When Christine Woodcock competes in the World Visually Handicapped Bowls Championships her name will go down in Yorkshire sporting history,

The 61-year-old former mill worker became the first player from the county to qualify for the competition after playing in a series of tournaments last year.

Now she will travel to Girvin in Scotland to bowl in the championships between August 4 and 18.

Christine, of Greenroyd Avenue, Hunsworth, near Cleckheaton, went blind in August 1995 after an operation on a brain tumour, in which both optic nerves were severed. She has been bowling for the last five years with husband Donald as her helper and coach.

Nine countries compete in the world competition and Christine will be a member of a 16-strong English team.

"I love competition bowling and am proud to have qualified," she said. "I'm hoping to get as much practice as possible between now and August, but am limited to how much I can do because of the distance I have to travel."

Christine makes a 90-mile round trip to North Duffield near Selby once a week. It is her closest flat green.

There are six crown greens near to where she lives but these cannot stage tournaments for blind and partially-sighted bowlers .

During competitions, a string is placed down the centre of the green to guide bowlers. Christine's husband Donald is allowed to tell her where she has placed the bowl in relation to the jack and he uses clock positions to help her visualise where it is.

The couple must raise at least £800 between them in sponsorship to pay for uniforms, hotels and transport.

"I have written to local businesses and people I know and am confident we will get the money," said Christine.

After the tumour operation, Christine resigned from CB Brook's textile firm in Drighlington where she had worked 39 years. She is a qualified aromatherapist and masseuse

Her interest in bowling began when she joined the Dewsbury and Batley Society for the Blind. She practices at an indoor green at Whitcliffe Mount once a fortnight.