A new breed of bowler

BRENT BLONDEL laughed off suggestions he could be the first Cliff Starkey of local bowls, but the sportsman better known for knocking in goals for his beloved Vale Rec and, more recently, for emerging as one of the best football refs around, is quickly making a mark in his new sporting passion.

Blondel, 31, started bowls only this summer at the Corbet Field but is already through to his first island final. Along with another former Vale footballer, Wes Baker, and cricket curator Alan Hamilton, Blondel has won through to the final of the Tostevin Triples.

But Blondel is playing down suggestions he's a star in the making.

'It's only for players who haven't won an island title in the last three years,' said just one of a younger breed of new players with a football background down at the Vale Rec BC.

'I'm really enjoying it . . . it's really good fun,' said the man more regularly seen in all black as opposed to all white.

In their Tostevin triples semi-final, the Vale Rec trio edged past Sally Tranter, Ellie Collins and Shirley Petit 19-18 to book their place in the final tomorrow week.

Blondel is quick to point out he is not the first of his immediate family to make a name for himself in the sport.

'I'll try and enjoy it as much as I can.

'If I happen to be any good, I'll re-evaluate things.'

At the moment, he is content meeting up with a group of mates to play fours games each Tuesday evening.

The group also include Baker, Hamilton and Dave and Andy Lucas.