HOME advantage was exploited to the full as New Earswick Indoor Bowls Club hosted the Special Olympics Yorkshire & Humberside Regional Special Olympics tournament.

The competition, sponsored for the third year by York Co-operative Funeral Care, included 32 bowlers with learning difficulties matched into eight ability groups.

Eight New Earswick-based bowlers represented City of York, with top honours going to Gemma Broadhead, who stepped up from group two to group one and won gold.

Chris McPherson, in his first year of bowling, also excelled, claiming gold in group three.

Sam Hinde and Andrew Bayston won silver and bronze respectively in group five, while Katie Douglas, who also moved up a group, won bronze in group seven.

Group eight was a clean sweep of medals for City of York bowlers – gold for Nicholas Roberts, silver for Ashley Shaw and bronze for Callum Shaw.

The Lord Mayor of York, Coun Keith Hyman, has chosen Special Olympics City of York as one of his charities and was on hand to support the bowlers.

Funds raised will assist in funding the 41 City of York athletes, carers and coaches heading to the National Games in Bath in August.

Local band Huge will also play a fundraising gig at New Earswick Bowls Club on Friday, May 3. Tickets cost £15 from the club by phoning 01904 750230. For further details, visit www.newearswickibc.co.uk