WENDY KING has become the first woman player from Kent to be selected to represent England at the World Bowls Championships.

King, from Halfway, Sheppey, was told on Sunday she will play in the pairs and the fours at the international event in New Zealand in January 2008.

The 44-year-old, who plays for the Milton Regis Bowls Club in Sittingbourne said: “I am thrilled. It’s such an honour to play at the World Championships and my biggest achievement.

“When I first started playing back in 1989, my ambitions were just to play for Kent. So this will be incredible.

King was selected after impressing at a training week in Portugal last year and at a trials event last weekend.

She said: “My game has improved in the past few years and I have obviously done something right.

“I have never been to New Zealand before, so to play in Christchurch will be great. Our aim is to win medals and we are confident.”