TOP SCOTS HEAD TO WALES TO DEFEND THEIR TITLE IN WOMENS BOWLS COMPETITION

Female bowlers from all over Scotland get ready this week to set off on their journey to Llandrindod Wells, Wales to take part in the British Isles Women Bowls Council competition. This prestigious home nation’s competition will see the Scotland team go head to head with squads from England, Northern Ireland, Jersey and hosts Wales.

This year the Scotland squad were assessed using new procedures that provided the selectors with more information than ever to ensure there was as full a picture as possible at trial stage of each player. This in turn helped to assist the selectors to put forward those players they felt were best to compete as this level.

Amongst the twenty six players selected is Team Captain Margaret Letham who could potentially earn her one hundredth cap for Scotland this year. Margaret, who plays at her local Bowling Club Burnbank Hamilton, explains her excitement at the prospect of this milestone achievement:

“I am absolutely delighted that I have the opportunity to reach one hundred caps. I never dreamt when I received my first cap in 1986 in Cardiff I would still be representing Scotland thirty years on.”

Letham added, “My advice to potential Scotland players in the future would be to enjoy every minute. It is a great honour to play for your country and I have travelled the world doing something I love playing alongside some of the best bowlers Scotland has produced.”

At the beginning of her International career, new cap and Ayrshire bowler Wendy Grant stated:

“It’s a great honour and I am delighted to be playing for my country. I have been continuing with my weekly practice sessions at my local bowling club, West Kilbride, and making sure I practice all shots to prepare for the competition,” which kicks off on Sunday 18^th June.

Joining Margaret and Wendy is Lorna Cormack, one of the top female bowlers in the North of Scotland, who regularly plays and practices in her local bowling club, Thurso. Playing at the most Northerly mainland bowling club in Britain, Lorna who has represented Scotland on a number of occasions, brings a great deal of experience to the team and has the furthest distance to travel out of all the squad. Lorna will travel 311 miles just to meet her team mates before travelling a further 300 miles to the venue in Wales.

Once in Wales the ladies will have a few hours to practice before the three day competition commences where they will battle it out with the rest of Britain to hold onto their current title as the winners of the British Isles Women’s Bowls Competition.

The line up for the competition: