ANTHONY Booth-Young proved himself one of the best flat green bowlers in the country during the summer.

And at just 21 years old he is also one of the youngest to reach the top level nationally.

The young man from Hall i'th' Wood is not new to the game, however.

He took it up at a very early age and won his first senior club competition match at Bolton Flat Greet Bowling Club when he was just 11.

One can only imagine how his fifty-something opponent felt that day as he lost to someone so young.

But he can now console himself by knowing the youngster would go on to become one of the best in the country 10 years later.

This year saw Booth-Young achieve the biggest successes of his fledgling career, the highlight of which was finishing runner-up in the England Under-25s Championships.

He was also part of Lancashire's open-age team that won the Balcomb Trophy – the most prestigious inter-county competition in the country featuring the best eight players from every county.

His Lancashire team beat Cambridgeshire in the final at Leomington Spa, where all the major national competition finals he took part in are held.

He won the Lancashire Two-Wood Championship, as a result of which he qualified to represent his county in the England Two-Wood Championship where he won three rounds before going out in the quarter-finals.

He also became Under-25s Northern Counties champion in Durham, an age group in which he is currently under consideration by the England national team selectors.

Booth-Young, who has been a member of Bolton Flat Green Bowling Club for a decade, said: "It is the best season I have had nationally.

"I have focused more on trying to do well nationally this year.

"My biggest achievement was being runner-up in the national under-25s because some of the players are in the full England team and to beat them is special.

"The Balcolmb Trophy is a big event and this was the first time I have played in it.

"It's the highest level of competition because the best eight players from every county play in it.

"I've been really pleased with the way I have played this year, it's been my best season."