FORMER York bowler Amy Monkhouse was today due to become the first woman to play in the male-dominated World Indoor Championships.

England international Monkhouse, 27, who qualified via a play-off system in September, began her quest for glory at Potters Leisure Resort in Hopton in Norfolk.

She was aiming to get her name on the trophy alongside the likes of bowls legends David Bryant, Tony Allcock, Richard Corsie, Alex Marshall and Paul Foster - all three-times winners of the competition which, these days, is a gender-free championship.

But it will be a gruelling task as the championship, which started today, is spread over 26 days.

Monkhouse booked her place by taking the scalps of three men in the qualifiers at Erewash, Nottinghamshire.

A physical education teacher in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, Monkhouse gave up her membership of York Indoor Bowls Club in August last year, as her husband, an accountant, moved to a new post.

The women's world fours champion and world Under-25 singles title-holder will get two chances to win a world title as she will also have a crack at the women's event - a competition which men are not allowed to enter.

She headed to Norfolk in good form, having reached the semi-finals of the World Champion of Champions competition in New Zealand earlier this month.

Updated: 10:24 Wednesday, January 04, 2006