NICK Brett is determined to make the most of a late reprieve that will see him compete at the World Indoor Bowls Championships.

Bowls

NICK Brett is determined to make the most of a late reprieve that will see him compete at the World Indoor Bowls Championships.

The England international and world no. 17 feared his chance had gone when the sport’s governing body ruled that automatic qualification for January’s showpiece event should be restricted to the top 16 players in the world.

However, a late withdrawal from New Zealander Jamie Hill means Brett has been invited to play in the event at Potters Leisure Resort in Norfolk, where he will hope to better his 2010 performance.

Earlier this year, Brett, who plays for White Hart, Warboys and City of Ely, made it through to the semi-finals before falling to Scotland’s Stewart Anderson.

He said he leaped at the chance to enter the 2011 championships, and intended to make the most of the opportunity.

“The quality of the field means that it will be just as difficult from the first wood bowled in the first match, to the final wood in the final.

“I’ll need to be on my A game from the off – but any one of the final 16 that hits a purple patch over the few days is capable of winning.”

“After last year, when the field started with many more bowlers, I was gutted to hear that only the top 16 would play this year.

“It felt worse because of my no 17 ranking, so to get the chance makes me even more determined to do better than last year.”

Brett believes that the favourites this year will include Anderson and Mervyn King, but is concentrating on getting his campaign off to the right start when he faces world no. 11 Kelvin Kerkow from Australia, a former Commonwealth Games singles gold medal winner.

Brett has another shot at glory at the championships when he partners Fakenham bowler Jamie Chesney in the doubles.

Brett added: “We are both very optimistic about our chances. We know that other pairs regard us highly but, again, we are talking about the top 16 doubles players in the world.”

He is hopeful that completing in the doubles can help improve singles performance.

“We are allowed up to three days practice before the start of the event and the doubles is first up,” he said. “To get matchplay opportunities on the quality rinks is much better than the practice, so I’m looking for plenty of rink time before the singles begin.”

Brett was in action in Nottingham on Sunday, looking to cement a place in the England team for the home international series in 2011.

Following a hard day’s play, he was selected for the series of matches, due to start in March. He finds himself in a quartet that includes City of Ely clubmate and reigning champion Greg Harlow, Mervyn King and Robert Chisholm.