Players from Spalding Indoor Bowls Club earn England international selection
Six members of Spalding Indoor Bowls Club have received call-ups to play for England in an international series.
Dominic McVittie, Stephen Harris and Graham Smith have been selected to play for the men’s senior team while Ruby Hill, Annie Dunham and Chelsea Spencer have retained their places in the ladies senior side.
It was a special moment for McVittie who was chosen for the first time while Harris and Smith both retained their places.
McVittie will play number three to current world indoor singles champion Jamie Walker, with Shaun Jones and Andrew Walters at the front end.
Harris will lead a rink with Martin Puckett, Les Gillett and Greg Harlow while Smith will play at number two in a rink skipped by Robert Paxton with Paul Hartley - who has been recalled into the team - and Joe Dawson who will also be playing for his country for the first time.
The men's senior team will take to the green at Falcon Indoor Bowls Club in Chelmsford between Thursday, March 14, and Saturday, March 16.
Last season, Scotland ended England's record-breaking run of seven consecutive series wins so they will be trying to regain the Hilton Trophy in front of home support.
The ladies' senior team are defending champions after winning the series in Scotland last season so England will hope that the home crowd can help them to back-to-back Clara Johns Trophy triumphs from Friday, March 8, to Sunday, March 10.
Hill and Dunham will play in the same rink at lead and skip respectively with Kylie Jenkins and team captain Sandy Hazell.
Spencer will also skip her own rink with Cassidy Hampton, Chloe Brett and Anna Noble.
Hill has also been called up to play in the ladies under 25 team where she will skip a rink for the first time with Hannah Smith, Jasmine Wilson and Imogen Cracknell.
The ladies under 25 British Isles international series will first take place at Belfast Indoor Bowls Club over the weekend of Saturday, February 10 and 11.
Scotland won the series in 2023 so England will be keen to regain the Acle Trophy.
The call-ups follow the England selection of Ollie Jeapes for the forthcoming Under 18 international series.
It will take place at Sully Indoor Bowls Club in Wales over the weekend of January 13 and 14.
The talented youngster was selected as travelling reserve last season and impressed when he was subbed in later in the series which no doubt contributed to his selection this season.
