KAY KERLEY will be the first Hampshire lady for more than half a century to become president of the English Women's Bowling Association when she takes the national chain of office for the 2004 season.

The last Hampshire-based bowler to be EWBA president was Nellie Whyte-Rickard in 1953 and the fact that so many years had elapsed since the county provided the national president was one of the reasons why Mrs Kerley put her name forward.

After winning a two-cornered contest during the EWBA annual meeting in Warwickshire, she said: "I was a bit emotional and rather shell-shocked when I heard I'd been chosen, as it is such a great honour.

"A few years ago, when it was the turn of the southern area to provide the president, I had been mentioned but, because of circumstances at the time, I didn't stand.

"When my name cropped up again this year, I was tempted because, although Hampshire is a large county, it had only provided two previous EWBA presidents, Mrs Whyte-Rickard and a Mrs Welch back in 1947."

Kerley has already had some experience as a president as she held that office for Hampshire in 1990.

She will now serve a two-year apprenticeship in her build-up towards being the national figurehead - in 2002 she will be junior vice-president and, for the following 12 months, will be senior vice-president before taking the highest position, a post she will hold for a year.

Life will be very hectic during her term as president what with playing in celebration matches for the EWBA against clubs and counties throughout England, attending internationals and association meetings as well as the national championships at Leamington Spa.

Kerley, who's been bowling for 26 years and is a founder member of the Oakley club in Basingstoke, is not only a leading Hampshire player but also a top administrator, being county secretary since 1997 and having been competition secretary for three years before that.

She's been a skip in their Johns Trophy and double rink teams for many years and has qualified for the national finals of the EWBA Championships on five occasions, the most successful being last year when she and Mary Taylor were runners-up in the pairs.