this.

"I'd have to pick out both Australia and New Zealand as very big dangers and South Africa are always very tough opposition.

"England have a very strong look about them, but we are all pretty experienced and I can hardly wait for the event to come round."

Rednall missed out on selection for the Commonwealth Games in Manchester last year but has fought his way back after an outstanding season, culminating in a English EBA National title at Worthing in partnership with Felixstowe and Suffolk colleague Clive Webb.

"I had a very good international series and people were beginning to whisper my name again for the England team.

"Suffolk bowls had their best ever Worthing championships and now this selection has just about topped the whole thing off."

The pairs and four are divided into four groups of six teams who play in a round robin event with the top three in each group progressing to the knock out stages.

Rednall and Farish face a tough qualifying group which also includes Australia, Hong Kong, Ireland, Namibia and a qualifier while the fours have an early chance to test out the strength of the South Africans. Also in the group are Malaysia, USA, Namibia and a qualifier.

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