It was a bowls pennant to remember for Dennington's James Barling.
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He skippered the top-division side for the first time in late November.
Almost five months later, he has become the winner of the club's inaugural most valuable player award for division one.
The Jets bowler said he was honoured to receive the award as voted by opposition skips.
"I felt very privileged to be given the opportunity to skip and I tried my best for the team," he said.
Barling got the gig in round six of the Western District Bowls Division weekend pennant and retained the role.
"It was a good experience to have while still learning the game and working on my game," he said.
"It's good knowledge for me and the help I got with that as well was very much appreciated."
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Barling polled 35 votes ahead of Gayle Swanson who claimed 23.
Stephen Wines took out the club's midweek pennant award.
Barling, a bowler of four years, described it as his best pennant to date.
He said it had been one of his more consistent years and he appreciated the recognition from opposition skippers.
"It's a positive sign I'm moving in the right direction," he said.
The Jets finished eighth with three wins, 10 losses and one draw.
The coronavirus pandemic restrictions have prevented Barling from testing himself further.
"There were a couple of big tournaments coming up," he said.
Barling was keen to participate in Port Fairy Bowls Club's Easter Carnival where he enjoyed success the past two years.
He was in a winning fours side with his mum, Sheridan, Peter Daly and Glen McNaughton.
Sheridan was due to play at the Victorian singles championships this week but that's not happening due to the pandemic.
The multi-talented Barling was also senior football coach of Caramut in the Mininera and District league in 2018-19.
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