RAYMOND Terrace teenager Blair Soars could be classed as a veteran of his chosen sport, yet he hasn’t even reached his eighteenth birthday.

Now, that doesn’t sound like your typical sports story, but then again Blair isn’t your typical teenager either.

You see, Blair is a veteran of the sport of lawn bowls, a sport of subtle skill and strategy that is easy to play but difficult to master.

Yet, at the young age of only nine, Blair decided that he would give Raymond Terrace Bowling Club a visit to have a roll, and he hasn’t looked back since.

In the years that have passed, Blair has made quite a name for himself.

His numerous achievements include winning the Raymond Terrace Bowling Club ‘s Corey Pethebridge Memorial Singles Trophy, being the winner of the Noel Soane Pairs with fellow Raymond Terrace Bowling Club junior Zac Nicholls, part of the winning Newcastle District Bowling Association’s Junior Fours team along with Raymond Terrace juniors Zac Nicholls, Cody Ross and Connor Freeman, 2016 7th Grade Zone Pennant winner and 2017 4th Grade Zone Pennant winner.

Any way you look at it, it is quite the sporting resume, but Blair is far from being finished just yet with another busy schedule awaiting him in 2018.

“I have the NSW Combined High Schools singles and pairs, the Noel Soane pairs event, Newcastle District Bowling Association pennants and junior triples as well as the state junior four’s titles coming up this season.” Blair told News Of The Area.

So why does a young man like Blair play lawn bowls as opposed to other sports?

“I love the diversity and all the support that you find all throughout the sport,” Blair said.

 

By Rachael VAUGHAN