Stephen Gale and Neil Withers will represent the Isle of Man at the World Short Mat Bowls Championships in Belfast later this month in the in singles competition.

Crosby man Withers is only in his second short mat season, but knows how to execute his game to bring home the trophies.

As a leading crown green bowler at Marown he successfully won the Manx championship last year, along with plenty of open competition wins with his fellow pairs partner.

He will be high on his tiptoes if he can bring home some silverware from Belfast.

Team-mate Gale is no stranger to playing at world championship level and has to be the island’s most consistent player, with his name on almost every trophy in local short mat bowls.

He has recently took a season off playing so it’s good to have him back in the island squad.

Gale is passionate about moving the game forward and has been involved with the running of the Short Mat Players Tour, which holds competitions all over the UK and Europe.

Last October he reached the final of the Norwegian Open and he will definitely have his sights on a medal in Belfast.