He started playing as a 13-year-old with his father Kevin and grandfather Jack Martin.

When he turned 16 the trio won the club triples and this spurred Jon to continue on with the game.

“We were the only grandfather, father and son generation in the district to win a competition like that,” he said.

But at 17 he found women, cars and alcohol – not necessarily in that order, he said.

“But I returned to the game when I turned 32 and moved back to Dungog.

“In my second year back I won the minor singles and most improved for that year.

“I think had to have 12 months off having wrist surgery, but the following year I won the major singles and club triples.

“The following year I won the club triples and fours.

“For the last three years I have won two championships each year.”

He has won the major singles twice in three years and the club triples three times in four years with the odd pairs and club fours mixed in.

“My father met ‘The King’ Ken Russell many times but never beat him,” Jon said.

“Last year I beat him quite convincingly.

“Ken was the king for many years, having won 19 major competitions here.

“People say that ‘age does not weary them’ but it does.

“They say it’s an old man’s sport but really it isn’t. 

“The body doesn’t always do what you want it to do and it’s hard for bowlers as they get older and get arthritis in their back, hands and knees.

“I wouldn’t have wanted to try and beat Ken back in my father’s day either.”

Jon said he gets a lot of enjoyment out of lawn bowls, but doesn’t regard himself as the best day-to-day bowler.

When the season is on he can be seen down on the green practising every afternoon.

“When the competition starts in February, I start training in mid-January,” he said.

“I put a lot of work in.  I’m hungry for the win and I give it everything I can.

“The pennant season starts in February and the championships flow on from then through to late September.

“When I am competing I wear my father’s bracelet . . . it comes with me in all my serious games.

“My first major singles win was dedicated to dad – now I’m doing it for me.”

After the competition season finishes, Jon takes two to three months off  to get reacquainted with the family.