KATY Smith has been called up to the England U25s junior team for the first time and will make her debut next February.

The teenager from West Swindon, who plays her outdoor bowls at Royal Wootton Bassett and indoors at Westlecot, has been selected to play in the British Isles Women’s Indoor Bowls Championship International Series at Islwyn IBC in Rhondda, Wales.

Meanwhile, while there was joy for 19-year-old Katy at the junior England women’s trial held at Northampton last Sunday, there was disappointment for her elder sister Lucy, 21, as she has only been selected as a standby reserve.

After several trials in previous seasons, this is the first time Katy has been selected for an England indoor side, although she made her international debut outdoors on her own green at Royal Wootton Bassett for the England U18s against Wales in September 2015.

She follows in the footsteps of sister Lucy, who made her only England U25s indoor appearance in February 2014 against Scotland in a rink that helped to clinch the title-decider.

The England call-up for the youngest of the Smith girls, Katy, is a well-deserved accolade for all her fine performances in 2015 and 2016.

Recently, she reached the last 16 and final stages of the women’s national U25 championship early next year for the third year in a row, while Lucy made it two years in a row.

Next January, Lucy has qualified to compete at Potters at the World Indoor Bowls Championships in the women’s world matchplay event.

  •  HEDLEY Bowen has announced that he will step down from his position as Bowls England men’s junior international team manager ahead of the 2017 outdoor season.

Bowen, from Royal Wootton Bassett Bowls Club, has enjoyed a highly-successful stint in the role as, under his leadership, the team won three of the last four Home International Series matches and are unbeaten in international encounters since 2012.

The former Bassett chairman also formed an integral part of the England management team at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and has been instrumental in the formation of the Bowls England Academy, which was created to develop young players.

“I have had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed it but have decided to stand down for family reasons and felt that another four-year stint was too long,” said Bowen.

“It has been an honour and a privilege to manage the men’s junior international team over the last six years.

“The commitment shown by all of the players during this period has been superb and this has been reflected in the success we have achieved as a group.”

Bowls England chief executive Tony Allcock MBE added: “We would like to thank Hedley for his outstanding service to Bowls England.

“The international team’s record over the last few years has been excellent and I am sure that Hedley’s successor will benefit from his hard work.”