WHEN Brynmawr lad Stephen Harris first picked up a bowl as a 14-year-old lad carrying on a keen family tradition, he had no idea the trajectory of its curved path would lead him to compete in such far flung corners of the globe as Hong Kong.
Yet that's exactly where the 35-year-old found himself competing last December as part of the Wales squad.
Now after 21 years of making his presence felt upon immaculately kept bowling greens up and down the country, Stephen will once again pull on the red shirt and bowl for his country when he competes in the British Isles International Series which starts tomorrow (Friday).
Stephen who first started bowling for Brynmawr before moving to RTB Ebbw Vale Bowls club in 1998, told the Chronicle, "When I first started bowling I was really just following in the footsteps of my father and grandfather who were both keen bowlers. So you might say there was a strong family 'bias' towards the sport," joked the bowling wizard, before adding, "Back then I had no idea the doors bowls would go on to open for me in terms of travelling the world and meeting people.
"Obviously it was a career highlight when I was first selected to play for Wales in 2005 but travelling to Hong Kong and coming back with both a silver and bronze medal will take some beating."
Today (Thursday), Stephen, alongside fellow RTB Ebbw Vale member and Brynmawr native Owen Dando will fly out to Scotland to compete in the British Isles International Series, staged over four days at Edinburgh's Slighthill Bowls Club.
Stephen revealed, "As far as I'm concerned I'm playing the best bowls of my career at the moment, so hopefully I'll be able to carry that form to Scotland with me and make it pay dividends."
Having started his bowling career at a relatively young age, Stephen was something of an exception in a sport which for many years has been tarnished with a reputation of being only suitable for those of a more 'elderly disposition', yet the Brynmawr bowler insists things are changing and changing fast in the sport he's dedicated his life to.
"I've heard all the jokes and criticisms about bowls being an 'old man's sport' but its really not the case. Now more than ever there are a lot of youngsters getting involved with bowls. Far more than there was then when I was a lad," explained Stephen who added, "What we are also finding is a lot of footballers and rugby players who are coming to the end of their playing careers and looking to participate in a more relaxed team sport, get involved in bowls because it is challenging, competitive and very sociable. The perfect combination in fact!"