National Stories - “…bowlers who only took part for the fun of it…”

The National Championships is the biggest event in the bowls calendar in Scotland, and there is always a tale or two to tell. 

For four members of Alva BC, what started out as a bit of fun has taken them all the way to the National Championships.

The team features two county bowlers, a former SBA single hand champion and a young junior, 13-year-old Gavin Morrison who is the lead with his father, Alan, who is playing third. The skip is Neil Dewar who along with Alan have been well known players in the county side over many years. At the age of 13, Gavin has achieved more than many in a lifetime of bowling.

The second is Brian Rattray, who has done much to help young Gavin develop into an extremely good player. Brian's now more or less semi-retired from competitive bowling but enjoys keeping his hand in playing for his club in local competitions and friendlies. He won the Scottish Bowling Association's Single Hand Championship in 1982 and was runner-up in 1993. He was first capped for Scotland in 1975 and played for the national team 17 times, receiving his last cap in 1998.

1982 saw him travel to Brisbane, Queensland to take part in the fours at the Commonwealth Games but a medal escaped them. In 1984 the World Bowls Championships were held in Aberdeen, and Brian was again in the fours and won a bronze medal. He also won silver in the triples. That year Scotland won the Leonard Trophy as overall Championship winners.

The team was truly over the moon when they won the District Final at Alloa Bowling Club and so was everyone in Clackmannanshire, and they are looking forward to competing at the National Championships 2018.

With thanks to George Barr, Stuart Bell and Alva BC.