It means he has qualified for two of this season’s four world ranking tournaments, so giving him an opportunity to collate some vital points in his bid to close the gap on the world’s top 16.

Currently ranked 25, Brett booked his place in the world event at Lincoln by defeating Mark O’Riordan (Thornaby) 2-1 in a tie-break, achieved with the very last bowl of the match.

Brett had already qualified for next month’s International Open at Burgess Hill, Sussex, where he faces a first round clash with new world number 16 Simon Skelton.

n THE Peterborough & District friendly team opened their campaign with a convincing 156-77 victory over local club Werrington.

Result

Peterborough 156, Werrington 77 (Peterborough skips first): E. Miller 17, R. Bright 17; F. Harris 31, C. Willey 8; M. Clarke 26, K. Brown 11; M. Hadnam 27, E. Kingston 7; T. Fletcher 24, R. Martin 20; S. Craig 31, H. White 14.

n SPALDING’S Charlene Leuty has been named in the England junior women’s indoor international trial that takes place at Solihull next month. Clubmate Rebecca Allen is among the reserves.

n The Northants Bowling Federation annual meeting takes place at Peterborough & District next Wednesday.

The most contentious issue is likely to be a management committee proposal to introduce an automatic three-year ban on players failing to turn up for the national finals at Skegness.

Twice in the past few years, the county have not been represented in three events owing to the players being involved in the association’s national finals at Worthing, and one-year bans were imposed as a result.

Ironically, the two championships are not likely to clash for the next two years. The Federation event, which is always staged in the week leading up to the Bank Holiday weekend, is moving to the last week of August in 2009 and 2010.

n THE Peterborough League presentations take place at the Parkway club next Friday.