LOUIS Ridout of the Ilminster club has been voted England Young Bowler of the Year.

The accolade was made by the magazine Bowls International.

Ridout, 22, received his trophy at the Bowls England presentation dinner at King Power Stadium, Leicester, last Friday.

At the same event he also collected his trophy for winning the Champion of Champions event at Worthing last year.

Ridout, a learning support assistant at Swanmead Community Middle School, said: “To be honest I was really shocked to get the award. It just didn’t cross my mind. “But obviously it’s a great honour.”

The award was in recognition of Ridout’s achievements throughout 2011 when he won the Champion of Champions, was a National Fours runner-up, an England Junior International (Under-25s) and England Senior International.

Ridout was also a reserve for both the European championship squad in 2011 and the World bowls championship in Australia earlier this year.

Ridout, who has been playing since he was four, is the son of club stalwart John Ridout, who represented Somerset both indoor and outdoor.

On the Club Playing side Ilminster played Bristol in the Top Club, winning on two rinks and losing on two which qualifies them for the Finals at Folkestone in April.

Ilminster rinks: singles: Jason Miles; pairs: Gerry Morris and Steve Turner; triples: Brian McCombe, Des Maull and Kevin Hamilton; fours: Dave Crouch, Phil Spreadbury, John Ridout and Louis Ridout.

In the National Double rink Ilminster played Taunton Deane and lost on both rinks.

Ilminster: Brian McCombe, Kevin Hamilton, Steve Turner and Peter Mattravers; Bill Anderson, Rowland Garland, Jason Miles and Mark Denslow.