THE family of an amateur ten-pin bowler is making a desperate funding bid to ensure he succeeds in his dream of competing overseas.

Daniel Masters has been ten-pin bowling for 10 years and has ambitions to win a scholarship to study in America.

He has been chosen to represent Scotland at the Youth European Ten-pin Bowling Championships in Odense, Denmark.

But first the 16-year-old's parents must raise £2000 to cover his travel costs.

Mum Elizabeth said: "Bowling is a minority sport and not many people accept it as a sport at all, so we are finding funding very difficult to come by.

"It seems odd to me that in this Commonwealth Games year we are having to fight to get Daniel the chance to compete for his country.

"I think if people knew what a skill ten-pin bowling is then they would be more supportive.

"The skill these young people have to have is incredible - an eight of an inch could lose them a game and they carry the equivalent of half a ton in bowling balls during the course of one game.

"There is far more to it than you would think."

Daniel, a St Mungo's Academy pupil, has been ten-pin bowling since the age of six.

His mum says Daniel was never interested in playing football - but a coach spotted his talent for bowling during his first game.

He has been dedicated to the sport ever since, although Elizabeth says ensuring he can play is a family effort.

The 46-year-old added: "I have a younger daughter, Erin, who's 12 and Daniel's sport is hard on her because we have to go away almost every weekend for him to compete.

"The costs are huge and my husband George and I do everything ourselves.

"It would mean the world for Daniel to be able to compete in Denmark."

Elizabeth, from Springboig, said Daniel's school has been "absolutely amazing" in its support, with his head of year applying to the Lord Provost's Fund for support.

And coach John Kilpatrick has also been giving Daniel extra tuition.

Elizabeth said: "Daniel will be going to this competition - there's no question of that.

"He has a huge talent. What am I supposed to tell him? How do you say to someone, 'You're good at this but you can't go on because it's too expensive?'

"That can't happen. We want Daniel to go to America and to succeed at this, even if we have to fight and fundraise all the way."

catriona.stewart@ eveningtimes.co.uk