CAROLINE Cullum was over the moon at Royal Leamington Spa after making a successful debut in the Bowls England women's national singles championship.

Cullum, the mother of junior international star Ruth Cullum, and a Cleethorpes club-mate of the high-flying Amy Monkhouse, took only 14 ends to defeat Lancastrian Joyce Jones 21-4, and will meet Dorset's Frances Hewett for a place in the second round.

"I've been to Leamington before, playing alongside Amy (Monkhouse) and Chris (Gowshall)," said Cullum. "But this is my first time in the singles, and I found it nerve-wracking – but I was pleased with the way I played."

"I was born into bowls, because all the family play," Cullum explained.

"My dad introduced me to the game, and I was playing at 13 – and I even met my husband playing bowls!"