Simon Bird is 'honoured' that he will represent Great Britain at the Petanque World Championships.

Bird, who plays in the Braintree and District Petanque League for The Angel, Kelvedon, said: "It's a great honour.

"I feel that this year with the new format and the decision to only let one team per country enter we stand a good chance of making progress."

The 41-year-old, from Colne Engaine, believes his side, L'Equipe, now stand a greater chance of bringing home the honours.

Taking place in Geneva, Switzerland between July 16-20, this will be Bird's fourth world championships - his last was in 1996.

Bird will play alongside Sofiane Lachani and Nicky Baxter. Lachani plays for Campetanque in Cambridge and Baxter the Burnham Petanque Club, Slough.

The team was selected after winning the national championship in Birmingham.

The route to the national championship was not easy, and the team had to take part in qualifiers in Hereford, Peterborough and Cardiff to reach the national event.

The current world champions are France, where the game orgininated.

Published Tuesday, June 10, 2003

Brought to you by the Evening Gazette