Eastbourne's Carol Ashby has become only the third player to win the World Indoor Bowls Council women's singles title two years in succession.

Ashby, 35, battled her way to a 9-8, 9-8 victory over New Zealand's Wendy Jensen in the final held in Belfast Ashby said: "I'm really chuffed to have taken this title for the second time and to be the only England player to have won it twice in a row.

"Now I have a tremendous target next year, to become the first player to win the crown three times."

Margaret Johnston, of Ireland, and Scotland's Caroline McAllister are the only two players to have previously won back-to-back world titles.