TWO Auchinleck bowlers are aiming to be selected to represent Scotland at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Claire Johnston and Hannah Smith, from Auchinleck Bowling Club, are among 10 females selected for Bowls Scotland’s high performance squad.
The squad selected is a preliminary shortlist of athletes that will be in contention for the final selection process for the Commonwealth Games.
Those successful, will go on and represent Team Scotland in Birmingham as Scotland’s lawn bowlers will be looking to bring home more medals after major successes at the last two games in Glasgow and the Gold Coast.
Johnston has already experienced success at the Commonwealth Games after winning a bronze medal in 2018 in the pairs competition alongside Lesley Doig while last year she and Smith clinched gold medal success in the pairs at the Bowls Scotland National Championships at Northfield.
The Auchinleck duo are not the only bowlers from Ayrshire to be selected for the squad.
Troon bowler and four-time gold medallist at the Commonwealth Games Paul Foster MBE has been selected for the men’s team with Garry Hood (Ayr Craigie BC) and John Wardrope (Ayr Seafield BC) selected for the para-bowls squad.
Eight high-quality coaches have also been selected to help deliver effective training sessions and one-to-one assistance for the players.
Bowls Scotland’s high performance coach, David Gourlay MBE, said: “The selected squads demonstrate the depth of talent and experience that exists in Scottish bowls and signifies the first step on our journey to Birmingham.
“I have complete confidence in the players selected and also the coaching structure which will support our players.”
Bowls Scotland’s para-bowls co-ordinator, Bob Christie, added: “The selection panel have named a mixture of experienced and up and coming talented players to compete for places at Birmingham 2022.
“This has given them a great opportunity to develop into medal contenders whilst engaging in the exciting
new high performance programme which is tailor made to meet the players requirements.”
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