St Neots can boast a new national champion in the shape of bowler Jamie Barker.
He came through six matches in two days to win the England Men’s National Junior Singles Championship at Leamington.
A 21-7 final triumph over Kent opponent Perry Martin – a fellow England junior international - clinched the Under 25 crown which represents the biggest success yet for the 19 year-old.
Barker said: “It still feels a bit surreal in all honesty. You need a really good couple of days to win a national title and I was fortunate enough to do that.
“Every player in the event is a good bowler in their own right and there is nothing even close to being an easy game. I had brilliant support from friends, family and other bowlers which certainly helped.”
Barker beat four junior internationals in all on route to glory with notable victories over Jamie Walker (Northants) in the last 16, Ben Render (Yorkshire) at the quarter-final stage and Ryan Atkins (Worcestershire) in the semi-finals where he recovered from 19-14 down to snatch a 21-19 win.
Other St Neots players have been in action at the national finals. The quartet of Alex Walton, Wayne Bailey, Chris Falkner and Ross Tomlinson went out in the third round of the men’s fours while Rebecca Moorbey and Emma Felce reached the second round of the women’s junior pairs.
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