LOUIS Conradie, 12, from Canterbury, won this year’s NatWest Speed Challenge at Lord’s on Saturday with a bowling speed of 58mph.

Louis, who changed his holiday to be there, had qualified for this year’s final at the NatWest Interactive Roadshow in Canterbury in the under-12 boys category.

Matthew Hoggard, the Lancashire and England fast bowler, and England women’s captain Clare Connor, were on hand to give advice and encouragement to all youngsters taking part.

All the competitors spent Friday and Saturday training alongside the England and South African cricket teams, who were preparing for their series final on the Saturday.

Louis who plays cricket at St Lawrence and Highland Court Cricket Club, at Bridge, and attends Barton Court Grammar School, Canterbury, won a day’s coaching with an England player as well as a medal and a bat signed by all three teams competing in this year’s NatWest Series (England, Zimbabwe and South Africa).

He is also a keen tennis player, a member of Canterbury Hockey Club's junior squad, and an enthusiastic cook.

All finalists also got the opportunity to watch England beat South Africa in emphatic style and lift The NatWest Series trophy, with the two players Louis had nominated as particular favourites, Michael Vaughan and James Anderson, playing crucial roles.

Naomi Bygrave, of Folkestone, was third in the under-15 girls' competition, with a speed of 47mph. Naomi has never actually played cricket, but enjoys tennis, judo and football. The Folkestone School for Girls pupils qualified during the South Africa v Zimbabwe NatWest Series match at Canterbury this summer with a speed of 49mph.

Now in its second year and with more than 5,000 children taking part this year, the NatWest Speed Challenge is a nationwide competition searching for the fastest young bowlers. All the 19 finalists qualified at one of the Speed Challenge competitions around the country.