At the tender of 10, Tim Thorning has already racked up five years’ worth of experience on the bowling green.
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Tim would often tag along to lawn bowls tournaments dad Scott would compete at and when Tim’s boredom was at its peak, the youngster started playing.
Scott said at first Tim would “just muck around” out on the greens but in 2017 the youngster really hit his straps.
Tim picked up a stack of awards at the Gunnedah Services and Bowling Club’s prize presentation day but that wasn’t all he’d done in 2017.
The 10-year-old also won the Top Of The Range Fours in Guyra with Scott, Dylan Eather and Nathan Wise while he paired up with Wise again to finish runners up in the South Tamworth Open Three Bowl Pairs.
Scott said there was a defining moment that kickstarted Tim’s rapid progression.
“He got new bowls,” Scott said.
“They turn more, his old ones held more of a straight line and he was struggling to get around things.
“A bloke from Sydney, Anthony Ayoub [owner of Drakes Pride], gave him a set of bowls for free and he’s improved out of sight.”
Tim said it was “pretty good” to win awards at the presentation day and expects he’ll start beating his dad – who’s won club singles titles before – in five years time.
Scott’s not too worried, though, he just loves being able to play sport with his son.
“There’s not many sports [like it]. You can't go play tackle football with your young bloke, can you,” Scott said.
“It’s good to be able to play together. We play in a couple of the same teams.”
There has been another reason Tim’s has improved so much and it wasn’t by adding something.
When asked what his favourite shot was, Tim replied: “Dad knows.”
Turns out it’s the drive shot, something Tim doesn’t employ as much as he used to.
“He's only started winning all these things because he's stopped the driving,” Scott said.
“Driving’s OK on occasion.”
Tim seemed to disagree, even though he said his drives were usually off target and he doesn’t use the shot as often.
“It’s OK all the time,” he said.
Tim thanked Anthony Ayoub, not only for the new bowls, but also for all the help he receives from the Drakes Pride owner.
Tim and Scott will be back – along with Dylan Eather and Paul Lodge – in action on January 20-21 when they head to Guyra to defend their Top Of The Range title.