TWO members of Lampeter Bowling Club have been selected to represent Wales at the 2019 World Bowls Atlantic Championships from 10 to 23 May.

Rising star Melanie Thomas and Anwen Butten will both take part at the elite event, being staged in south Wales.

Thomas showed her potential when she won the Welsh Women’s Two Wood Singles Competition last year and, along with Anwen Butten, she was a member of the Lampeter’s Double Rinks Team that were runners-up to Merthyr West End.

Butten is an experienced competitor on the international stage, having won two bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002 and Delhi in 2010. The 46 year-old has also won a five medals in silver and bronze at the World Outdoor Championships.

They will team up with Bethan Russ of Port Talbot in the Wales Triples team, with Ysie White of Tenby joining them to make up the Fours.

The five-player Wales ladies’ team will be completed by Sara Marie Nicholls of Llandeilo, who will be competing in the Singles and the Pairs, along with White.

Male and female teams from some 24 nations will be in action in what promises a fiercely contested tournament, held over 12 days, and across four venues in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.

In the Triples, Wales face Argentina, Spain, Ireland, Guernsey, Cyprus, Turkey, Malta, Zambia, South Africa and Botswana in their group. In the Fours, Wales take on Switzerland, Argentina, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Spain, Jersey, Israel, Ireland and England in their section.

Wales’ ladies team manager and organising committee member, Hazel Wilson, said: “I am thrilled Wales is hosting the World Bows Atlantic Championships this year.

“Myself and the players have experienced the wonderful hospitality of other countries whilst we have attended other World Bowls events - and now it is our chance to showcase Wales.

“We hope it is the first of many events we can host.

“The Welsh players are all looking forward to it, and it is a great opportunity for Welsh supporters, bowlers and non-bowlers of all ages to come and see this multi-national event within lawn bowls, and to see our players compete against some of the best players in the world.”

The Wales bowlers are looking to build on their record-breaking medal success at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, when Daniel Salmon and Marc Wyatt stunned Scotland to claim gold in the pairs final.

Laura Daniels also earned a women’s singles silver, and the duo of Gilbert Miles and Julie Thomas took the bronze in the B2/B3 Bowls.

Home advantage will be a bonus when Wales welcomes the prestigious Championships for the first time.

The Championships will be hosted at Penylan, Penarth Windsor, Barry Athletic and Dinas Powis, and tickets are available at welshbowls.co.uk, as well as on the day.