Seven-year-old Cooper Hocking becomes SA's youngest ever pennant lawn bowler
COOPER Hocking has proven lawn bowls is not just a game for old people, becoming SA's youngest ever senior pennant player at the age of seven.
COOPER Hocking is overwhelming proof lawn bowls is not just a game for older players.
The Hope Valley seven-year-old became the youngest person to play in a senior Bowls SA pennant competition when he lined up for Adelaide Bowling Club on Saturday.
Cooper took to the greens alongside several 70-plus teammates, including Warwick Armour, 80, in the Blues' Metro 5 Central loss to Edwardstown at Adelaide.
Cooper used size "0" bowls - the second-smallest available - and wore a small men's shirt, most of which he had to tuck in because it was too big.
The Year 2 Highbury Primary student, who enjoys riding his bike and playing on his iPad in his spare time, says he had fun learning from his more experienced teammates.
"It was really exciting," he says.
"I wasn't nervous.
"My teammates kept saying to me 'good bowl'.
"Once I got really close to the jack.
"I think I went pretty good."
Cooper's first taste of bowls came when he would go watch his dad Scott, a second-tier player at Adelaide, as a toddler.
He fell in love with the sport after attending a come 'n' try day at Para Hills Bowling Club two years ago.
These days Cooper practises in his backyard and hallway three days a week.
"I also play basketball and football for Athelstone but I love lawn bowls," he says.
Cooper now hopes to become a regular player for Adelaide for the remainder of the season.
Beyond that his aim is to represent SA and Australia.
"I know I can learn some things and would like to get lots of tips (from teammates)," he says.
Scott Hocking says his son quickly picked up the concept of bowls.
"He's just got an aptitude for it," he says.
"He sits and watches me and watches other players and has picked it up from there.
"It's unbelievable really. I'm really proud."
Bowls SA commercial business manager Ian James says Cooper's rise shows lawn bowls is a sport for all ages.
"There's no minimum age for playing bowls - that's the beauty of our sport," James says.