HUNDREDS of spectators and competitors could roll into York if a local club wins its bid to host the National Indoor Bowls Championships.

New Earswick and District Indoor Bowls Club members believe York's crowd-pulling power will help raise the profile of the sport if they can persuade organisers to move the event to the city in April 2007.

The competition has been opened up to offers from other venues after being held in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, for about 16 years.

The New Earswick bid to the English Indoor Bowling Association follows the success of other high-profile fixtures in York such as Royal Ascot and the UK Travis Perkins snooker tournament.

Andy Webster, stadium manager, was confident the club's base on Huntington Road had the winning formula, and expects to hear whether their application has been successful by the end of February.

"If successful, this will mean nine days of top bowling coming to New Earswick. Following the recent TV coverage of the World Indoor Bowling Championships it is hoped that together they will act as a catalyst to raise the profile and interest in the game at local level," said Webster.

"We are confident our bid will be looked upon favourably as we have a first-class stadium with viewing, catering and parking facilities and the benefit of York as a tourist city to be able to give players and supporters an added visitor experience to the bowling competition."

However, he admitted: "This is unchartered territory because it has never been up for grabs before."

The event is open to stadiums with eight rinks such as the New Earswick club which has 750 members from across York and beyond.

"The opportunity is there," said Webster. "We feel we have the facilities equal to those at Melton Mowbray. And we feel we have the added attraction of York being a tourist destination which would improve attendance of the bowling championships."

Coun Keith Orrell, City of York Council's leisure chief, agreed that events took on "an added dimension" when staged in such an historic and beautiful city as York.

He said the Huntington and New Earswick ward committee had supported the club with a grant towards an electric scoreboard, adding: "The council and its partners are always looking to promote events within the city. This is a national championship that New Earswick Club is trying to bring to York. We would support them in their application."

York Indoor Bowls Club in Thanet Road has six rinks, not the required eight, so could not bid for the championships.

Updated: 10:40 Thursday, February 02, 2006