SOUTHAMPTON'S national champion Martyn Sekjer has been given an opportunity to rule the world.

The Sports Centre bowler, who carried off the English BA outdoor singles crown in record-breaking style last summer, has accepted an all-expenses-paid invitation to play in the first World Champion of Champions tournament in Melbourne.

"I can't believe this is happening. I move from Kent to Hampshire, win the county singles in my first year, win the national singles and then get invited to play in Australia. It's simply marvellous," said the 45-year-old former England international, who is really excited about his first trip Down Under.

Final details about the tournament have still to be completed but Sekjer will be England's representative at the Moama club in the showpiece Championship which runs from September 12-24.

The event will attract the cream of the world's bowlers and will be held on a straight knock-out basis with lucrative prize money.

"I will be taking this tournament very seriously and not only will I make sure I am in top form but I will be going on a fitness regime to make myself even sharper because this event could be the passport to even bigger things," he added.

The chance to play bowls on a professional basis really appeals to Sekjer, but he realises that the opposition could hardly be tougher and he will be playing on a green far quicker than he is used to in these shores.

Sekjer - a major works manager for Shirley company Roofing, Cladding and Building - carried off the national title at Worthing in August by the amazing margin of 21-2, the first Hampshire bowler to take the national outdoor crown since Jimmy Davidson of Boscombe Cliff in 1969.

Sekjer's performance earned him the title of English Bowler of the Year under an award scheme sponsored by The Times and Thomas Taylor Bowls. It was announced during the EBA dinner at the Connaught Rooms in London and part of the prize is a new set of bowls in the colour of his choice - Sekjer has chosen woods in Sports Centre blue.

As English champion his first big date in 2003 is the British Isles Championships at Ayr in June and he would dearly love to capture that title to get him in the mood to conquer the world.