Talented Black Jack in fine form

MEET ANDREW Kelly - proof that bowls isn't just for the elderly.

This weekend the talented North New Brighton 22-year-old player was looking for another success in the Bowls Canterbury under-26 singles tournament, which has drawn the country's best young players.

The current New Zealand Black Jack has been playing since 12.

"Both my parents played and I would go down in the afternoon and watch the old man play," he said.

The 10-member Black Jacks team contains New Zealand's top bowlers. Kelly has been a member for the last three years.

Over half are his age - in their twenties and thirties.

The civil engineering student balances training with studies at the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology.

What he liked most about bowling, he said, was the all the people he'd met.

"You play in tournaments all over the country. It's a really social sport. Also the competitive edge, it's really cut-throat once you get to the top levels."

Kelly was officially capped in April, after competing in an eight-nation tournament in New Delhi.

Over the last five years he's played in several international tournaments, including the Hong Kong Classic last November.

In spite of winning the singles competition at the Junior World Cup in Australia earlier this year, he said it wasn't his favourite style.

"I primarily play in triples or fours, the larger end," he said.

Kelly is a reserve for the Commonwealth Games team.

"The reason I didn't make the team, I guess you could put it down to inexperience at a national level - probably just not quite ready for such a big event."

He hopes to be number one in the world some day, or to have a world title - "I 100 per cent believe it's possible or probable."

With bowlers as young as 19 in Australia's Commonwealth Games team, it looks like he will have some stiff competition.