Jamie Hill was in appropriate surroundings and with someone he considers among his greatest influences, when he found out he is set to become New Zealand's youngest bowls representative.
The Auckland greenkeeper - whose father Neville also played for New Zealand -- was today named in a six-man squad to tour Scotland and England in July and August.
Hill, 22, is in line to beat the record held by Bowls New Zealand chief executive Kerry Clark, who had just turned 23 before the 1972 world championships at Worthing, in England.
His teammates will include two others who started their international careers at a young age -- Gary Lawson, who was also 23 when he made his debut, and Rowan Brassey, who was 26.
It was Brassey who told Hill of his call-up during a pairs events in Sydney yesterday.
"It was a bit strange because I was playing bowls at the time," Hill said.
"You never really expect it, although I had an idea I might have been in the running. I couldn't have wished for more."
Like Brassey, Hill travels back and forth across the Tasman to play for a Sydney club, coincidentally named The Hills, in the New South Wales premier league.
He is in a four skipped by Englishman David Holt, who won gold at the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games.
Hill cited Brassey and his father as the two people who had influenced him the most in his bowls career.
He first tried his hand at the game at eight or nine, when he used to "tag along" with his father.
He started taking things seriously at 13 at the Okahu Bay club and hasn't looked back.
He won the national 19-and-under singles twice, has played for New Zealand at under-30 level and has successive national open fours titles in an Avondale team skipped by Brassey.
The tour to Britain opens with a three-test series against Scotland at the same Ayr greens to be used for next year's world championships.
After that will be a 10-team tournament marking the centenary of the English Bowling Association.
Hill will be following in the footsteps of his father, who also represented New Zealand in Britain in 1991, after having earlier played for his country in 1978 and 1979.
A proud Neville Hill admitted he was as surprised as anyone when he heard of his son's selection via television news this morning, and woke him up in Sydney with a 5.30am phone call.
"I had a hell of a shock -- I nearly fell out of bed," he said.
"It's just amazing, and he was the youngest to win a New Zealand title at 20. That's a couple of remarkable efforts. I'm really proud of him because he's a great kid."
While his son's elevation to full international honours had came earlier than expected, Neville Hill said he never doubted it would happen eventually.
"He had a great year with Rowan and he was second behind Lawson as the best performed bowler at the nationals in Wellington," he said.
"He and Rowan went on to win the Manurewa pairs in what was the best exhibition of pairs I've seen for a long time."
Despite his own achievements, Neville Hill said he wouldn't be given his son any special advice ahead of the trip to Britain.
"I think we'll leave that to Rowan," he said.
"All I've ever told him is to watch Rowan and do what Rowan does, because he's the best bowler I've seen on and off the green."
- NZPA
Bowls: Hill set to become New Zealand's youngest rep
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