TEENAGER Verity Crawley will fly the flag for Bournemouth at the World Youth Championships in Hong Kong later this year.

The 19-year-old, who honed her skills at Bowlplex in Poole, has been selected as part of a four-strong squad to represent Team England in August.

Verity is currently studying for a degree in business administration and sport business management at Webber International University in Florida.

A qualified US Bowling Congress coach, she helps train aspiring youngsters at Bowlplex when she returns to Dorset during her holidays.

Around 40 countries will take their chance in Hong Kong, with players competing in singles, doubles and team events.

Verity shot to prominence two years ago when she rolled her first 300 maximum on her way to winning a gold medal at the European Youth Championships in Denmark.

A former pupil at Bournemouth School for Girls, she became only the second player in tournament history to record the perfect score.

Father Phil, who will accompany Verity to Hong Kong, told the Daily Echo: “There will be a really strong group of individuals at the World Youth Championships and she will be competing against the best in the world.

“Verity earned a place at university in America on the back of her performance in Denmark a couple of years ago when she was effectively poached to play for them and study as well.

“She was absolutely delighted to be selected and so were we. It is a proud moment to be selected by your country and she was over the moon.

“She has played a number of Team England events at under-24 level and was initially included in a squad for possible selection for Hong Kong. Subsequently, she was selected as one of the team.

“When she comes back in the summers, she plays in leagues at Bowlplex in Poole and helps coach the children there. She is coming back on Saturday until we leave for Hong Kong in early August. We are all really looking forward to it.”