He has been playing the game he loves for more than 30 years and this month it was announced he will be awarded lifetime membership of the Bombala Bowling Club. 

There is no denying that the 70-year-old veteran champion bowler loves not only the game but the club that introduced him to the sport. 

Dent joined with his brother in the mid 1970s and started playing local competition with Bombala straight away. 

Born in Delegate and living most of his life in Bombala, Dent says the sport did not come to him naturally. 

“It takes a fair while to build up a good game,” Dent said. 

Before long Dent was playing district and zone games and soon became a force to be reckoned with on the green becoming both singles and pairs champion. 

A humble sportsman, Dent is honoured by the award of a lifetime membership. 

“I’m not sure why the club has  singled me out,” he said. 

“I think maybe because I’ve done a bit of work around the club over the years with maintenance on the green.

“I like to help because I love my bowls so much I just go and do a bit.” 

Bombala Bowling Club Treasurer Pat Lomas has played alongside Dent for 15 years and said the modest player is very deserving of the rare honour. 

“Athol is very deserving of this lifetime membership, he is a quiet achiever,” Mr Lomas said.

“He’s won everything there is to win and is very worthy of the title. 

“These life time memberships are not handed out everyday, our constitution only permits us to have two at any one time.

Mr Lomas said Dent represents what a club like the Bombala Bowling Club stands for. 

“He is always the first to put his hand up if there is a working bee at the club,” he said. 

“If a new member joins he goes out of his way to make them feel welcome and helps them with any training or advice they might need. 

“Athol represents everything that the club stands for.”