David Hubbard has dedicated winning the national indoor bowls title to his father.

Hubbard, 22, beat former world champion Mervyn King, a world top five player, 21-16 in the final at Nottingham.

Hubbard, who plays for the Adur club, said: “I played out of my skin. Mervyn played really well and was putting his first bowl spot on from the start.

“It was a high quality game but on the day I just had the edge. It is unbelievable.”

Hubbard, who is the first player from Sussex to win the title, is a full time carer for his father, Peter, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease.

His father was not well enough to attend the whole tournament but was picked up at 5.30am on the day of the final to watch his son secure an incredible victory.

David said: “I am a full time carer for my Dad - I do the shopping and write the cheques and make sure he is ok. He has always struggled since he fell off a roof in his 20s.

“People have always pushed me forward and it was great he could be there when I won it. He was in tears.”

It was Peter who introduced his son to a sport, that is traditionally associated with older players, when he was growing up.

David said: “I used to go to the Hove and Kingsway club with my dad during the summer holidays and watch.

“Then I had a go, just mucking about in my bare feet and got into it. I did not realise I was any good until people kept telling me I was.”

David is clearly a natural. He won the singles final at Hove and Kingsway in his first year, aged just 12, and was crowned the outdoors under-25s singles national champion at the age of 14.

Victory at Nottingham means Hubbard has already acquired a new celebrity status on the greens and that is something he is going to have to get used to.

He said: “When I came off the green after winning at Nottingham, about 15 or 20 people wanted me to sign their programmes.

“It was the Adur finals night on Monday and everybody stopped to congratulate me.”

Hubbard is looking for a sponsor and has his sights on more glory at the national outdoor championships and world championships later this year.

Anyone who can help, can reach him through The Argus sports desk.