ILMINSTER bowler Oli Collins, 13, made headlines last week by reaching the final of the Sutton Winson Plate at the Bowls England finals held at Victoria Park, Royal Leamington Spa.

In rain-drenched conditions, Collins and his partner Daniel Agar, from Yorkshire, beat off strong opposition to reach the final where they eventually lost 4-8, 8-8 to Hertfordshire's Dylan Martin and Sam Andrews.

This achievement comes on top of a busy outdoor season for Collins, who became Somerset's youngest ever player to play in the National County Middleton Cup Team, and he also played in the National Somerset White Rose Team.

Collins, who has played bowls at Ilminster Bowling Club since he was seven, is coached by Mark Denslow, and was joined at Leamington by fellow Ilminster bowler Jamie Day, who played in the same competition.