A COMMON public misconception is that the majority of bowlers are old age pensioners. But you may be surprised to know the game has become very popular ..... amongst children!

White Oaks Indoor Bowls Club, in Swanley, has one of the best youth sections in the country and has a high-ranking group of girls too, one of whom has been selected for England's under-25 squad.

Victoria Foot, who is 17 and lives nearby, is one of a successful group of juniors who bowls for the club, which has more than 20 members aged from nine to 17 and attracts players from surrounding boroughs including Bromley and Greenwich.

She captained the England reserve team, which won the competition played in Wales and was awarded her junior international badge.

Out of the 20 selected, Vicki was one the youngest with most of the ladies team being in their 30s.

Vicky said: "I didn't expect this and it has come as a big surprise. It all happened so quickly. One minute I was nothing, the next I was in the squad.

"Bowls is real fun for young people. I first went to the club in Swanley about eight years ago as my mum and dad were members."

Vicky then joined when it lowered the age that children could join from 14 to 10.

She said: "When I was 12, I had some tuition. From then I found out I was pretty good and decided to keep at it."

However, Vicky feels bowls needs more girls playing as there are not enough competitve games.

White Oaks' junior bowls co-ordinator Peter Vickers, speaking on Vicki's international selection, said: "It is a deserved call-up for someone who has worked hard for years to become one of the most promising young lady bowlers in the country.

"Everyone at the club is exceptionally proud of her and bowls is now the fastest-growing sport among under-eighteens in Britain.

"The top bowlers, who are seen playing on television, are in their 20s and the youngsters are good because of playing with their parents and grandparents.

"Indoor bowling has grown in a big way in recent years as clubs have taken to bringing in youngsters more.

"It's a very competitive sport, played on equal footing and every bowler can be drawn against anyone.

"In tournaments, a ten-year-old girl could be drawn against an elderly man and clubs even recruit youngsters from schools.

"At our club we teach the basic skills and then there's no limit to what they can do.

"We have the best junior section in our area and if the youngsters are good enough, they'll get picked for their county and then country."

Vicky's success follows the call-up to the 16-man Kent under-25 squad of four White Oaks' s boys.

Kevin Bodman, 15, from Dartford, John King, 14, from Eltham, Chislehurst's Mark Tanner, who is aged 17, plus

Catford's Stuart Vickers, 16, travelled to Denton Island, Newhaven, to play Sussex recently where they lost to the more experienced local team.

Kent under-25 team secretary Phil Burbidge said: "It was a very good performance despite losing, but we did win when we played them back in October..

"Bowling is very big in Kent. I have ninety youngsters to call from for the under-25 side. We have them as young as eight learning to play, being taught the technique and going on to pass the proficiency test at just ten or eleven.

"The good thing about bowling is that it can be played

virtually from the cradle to the grave for all the family and not many sports can do that. It has never been restricted to just pensioners.

"The problem has been that it has not been publicised enough. These days, there are lots of indoor clubs and lots of youngsters playing."

If you would like details of junior bowling at White Oaks, call 01322 665571.