Bowls It was double joy for City of Ely bowler Nick Brett this week as he claimed the International Open title and was crowned world number one to boot.

Brett beat Alex Marshall 12-4, 9-8, to claim the Co-operative Funeralcare Open title at Newton Hall, in Blackpool, on Friday, and accrued enough ranking points to move ahead of Paul Foster, making him the world indoor number one.

Brett said: “It is all but just a dream and I am so lost for words I just cannot speak.”

The final between Marshall and Brett saw the latter hit top form from the outset, taking the first set 12-4 in dominant fashion.

Marshall regrouped in the second and made Brett fight for each bowl through to the fourth end, where it was all squared at 3-3.

In ends five and six, Brett took a single and a double to go three up, but Marshall stormed right back to take two doubles in ends seven and eight to go 7-6 up.

Brett stole a single in the ninth and a double in end 10 to move ahead once more and survived a late scare from Marshall to claim the win.