A TALENTED Greenock bowler is heading down under as part of a top Scottish squad.

John Fleming has been selected to represent his country in the World Youth Championships at Broadbeach Bowling Club in Queensland.

The 20-year-old says getting the chance to compete in the gold coast is a dream come true.

John, of Riverside Road, said: “It’s a great opportunity and I’m delighted to have the chance to go to Australia.

“Anyone who plays bowls loves to play in Australia. Even the current world champion Paul Foster likes taking to the rink there.

“The greens are so fast, you don’t get greens like that here.”

Port Glasgow Bowling Club’s current senior and under-25 youth international will be competing in the singles and mixed pairs with Claire Walker, of Whitefield Bowling Club.

He said: “I’ve played with Claire before and she’s just captained the team who won the British Isles under-25s series.”

John is one of only six players invited to join a new National Academy recently launched by Bowls Scotland.

He was chosen from this elite squad to compete in Australia.

John will jet off on March 25 on the all-expenses paid trip of a lifetime, spending two weeks at the Ocean Broad Beach Hotel.

He hopes to squeeze in a couple of days of sight-seeing during his busy schedule  — but his main focus is to bring back some silverware to Inverclyde.

John said: “Medalling out there would be an achievement because the bowlers have a massive advantage as they play on the greens all the time.

“I’ve played in Jersey before but this is the pinnacle of my career so far.”

John is studying for an HND in electrical engineering at Glasgow City College but hopes he might catch the eye of talent scouts in Queensland.

Closer to home, he will be heading to Newport in Wales this weekend to compete in the under-25s international indoor bowling series.