Sussex No.1 Ritchie Venner has been chosen to lead his British League team, Darlington, in a group of three European matches in Spain next month.

He will be up against clubs from Germany, Portugal and Spain for the European Nancy Evans Cup.

Darlington and London Progress, the top two finishers in the British League premier division, both have wealthy sponsors.

Venner said: "To reach the second stage we shall need to beat the Portuguese and the Spanish as two teams go through to the second stage from the group of four."

Nigel Eckersley (Uckfield) has retained his spot at No 2 on the new England veterans' ranking list. Peter Bartram (Worthing) keeps his position at No.14.

Bartram will lead the Horsham British League team. The probable No.2 is Terry Haley, who is No.25 on the national veterans' list.

On the England senior women's rankings Sally Weston (Horsham) has moved up two places to No. 19.