Three times capped Lisa Barrett carries the banner and title hopes of host club West Lothian IBC in the showcase semi finals and final climax to the Scottish Ladies Singles Championship at the Inveralmond Stadium in Livingston this weekend.
Read MoreBarrett who also has 24 junior caps on her CV obviously knows her home carpet like the back of her hand yet the talented 25 year old is set for a tough semi final test when lining up against Caroline Brown of Blantyre. Brown lost the 2010 final to Singles legend Julie Forrest of Teviotdale and the three times Junior Champion is a vastly experienced campaigner with 33 full caps to her name.
Competition for the blue ribbon title of the Ladies championships is extremely hot with 2007 champion Claire Johnston of Auchinleck back in the frame for a second success. Her semi final pitches the 33 times capped Ayrshire star against 15 times capped Carol Stuart of Turriff. The final takes place at 1pm on Sunday.
There is a strong East Lothian interest in the ladies Junior Singles with four times Under 25 capped rising star Kim Hoggan from The Alex Marshall Arena bidding to raise her profile against stiff opposition. Hoggan steps into the semi final limelight against Carla Banks of Garioch who has eight Junior Scotland caps to her name while the opposite tie features eight times capped Emma McIntyre of Dumbarton against twice capped Stephanie Wallace of Auchinleck.
Bellsburn bowler Gary Clelland is celebrating the announcement of a surprise Christmas gift that will inspire his strong desire to further enhance his skills and reputation as a leading figure within the Para Bowls community of Scotland. The envelope that recently popped through the letter box of the Clelland household in Linlithgow contained an extra special message of goodwill from Scottish Disability Sport. SDS is the recognised governing body for Para Bowls in Scotland and the Good News Message from them was that Gary had been selected to be a member of the Extended Pool of Players preparing for the Commonwealth Games 2018. Its still a long road away from making it to the Gold Coast 2018 Games in Australia but I am exciting to be in contention for selection and the onus is on me to prove to the selectors that I am good enough to deliver a medal challenge, said Gary.
The immediate focus of Gary and his fellow pool members is to make it in the first instance to The Home Nations Championships in Wales come April 2017, also A Multi Nations Event being stages in June at Broadbeach, Australia, by which time the Extended Pool will be reduced to a maximum of 10.
Gary a Past President of the West Lothian Bowling Association and The Scottish Inter County Top Ten captured the Scottish Para 2014 Singles title in 2014 and is now named along with nine others in the Extended Squad for the 2018 Open Triples Event.