BOWLING teams from across the country descended on Darlington this weekend for the sport’s equivalent to the FA cup finals.

The town was chosen to host the final stages of the men’s and ladies’ all-England national team championship knockout events.

The club was chosen by the national body of the English Indoor Bowling Association (EIBA) as the perfect venue to hold the events, following a recent “very successful weekend of both high class play and organisation.”

Teams from Devon to Cumbria battled it out for the prestigious Denny Cup and Yetton Trophy at Darlington Indoor Bowls Club, at the Morrison Centre on North Road.

The event was officially opened by the mayor and mayoress of Darlington, Gerald and Ruth Lee, as well as EIBA director of competitions, Geoff Day, and World Bowls Council member Tony Horobin.

The club’s co-secretary, Graham Peacock, said the event was a huge success, and marked the last time for at least ten years that the competition will be held in the north of England.

“These facilities are made for a competition like this,” he said.

“It has been a very successful weekend – everything has gone very well and we have had good crowd support over the two days.”