The 15-year-old, who now plays most of his bowls with the Maitland City club, was runner-up in both the under 16 years singles and open pairs in the 25th Junior Pacific 2010 competition.

Held at Warilla Bowling Club from January 17 to 21, Haydn had 90 competitors to beat just to get to the finals in both competitions.

“We were playing three games a day until the Thursday when it was back to two,” Haydn said.

“It was a pretty close competition as I was undefeated until I got to the finals.

“This was the same for the other finalists as well.

“Josh Terras from Redhead Bowling Club partnered me in the pairs and our opposition had pretty good records.

“One was the National Junior Champion for 2009 and the other was a NSW State player.

“The Junior Pacific competition is the best in the state and I am pretty happy with how I went.”

The last six months has been quite impressive for Haydn, who travels an average of 300 kilometres a week to get to training and games.

In August last year he was placed fourth out of 12 competitors in the Combined High Schools competition and then followed that up with winning the consistency singles at Maitland City Bowling Club in November.

“I was also the minor pairs runner-up a fortnight later,” he said.

“I played in the Dungog Shire bowls competition in October last year and was runner-up in the pairs with Terry Wilson.

“I was also third in the pairs in the under 18s section of the Maitland Junior competition.

“Over Easter I will go down to Asquith to defend my title of under 16s pairs winner from 2009.”

Haydn credits his current coach Terry Harmer with his success.

“I have been with Terry for 18 months and he has brought me to the best I am at the moment,” he said.

Haydn has coaching at the East Maitland club every Thursday as part of sport at Dungog High School.

An approach to bowls manufacturer Greenmaster has seen the business sponsor Haydn with their products.

Mum Lisa said this has certainly come in very handy as the sport is getting quite expensive.

“We would drive to Maitland at least three times a week for coaching or playing,” she said.

“When we went down to Warilla for the Junior Pacific competition, accommodation was very expensive as it was peak holiday time for the South Coast.

“Maitland City Bowling Club is helping out with playing fees for many of the tournaments and this helps.

“But Haydn is very good and we want to give him every opportunity possible.”