BROADWAY-based Amy Stanton had to put friendship aside to retain a prestigious indoor bowls international honour.

The 22-year-old won the under 25s women’s singles title at the World Indoor Bowls Council Championship.

At the event, held in Llanelli, South Wales, she defeated Rebecca Field, of Norfolk, by two sets to love 7-6, 8-4.

At the same competition, Stanton also reached the final of the mixed pairs, where she and Ross Owen lost 6-5, 3-8, 1-2.

Stanton, who is a member of Malvern Hills Indoor Bowls Club, remained unbeaten after the seven-member group stage and, after winning her semi-final against the other group winner, she defeated her friend Field in the final.

Her latest success comes 12 months after she won the same title at Gelding Indoor Bowls Club, Nottingham, beating Wales’ Hanna Clarke in the final.

The former University of Worcester sports studies student qualified for the world event after finishing first representing England in the u25s British Bowls Championships in Perth, Scotland in March. Her previous honours include the England u25s indoor prize in 2008.

Stanton said: “It was not easy playing against my friend Rebecca in the final, but one of us had to lose. We have played each other a few times since we were both 14.

“I’m only the second person to retain the title in its history. I was not expecting to win it again, but it feels great.”

Stanton will next be in action on the international stage when she enters the Potters Leisure World Championship in January.

Here she will face Guernsey’s Alison Merrien in the quarter-finals of the ladies’ world matchplay singles.