KINGSWINFORD bowls champions are marking the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee by launching a new competition for schoolchildren.

England international player Brian Sable, president of the Midlands County Bowls Association, and Welsh international wheelchair bowls player David Powell, the Association’s chairman, have organised the Dudley Schools Olympic Bowls Competition.

Teams of six from The Glynne and Fairhaven primary schools in Wordsley and Dawley Brook and St Mary’s in Kingswinford will be battling against each other in the tournament which will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes Church Hall, Summerhill, Kingswinford, on Friday June 29.

Mr Sable, who runs Our Lady of Lourdes Indoor Bowling Club, said he hopes the event will entice more kids to take up bowls.

He said: “We wanted to put on something special for the children for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and we’re trying to encourage youngsters to get into bowling as most players are older people.”

He said it was decided to hold the tournament after the club was able to buy new bowling balls suitable for children, new jacks and new score boards with money left over from a £5,000 Dudley Council grant dished out for new rolling mat machines.

If the competition proves a hit with schoolkids it will be held annually.