FOUR members of the Special Olympics City of York team, based at New Earswick Indoor Bowls Club, represented Yorkshire and Humberside at the Special Olympics Northern Super Regional Short Mat Bowls tournament in Cleveland.

Chris Ross (Division 6) won silver, Colin Cartwright (Division 4) won bronze, while Melony Thompson (Division 4) and Katie Douglas (Division 6) won fifth place ribbons.

The tournament was a qualifying event for next year's Special Olympics GB (SOGB) National Summer Games which is taking place in Sheffield and surrounding areas.

Bowls, in various forms, has been a part of the SOGB since it started in 1978 and next year's competition will take place at the Doncaster Indoor Bowls Club between August 8-11.

Andy Webster, the manager of New Earswick Indoor Bowls Club, has been appointed competition manager for next year's event at Doncaster after many years working hard to keep Indoor Bowls on the Special Olympics programme.

“Indoor Bowls doesn’t always get the chance to be offered as a National Summer Games sport," he said. "I was involved in proposals to host a single sport National Competition in 2012, unfortunately not sanctioned, so I am delighted to be appointed 2017 Competition Manager when the Games come back to Yorkshire."

Special Olympics City of York is seeking to raise £20,000 to support 32 athletes, 17 coaches, escorts and officials, across seven sports as part of the Yorkshire and Humberside team.

They have already raised over £10,000 through sponsored swimming and pentathlon events but are appealing to local businesses for support.

Anyone interested in sponsorship should contact socoysecretary@gmail.com or visit www.specialolympicscityofyork.org/donate-to-help-our-athletes