Fleming and Banks selected for 2019 World Cup
John Fleming and Carla Banks will represent Scotland at the World Bowls World Cup in March 2019.
The annual singles competition will once again be held at Warilla Bowls & Recreation Club in Australia.
Fleming and Banks are two of Scotland’s best young players, who each have national titles to their names already. Fleming won the Bowls Scotland National Championships 2018 gents’ pairs with Port Glasgow team-mate Sandy Wotherspoon, whilst Banks won the Bowls Scotland National Championships 2018 mixed pairs with her father Colin, representing their club of Inverurie.
Both have also played for Scotland at the BIBC and BIWBC Senior and Junior Internationals, with Fleming part of the squad that successfully defended the Junior International Series title at Belmont BC, Belfast, in September.
“It feels absolutely amazing to be selected for Scotland to play in a World Cup,” said Fleming. “I have been to Australia before on the Gold Coast, representing Scotland in the World Youth Championships in March 2017 at Broadbeach. I will be preparing by doing my usual three to four match practice per week and hopefully can get a couple of practices with David Gourlay (head coach) and Carla before we start our journey to Warilla in March.”
Banks will also be focussing on her preparations in the run-up to the competition, combining training and fitness with her studies.
“There is always room for improvement,” she said, “so I will continue to try and improve my all-round game by practicing at my local club and on the most appropriate surface for the World Cup and reflecting on matches. I think it is important to take guidance from other experienced players who have previously played in the World Cup. It is always an honour to represent Scotland. There is such a wealth of talent and experience of bowlers here in Scotland, which makes the honour even greater.”
The World Bowls World Cup takes place at Warilla Bowls & Recreation Club, New South Wales, Australia, from 5th-13th March 2019.