THERESA Darnell-Langton's amazing rise in the world of women's bowls touched new heights when she became British Isles singles champion.

Having retained the English title at Nottingham last month, the Loddon Vale member produced an even better performance to lift the British crown at Prestwick, Ayrshire.

Now she is gunning for a brilliant treble by adding the world championship at Belfast next month to her other two accolades.

"I am delighted and this is even more icing on the cake. It will give me more confidence for Belfast because everyone must take me more seriously because I have proved without doubt that my success is no flash in the pan," she said.

Just how much she has improved since taking the English title on her own Basingstoke green 13 months ago was shown at Prestwick. Last year she lost in the first round of the British Isles event but this time she swept aside Ireland's all-time number one Margaret Johnston 21-8 and then posted a 21-6 semi-final victory against Welsh standard-bearer Maureen Williams.

The final, strangely played on an end rink, was tougher and Darnell-Langton had to wipe out a 15-10 deficit to overcome Margaret Letham of Scotland without conceding another shot.

The former Loddon Vale president had beaten Sian Gordon to win the English trophy and the level of Darnell-Langton's form in that game was upheld by the 17-year-old Kent bowler who cruised to the under-25 British title without dropping more than ten shots in any of her three matches.

Not content with personal glory, Darnell-Langton continued her blistering displays into the British Isles International Series to help England reclaim the title after three seasons of Scottish domination.

Darnell-Langton, one of three newcomers in the England ranks, scored three wins out of three on her rink as the Three Lions crushed Wales 136-91 and Ireland 171-68 before sealing top slot with a very satisfying 121-96 victory against the Scots in front of a raucous capacity crowd.

England took 17 of the 18 rinks in an outstanding tournament which had the selectors purring with delight.

Darnell-Langton led for the rink of Peterborough skip Catherine Popple and though they had to reshuffle after the pregnant Cheryl Northall was ruled out at the 11th hour with a kidney infection they topped the scorechart in the Irish rout with a remarkable 38-9 card. Against Wales they triumphed 23-20 and they squeezed in 18-17 against the host country after being 18-12 up.

Darnell-Langton heads for Belfast on April 20 knowing that three of the ladies in her six-strong qualifying group - Letham, Williams and Dutch competitor Guutrje Ros-Copier - hold no fears for her. She beat the Holland player on her way to the semi-finals of the 2004 tournament.

The section is completed by Alison Merrien (Guernsey) and Ruthie Gilor (Israel). The top two progress from each of the two round robin groups to the knock-out stages.