Dunning's rapid rise to top

AFTER less than three years in the sport, Craig Dunning has reached the pinnacle of local tenpin bowling after being crowned island champion last weekend.

The 48-year-old, pictured, only took up bowling in 2011 to 'help fill some spare evenings', but after finishing ninth in the event last year, he rose to win the men's title in 2013 with a total of 2,207 points and an average of 206.7.

That edged out Derek Tomlin and defending champion Matt Southwell in the final standings, with Dunning admitting that he was somewhat surprised to be crowned champion.

'I was always aiming to be near the top, but it is not the competition I have been concentrating on, so I didn't think about it really at all,' he said.